Any newbie with minimum wheel knowledge will consider all wheels the same. But we gearheads know there are variations in wheels.
Since we like giving facelifts to our cars, your concern could be what wheels from other vehicles will fit your car.
Many factors in a wheel determine its compatibility with cars. Such as offsets, size, bolt patterns, etc.
There is nothing wrong if you want to give a new shape to your car with another size of tire. Once you know some specific factors, the best tyre will be in your grasp.
Here, we will guide you on how you can grab a proper wheel for your car with a new look or the same look. Stay tuned.
What Wheels from Other Vehicles Will Fit Your Car?
It is possible to replace the wheels of your car with other wheels. But that doesn’t mean you can pick any wheel randomly. If you browse different car models, you will see different specifications on their wheels.
Anyways, wheels vary in style and other things. For example, an aluminum alloy wheel has a rim, hub, and spokes. On the other hand, normal steel wheels have a rim and hub, not spokes.
The rim is the outer edge that supports the wheel and holds the tyre. Whereas the hub is the pre-assembled unit that connects the wheel with the suspension.
Lastly, spokes are wire-like structures that radiate out from the hub. Shifting from an alloy wheel to a steel wheel won’t cut corners unless you match the fit.
However, if you want to replace the current wheel on your car, the size and bolts are not enough.
You must keep the load capacity, lug hardware, center bore, etc. into account.
| Rim Width | Min Tyre Width | Ideal Tyre Width | Max Tyre Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5″ | 155 mm | 165 to 175 mm | 185 mm |
| 5.5″ | 165 mm | 175 to 185 mm | 195 mm |
| 6″ | 175 mm | 185 to 195 mm | 205 mm |
| 6.5″ | 185 mm | 195 to 205 mm | 215 mm |
| 7″ | 195 mm | 205 to 215 mm | 225 mm |
| 7.5″ | 205 mm | 215 to 225 mm | 235 mm |
| 8″ | 215 mm | 225 to 235 mm | 245 mm |
| 8.5″ | 225 mm | 235 to 245 mm | 255 mm |
| 9″ | 235 mm | 245 to 255 mm | 265 mm |
| 9.5″ | 245 mm | 255 to 265 mm | 275 mm |
| 10″ | 255 mm | 265 to 275 mm | 285 mm |
| 10.5″ | 265 mm | 275 to 285 mm | 295 mm |
| 11″ | 275 mm | 285 to 295 mm | 305 mm |
| 11.5″ | 285 mn | 295 to 305 mm | 315 mm |
| 12″ | 295 mm | 305 to 315 mm | 325 mm |
| 12.5″ | 305 mm | 315 to 325 mm | 335 mm |
Things to Consider When Fitting Wheels from Other Vehicles
So far, we know about the teasers for choosing a wheel. Now we will dig deeper into the considerations that you will need to make when replacing the wheels on your car.
Size of Tyre
Grabbing the right size tyre can give you a well-operated odometer and speedometer. The odometer measures the distance that the wheel travels and the speedometer monitors the wheel’s speed in kilometers per hour.
So make sure your tire’s diameter matches the wheel assembly. You may need to choose a different tyre if you choose a different wheel.
Suppose the rim you have now is one inch wider than your previous one. Don’t forget, we have to maintain the original diameter of the entire tyre.
In that case, you have to get a tire that is one inch smaller than your previous tyre.
Size of Rim
As we said, the size of tyre you will choose shall depend on the size of the rim. In the same way, you have to choose the rim considering the size of your new tire.
According to the rim compatibility chart, a 5-inch rim should have a tyre width of 165 or 175 mm. Or if it is a 6-inch rim, the tire width should be 185 or 195 mm. Likewise, you need to make your tires and wheels their best friends.
Bolt Pattern
The bolt pattern is the diameter of the lug holes that connect the arc between the centers. It is also known as the pitch circle diameter or bolt circle.
For example, your car’s wheel has a bolt pattern of 5 × 114.3 mm. It denotes a pattern of 5 lugs in a circle with 114.3 mm, i.e., diameter.
You can go with 4-lug or 6-lug bolt patterns, but that will require some tools. However, having a new bolt pattern means having a new rim.
Wheel Offset
Wheel offset is the way a wheel is mounted in wheel wells, estimated in meters.
You can also call it the distance from the hub mount to the rim. Usually, wheel offset differs in three ways. They are:
- Positive offset: a wheel has a positive offset if its hub mounting faces towards the front. This is pretty sent in newer models of cars.
- Zero offset: here, the hub mounting remains in the centerline.
- Negative offset: This is the opposite of the positive offset. The hub mounting faces backwards or behind the centerline.
Without the correct wheel offset, you can’t expect a proper replacement of your car’s wheel.
For instance, your new wheel’s offset should not be more than 5 mm compared to your current wheel’s offset.
Load Capacity
This factor is something we usually ignore. All cars are not the same. Maybe you own an SUV and are getting a Premio wheel.
This won’t work. A Premio’s wheel can take the capacity of a Premio, not an SUV, as they are quite large. To avoid suspension hardware, choose a wheel that cooperates with your car’s lead capacity.
Center Bore
Center Bore is the hole in a wheel located at its back part, also known as the opening of a wheel’s back. It helps place the wheel in the vehicle’s hub.
While getting a new wheel, you must check out the center bore of it. Whereas an incompatible center bore in a wheel leads to vibration and noise while driving.
How to Get The Right Wheel for Your Car?
Some of us will go for the type of wheel that they have. They just want a standard wheel with no extra modifications.
On the other hand, some of us car enthusiasts would like to make a change by installing a larger rim.
If you belong to the first group, you won’t have to do much. Just check the sticker plate located inside the door jam.
But if you are like me, you must take measurements of your wheel. This can help you to get the right wheel.
- Firstly, you have to know the bolt pattern. Count the bolts or nuts that are visible on your wheel. Then measure the distance between the bolts with a ruler. If there are four bolts, it means it is a 4-lug pattern.
- Measure your car’s wheel by finding its width and diameter in inches.
- Lastly, make sure you get the perfect wheel offset. It shouldn’t be prone to suspensions.
Downsides of Choosing The Wrong Wheel
Choosing the wrong wheel in your car would be a waste of money and time. Most importantly, you will have a bad experience. There are more downsides than you can imagine.
Fuel Inefficiency
When a wheel is not supportive of the car, it has to slog more than usual. For instance, you installed a larger or smaller wheel than your previous wheel which is not a comparable size. This can turn out to use too much gas for the car.
Inferior Performance
Whether it is an incompatible wheel offset, center bore, bolt pattern, or rim, everything will affect your car’s performance. Because a discouraged mechanism makes it harder for a car to operate.
Also, we said above that the car will lose fuel economy if the wheel is not correct. So overall, its performance will be bad.
Poor Appearance
All cars have their parts installed according to their design. If you make any changes to their parts, including a wheel, the appearance may turn out worse than before. And it will get worse if the choice of wheel is not right.