Our experts at Wheels Visualizer discuss the benefits of custom wheels in this article. Check them out!
Benefits of Custom Wheels
1. Improved Performance and Handling
Improved performance is one of the benefits of custom wheels.
Custom wheels improve performance and handling by lightening the vehicle’s weight, reducing its rolling resistance, increasing steering and stability, and reducing the impact of the wheels on the odometer and speedometer. The shorter sidewalls of wider tires also provide a firmer grip on the road, but the wider contact patch can make the vehicle more prone to hydroplaning on wet roads.
Additionally, the suspension’s job is tougher due to the wider contact patch and increased body roll, but the increased grip can make up for this depending on the suspension setup.
2. Improved Looks
Custom wheels can significantly improve the overall looks of a vehicle, as they are available in a variety of finishes, sizes, and styles, allowing you to customize your ride with visual impact. By opting for larger wheels, the sidewall height is reduced, which creates a more aggressive look. Plus-sized wheels also deliver visual impact, as you can adjust the ratio of the rim to the tire.
Alloy wheels are often the perfect choice for passenger vehicles, as they are lightweight and strong, with the added bonus of improving performance and handling, as well as improving the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Steel or alloy wheels can be beneficial for 4WD vehicles, depending on the kind of your driving, as steel wheels offer rugged dependability and can bend rather than crack in the event of a hard impact.
Ultimately, custom rims allow for endless possibilities to customize your vehicle and improve its look, feel, handling, durability, and curb appeal, making it an attractive and worthwhile investment. Better looks are definitely the major benefits of custom wheels.
3. Increased Stability and Grip
Custom wheel engineering increases stability and grip by increasing the contact patch of the tire with the road. By enlarging the wheel’s diameter and width, shortening the sidewall, and lowering the tire’s aspect ratio, the tire’s contact patch is made bigger and more square.
This increases the tire’s grip on the road and helps to minimize the impact of the wheels on the odometer and speedometer, improving stability and control. The increased width of the tire also provides equal weight distribution, which further enhances stability.
However, the increased width of the tire makes it more prone to hydroplaning, and the shorter, stiffer sidewalls can reduce ride comfort and increase the risk of wheel damage. Additionally, heavier wheels can reduce performance and fuel mileage.
4. Potential for Increased Tire Diameter and Width
Custom wheels can increase the tire diameter and width by utilizing a “Plus 1” upgrade. This means that a wheel of 1 inch larger in diameter but one inch narrower in width can be installed. This creates a tire with a wider tread and a lower profile, increasing the contact patch size without changing the overall diameter of the wheel and tire combo.
Additionally, the lower profile keeps the car’s gearing at the same ratio so that the wheels spin an equal amount of times, ensuring that the speedometer still provides accurate speed readings. However, this upgrade may cause the contact patch to become more square instead of oval.
5. Improved Braking and Stability Under Heavy Loads
Custom wheel installation improves braking and stability under heavy loads because the wheels are lighter than steel wheels, improving vehicle performance and fuel economy. The lighter weight reduces the momentum of the vehicle when braking, meaning less force is required to stop the car.
The lighter weight also means the wheels are easier to maneuver, allowing for greater stability when taking corners or driving on uneven surfaces. The wheels also have a wider range of styles and finishes, which can provide an improved aesthetic to the vehicle, as well as improved grip due to the shorter sidewalls of the tire, which gives a more compliant ride.
6. Improved Comfort and Ride Quality
Custom wheels can improve comfort and ride quality in several ways. First, wider tires with a lower aspect ratio, such as those that come with custom wheels, provide a larger contact patch with the ground, increasing grip and stability. This increases road feel and reduces body roll, allowing for improved handling. Wider tires also provide a smoother ride, with less vibration and bumps from the road.
Secondly, the increased stiffness of shorter sidewalls provided by custom wheels helps to keep the wheels perpendicular to the ground, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and wheel damage. The decreased risk of wheel damage, in turn, keeps the car’s performance and fuel economy consistent, providing improved ride comfort.
Lastly, the improved strength of custom wheels, as compared to stock wheels, reduces the risk of wheel damage and increases vehicle stability, providing a safer and more comfortable ride. Custom wheels are also lighter than stock wheels, reducing the vehicle’s overall weight, which can improve performance and fuel economy.
Overall, custom wheels can improve comfort and ride quality by providing increased grip, stability, and strength, as well as reducing wheel damage, weight, and the risk of hydroplaning. This is one of our favorite benefits of custom wheels.
7. Better Protection from Road Hazards
Custom wheels can help improve road hazard protection by improving grip and enhancing road feel through the steering wheel. With a wider contact patch, the tire can more easily pierce through the water on wet roads and provide more grip, reducing the chances of hydroplaning.
Additionally, the increased stiffness of shorter sidewalls improves the loading of the tire and helps to keep the contact patch on the ground, preventing the inner part of the tread from lifting off the pavement and reducing grip.
Furthermore, the lighter weight of alloy wheels reduces the unsprung weight of the vehicle, making it easier for the suspension to cope with bumps and potholes, reducing the risk of rim damage.
8. Improved Safety and Security
Safety is also one of the benefits of custom wheels.
Custom wheels can improve safety and security by providing a lighter and stronger wheel, which can improve performance, handling, and gas mileage. Shortening the sidewall can minimize the impact of the new wheels on the odometer and speedometer while also improving steering and stability.
Additionally, plus-sized wheels provide a visual impact and can also help create a better ratio of the rim to tire. Ultimately, custom wheels are beneficial when it comes to improving safety and security, as they offer enhanced performance, steering, and stability.
9. Cost Savings in Comparison to Factory Wheels
The cost of custom wheels can vary widely depending on the brand, size, and style you choose, with prices ranging anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Compared to factory wheels, custom wheels are usually more expensive, but their quality and performance can often justify the higher cost. On the other hand, factory wheels tend to be cheaper, but the quality and performance may not be as good as custom wheels.
Generally speaking, factory wheels are made from lower-grade materials, while custom wheels are constructed from higher-grade materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloy. The quality of custom wheels is typically far superior to that of factory wheels, and they offer improved performance and durability as well. Custom wheels are also typically lighter than factory wheels, which can improve handling and fuel economy.
Ultimately, it is important to consider both the cost and quality when deciding between custom and factory wheels.
10. Increased Customization Options
The last thing on our list of benefits of custom wheels is that custom wheels increase room for customization.
Customizing your car with custom wheels is a great way to get the style and performance you’re looking for. But if you’re looking to further customize your wheels, there are several options available. Some of these include changing the wheel size, color, or design to increase overall performance or choosing high-performance custom rims to reduce the weight of the wheels. You can even opt for spinning rims, which are great for giving your car a unique look.
Other customization options include purchasing aftermarket brands or selecting aluminum or steel alloy wheels.
Get Custom Wheels with Wheels Visualizer
Now you learn the benefits of custom wheels. Talk to a tire expert at your local shop to make sure you’ll get the right custom wheels that will fit your vehicle and meet your performance expectations.
If you are a custom wheel & tire shop, customizer, or dealership and want to explore opportunities in Wheels Visualizer for your business, contact Susan (318) 294-9355 or Harold (469) 536-8478, or get started today.
