Companies are trying to reinvent the wheel during the latter part of the twentieth and into the twenty-first century. These wheels are 20-inches and larger in diameter, requiring a lower profile tire to properly fit underneath the vehicle. Often, these 20 inch rims are thought of as an urban automotive accessory, but they are prevalent in the rural areas of this country as well. There are many things to take into consideration when upsizing the tire and wheel combination of your vehicle.

When shopping for aftermarket wheels, one must make a very important decision regarding material make-up of your rim. The two most easily available metals that are used to manufacture these large wheels are aluminum and chrome. The aluminum wheels are often polished to give that chrome appearance without the added expense of chrome. The chrome wheels are significantly heavier than their aluminum counterparts and are often forged, rather than cast, making them stronger than the cheaper aluminum wheels. Care of aluminum wheels is as simple as spraying wheel cleaner on the rim, letting it clean off the brake dust and then rinsing it off. Chrome wheels require more detailed care with chrome polish being applied to maintain the shiny appearance of the wheels.

To properly fit these rims onto your car, you must first make sure the wheels will fit. This normally requires a trip to a tire and wheel shop that has your particular rim in stock. Have them take your current wheel off and test fit the new rim to ensure a proper fit before parting with your hard-earned money. If the wheel fits, it is time to source a tire that is approximately the same overall height as what is on your vehicle, otherwise your speedometer will read incorrectly. Once this is done you can fit your dubs, as they are commonly called, inside your fender-wells and enjoy the new look of your car or truck.

Driving a vehicle with over-sized wheels and tires requires care beyond that which you would normally give. Any irregularity in the road should be avoided if at all possible as potholes, curbs and large rocks can damage your expensive wheels beyond repair. Any bend in a wheel can cause a slow tire leak around the wheel and a wheel that bent very quickly and very sharply can crack, causing a devastating tire leak and tire destruction.

Cleaning your new rims is a must. There are many different products that you can use for your new wheels. Make sure you use a product that is safe on chrome, alloy, or whatever type of wheel you may have purchased.

Another thing of concern with wheels of this size is theft. Larger wheels are like a bulls-eye for attention, so what can you do to make sure they stay on your vehicle? You can purchase wheel locks, which is a special lug nut that only the owner will have the key for. You can also get an after market security system for your vehicle. With all that combined, you should be in good hands.

One last tip, consider where you live as well! If you are in a wintry climate that is prone to getting those snowy and icy storms, keep the old set of wheels and rims as well. Put those on to keep the new ones from getting tainted with salt and the numerous dings that could happen from sliding around on the ice.