Understanding Wheels

Welcome to Wheel Anatomy 101: Structure. Today we will be reviewing the major structural aspects of automotive wheels, focusing on the outboard, or structural face of the wheel.

Welcome to Wheel Anatomy 201: Beads and Flanges. Today we will be reviewing the various structures located on the outer barrel of the wheel. These structures will include the drop center, beads, mounting humps and flanges.

In our final module of Wheel Anatomy, we will be looking at the complex, but essential concepts of offset and backspacing.

When it comes to finding the proper fitment for putting aftermarket or other new wheels on your car, the bolt pattern is possibly the most important consideration.

If you've been shopping for wheels at all, you've probably heard something about "hub-centric" or "lug-centric" wheels, usually in the context of preferring one and avoiding the other. The issue of hub-centric vs. lug-centric wheels is one of the most important and most confusing concepts one can encounter when trying to properly fit new wheels....

In addition to coming in many different sizes and designs, wheels come in all different styles of construction and composition.

Since the 60's, when wire spoke wheels were the norm, advances in casting methods, CAD/CAM design and changes in tastes and styles have led to an explosion of spoke designs both cosmetic and functional.

Alloys or steels; what's best for you? Both types have advantages and disadvantages for different types of driving; but in general if you want beauty and performance you want alloy, and if you want tough, inexpensive, ugly workhorses, you want steels.