Wheels & Rims
The look you're after, installed right. Sized, mounted and balanced by people who do it every day, so your new wheels drive as good as they look.
More than a good look
The right rim for how you actually drive.
Nothing dresses up a ride better than a great set of rims. But your wheels serve a much greater purpose than simply beefing up your vehicle's looks, and the type you choose should match the way you drive.
Alloy wheels are lighter and come in more styles. Running winter tires? Steel wheels are tough and cost less, so many drivers put their winters on steel and save the alloys for the dry months. Not sure what fits your vehicle or your budget? That is exactly what your local Big O team is for, because at Big O, trust is a BIG deal.
Know your options
Six kinds of wheel, and what each is good at.
Almost every wheel is either steel or aluminum alloy. The other names you'll hear describe how an alloy wheel is made or finished. Here is what each one means for the way you drive.
Steel
Heavy, tough and inexpensive. Steel tends to bend rather than crack, which is why it's the usual pick for a winter set. Plain looks, often under a hubcap.
Alloy
Aluminum blended with other metals. Lighter than steel, so the vehicle steers, brakes and accelerates a little better, and it comes in far more styles.
Cast
The most common way to make an alloy wheel: molten aluminum poured into a mould. Good value, and it covers most cars and trucks on the road.
Forged
Pressed from a solid block of aluminum under heat and heavy pressure. The lightest and strongest option you can buy, with the price to match.
Machined
An alloy wheel with its face cut on a lathe for a bright, two-tone look. A clear coat protects the bare metal, so curb scrapes show and are worth fixing early.
Chrome
A mirror finish over an alloy or steel wheel. All about the shine. Road salt is hard on it, so it wants a regular wash through the winter.
Before you choose
Three things to settle first.
Size
Bigger wheels look sharp but mean lower-profile tires and a firmer ride. Every vehicle has a safe range for wheel and tire size.
Weight
Lighter wheels help handling, braking and fuel use. Heavier ones cost less and shrug off more abuse. Pick the trade-off that suits you.
Where you drive
City and highway, snow, gravel or trail. Where you spend most of your time decides what holds up best.
Wheel questions
The fitment details, in plain words.
- What is a bolt pattern?
- The number of wheel studs and the size of the circle they sit on, written like 5x114.3. A new wheel has to match your vehicle's exactly.
- Does the width of the rim matter?
- Yes. Rim width has to suit the tire size, or the tire won't sit, handle or wear the way it should. We match the two as a set.
- What does offset mean?
- How far the mounting face sits from the centre of the wheel. It decides whether the wheel tucks in or pushes out, and whether it clears your brakes and suspension.
- Hub-centric or lug-centric?
- A hub-centric wheel is centred by a snug fit on the hub; a lug-centric wheel is centred by the lug nuts. Hub-centric runs smoothest, and many aftermarket wheels use a small centring ring to get the same fit.
Wheels & Rims
Let's find the set that fits.
Bring your vehicle to your local Big O and we will size, mount and balance a set that drives as good as it looks, with pricing that fits your budget.