How to choose and care for rims?

Factors – abundant

It is said that the rims make up about 25 percent. the appearance of the car, but often determines much more. Different rims can give the same model elegance, sportiness or even aggressiveness, and sometimes significantly increase or reduce the price of a car.

Not surprisingly, drivers are happy to change, beautify and personalize their rims. This pleasure is not cheap is one of the more expensive areas of improvement. It would seem that very similar rim prices may vary in several percent, but by several.

The price is determined by the totality of the factors. Apart from the manufacturer, model and purchase condition, the dimensions, whether the rims are dismantled, whether a seamless design, or wheel mounting holes – original drill, or front and rear rims – different widths. Sometimes the year, weight and method of manufacture are also very important.

We discussed with specialists the most popular supply of rims in the Lithuanian market and their maintenance features.

Testing in pits

According to Saulius Vidrevičius, a spokesman for the company for all, the rims can be divided into several price segments.

Not for unit products, but about mass consumer, rims for wide audiences can vary significantly in price and quality.

In the words of S. Vidrevičius, the premium level rims are made of stronger metal alloy compared to the cheapest. A more accurate machine is used to make it. The quality of such products is more carefully and checked. For example, cheap Asian rims are sometimes poorly balanced, in simply speaking, kriuoki. They are less durable, so entering a larger pit can immediately break or even break in half. A high quality rim will not feel the same impact or will only fall. Quality is particularly important for sports cars or cargo vehicles, as their rims are much higher.

According to the specialist, when choosing rims, drivers should first weigh their needs and not rush to spend. Because buying not somewhere in the bugs or by ads, but from a reliable specialized wheel company, even a cheaper segment rim will be quite high quality to meet the needs of the average driver and ensure a long service life.

« If you go a few kilometers, you do not travel at high speeds and potholes, you do not raise the appearance of aesthetic requirements, it is likely that cheaper European or Asian production products are likely to be sufficient, » advised the interviewer.

Difference: Even when entering a larger pit, quality rims can withstand the impact, and cheap Asian will fall or even break in half. / Photo by Regimantas Zakšensk

Equals the original

True, most drivers look at the average price and quality segment.

According to the interlocutor, the demand for the rims offered by the company is characterized by Germany production. It equates quality to the Premium category and the price remains in the average economical rout. Such rims often have a distinctive original design that is not acceptable to anyone interested.

Sellers and professionals themselves call the design benchmark more expensive Italian and German unique design rims or similar to the design of original car rims. Their manufacturers are targeting original rims, ie the ones that are factory -made for newly made cars. Usually, manufacturers try to make such rims as beautiful as possible, as the new car is aimed at selling at a considerable price.

« That’s why drivers later want to have a set of rims that are similar to the original wheels of the new car and match the original rim design to put them insert the branded cap and the image is like a factory rim, » Vidrevičius revealed the buyers’ habits.

Cheap Asian rims are sometimes poorly balanced, in folk words, crooked.

Save – real

Of the more luxurious wheels offered by the company, Lithuanians often choose « Antra », « GMP Italia », OZ, BBS, MAK, Concaver, Vossen, JR Wheels. If the gaze goes to budget rims, Anzio, Alutec and the like are preferred.

« People are confident that even the mentioned cheaper brands are quite well -known European manufacturers with factories in Germany, Spain, France, Poland. So basically all those rim factories use the same technique, the same metal, but the factory location is different, »

When it comes to budget budget to purchase new wheels, Vidrevičius estimates that the smallest 15-16 -inch wheels should be planned from € 80-120 per unit (for the economic segment) and from € 150-170 (for the premium segment).

Budget of larger 18-20 -inch wheels starts between € 140 and € 300 per unit, depending on the manufacturer, spaces between holes, width, design. The type of car also has a major impact – for example, the same size rim hatchback body will be very different from the price of the SUV.

Effect: Washes are not advised to keep a sprayed foam for a long time, unless non -acidic detergents are used. / Photo by E. Šemiotas

Sensitive to chemicals

Even after purchasing new rims, it is necessary to ensure proper care. Otherwise, the first view of the first view will change after a few seasons: the rims will rub and look worse.

If the rim surface at the factory is polished (so -called Diamond Cut), it is much more sensitive to winter salts, chemical or mechanical effects. Such a rim is oxidized at the site of the lesion and loses its original image. Therefore, in the opinion of S. Vidrevičius, in the winter, wheels should be used, whose rims are noted that they can be used during the cold season.

Car washes are far from using safe wheels for chemicals, some choose more aggressive materials due to better effect. Therefore, the signs should be viewed on the effects of the materials used in a particular washer on the wheels.

« Universal advice would be to keep sprayed foam for a long time in the washers or use special rims for non -acid care.

To help only clean

Colleagues also supported Vilius Bričkus, trading of rims, tires and accessories and repairs, and the head of the Pararas.lt portal.

« It happens that some washer diluts hydrochloric acid and uses it, because otherwise the wheels would not be well washed. Therefore, it would be not a passage of the drivers to look at how much that acid is used and washed where they are used minimally or better – » – advised V. Bričkus.

Painting or varnishing can cost around € 150 per full four -wheel set.

He noticed that drivers often make the mistake of leaving dirty rims in the garage all winter. When visiting the garage in the spring, they are often surprised to pick up rims with summer tires left, as rims are damaged by corrosion or lacquer or paint.

According to V. Bričkus, to avoid this, especially in wetter conditions, the rims should be washed before winter and then placed in the garage. The same should be done in the spring with winter wheels before the next winter.

Kolius behind the inspection barrier

In the spring, the growth of the rains wash away a number of pits, so they are first felt by the car’s chassis and wheels.

According to the specialist, if there are minor drawings, the rims can be painted, and if you have not escaped more serious incidents, you will need to take care not only of the aesthetic appearance but also with the safety of further operation.

The good news is that the rims are quite easy to repair and restore it by giving them an almost factory look.

The rim from the impact into the pit can usually be leveled. It is true that the rim can break down from stronger contact. In Lithuania, it is often not in a hurry to dispose of broken rims, they are welded and continued to be welded.

« Sometimes such boiled rims are even sold for further operation. Sometimes the services are repaired with quality and do not affect the comfort of driving or visually. However, before buying the former damaged rim, it should be evaluated. V. Bričkus warned.

Modest: Lithuanians often decide to brighter – yellow or red shades. / Photo by the manufacturer

Aesthetic image can be revived

In the interlocutor’s opinion, if the rim is no longer more suitable for the driver due to aesthetic flaws, you should not rush to get rid of it because you will spend far less money than buying a new kit, and the appearance will delight again.

According to the specialist, depending on the level of the lesions and the size of the rim, the amount may cost only 20 euros to level the wheel, but if necessary, the amount may also exceed 200 euros. Painting or varnishing can cost around € 150 per full four -wheel set.

Well, if you have decided that it is time to change the rims, their prices will not necessarily be bitter.

« When it comes to a cheaper segment, high -quality Asian rims are now catching up with some European, so it’s not necessarily cheaper to choose Chinese. Suppose a 17 -inch good European rim cost us just over 100 euros, and Chinese can be even more expensive, » Brickus compared.

It is true that price differences are emerging when large diameter wheels are chosen – 20-22 inches. It already has to pay for both European quality and name.

Fashion is changing

When it comes to rim fashion, according to Pararas.lt, they are coordinated with the guidelines drawn by car manufacturers. For example, when Mercedes or BMW start new models to decorate certain wheels, specialized rim manufacturers quickly adapt their new trends.

Electric car manufacturers are particularly experimenting, so they can be called peculiar pioneers of rims.

In the past, Lithuanians usually chose classic rim colors: silver or black. Currently, there are quite demanding rims of a few matched colors, such as metal on the outside and black inside. Much less often, compatriots are determined to brighter – red or yellow shades.

« It is said that rims, like a person’s shoes, sometimes do not even pay attention to them, and sometimes they can attract the gaze of everyone around them. All you have to do is choose beautiful, high quality, perhaps even original, and most importantly the most suitable for your car. »