How to Install Aftermarket Rims

Installing aftermarket rims will give an entirely new, stylish and customized look to your dream car you have purchased. The market is flooded with various styles and designs of aftermarket rims and you can purchase one that best suits your taste. Although the method of installing aftermarket rims varies based on the model of your vehicle and the rim, you can follow these general guidelines to know the basics.

Step 1 – Basic Preparation

Using your car jack, lift the car in order to work with a wheel at a time. Release the air from the wheel which you are going to work with. Releasing air will make your job of removing the old rim easily and to install a new one.

Step 2 – Remove Old Rim

If you have an old rim in place, do this step, else jump to next step directly. Use a socket wrench of matching size to remove the bolts holding the rims to the wheel. Keep the bolts safely in one place to reuse them with new rims. Carefully insert the tire lever at various points of the rim and remove the rim from the wheel without puncturing or damaging the tube inside.

Step 3 – Purchase New Rims

You can go to an automobile spares and accessories dealer to find the various models of rims available for your vehicle. Else, you can also take the help of the internet to browse through the various designs available. However, while selecting aftermarket rims, take care that rims can be adjusted as per the expansion and compression of the tire due to the weather conditions. Similarly, if you want to have good performance of your vehicle, purchase only lighter rims as heavy rims may undermine your vehicle’s performance.

Step 4 – Attach New Rim

Dust the inside tube and the tire with a cloth rag and attach the new rim. While installing follow the instructions given along with the aftermarket rims. At times your old bolts may not be suitable for your new rim. In such cases, purchase new bolts if they have not been given along with the new rim. While tightening you should take care not to damage the hub centric ring of the wheel.

Step 5 – Set the Tire ready

Re-inflate this wheel with the help of the air compressor, while doing this take precaution to meet the car’s specifications.

Step 6 – Other Tires

Remove the jack after lowering your vehicle and move it to the next wheel. Now repeat these steps for the second tire. In the same way do for the other 2 tires also.

Step 7 – Check

Test whether the wheel and rim alignment are perfect by observing carefully. Test-drive your vehicle at minimum speed for safety reasons. If you feel the vehicle is pulling on a particular side or vibrating, then take it to an experienced mechanic or authorized service center to get it checked.