OEM or standard tires are factory wheels that come with a vehicle, with materials and styling varying by automaker. Factors such as bolt pattern, spacing, width, and diameter determine the correct stock wheel for a specific vehicle. Hubcaps are a common decorative cover, but custom wheels offer a durable and decorative alternative to stock rims.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or standard tires are factory wheels that are shipped with the vehicle from the automobile manufacturer. Materials and styling options for standard wheels vary by automaker. Standard wheels range from painted steel with a decorative cap to large aluminum-alloy wheels. Each type of standard wheel is designed to fit a specific vehicle and provide the necessary rolling circumference for the vehicle’s speedometer to display the correct speed. Factors including bolt pattern, bolt spacing, wheel width, and wheel diameter determine the type of stock wheel that will match a particular make and model of vehicle.
Stud patterns for stock wheels range from four-stud (small passenger cars) to more eight-stud configurations (large trucks). Bolt spacing is manufacturer specific and the combination of bolt count and bolt spacing will determine the correct OEM wheel for a specific vehicle. Wheel width and diameter are standard dimensions used to determine the tire size required to fit the rim. Using the OEM tire size on a stock rim ensures that the vehicle’s speedometer displays the correct ground speed of the vehicle. Switching from a stock tire to another stock tire from the same vehicle manufacturer reduces the guesswork involved when ordering custom wheels to replace worn-out or unattractive stock tires.
Hubcaps are a common decorative cover for standard grade stock wheels. A locking ring located on the inside of the hubcap holds it tight to the outside of a stick edge. Unfortunately, hubcaps often work loose when a vehicle hits a pothole, pothole, or other debris in the road. This causes it to come off the wheel and expose the painted steel inner portion of the original rim. Replacing hubcap-style tires with custom wheels eliminates the chances of a hubcap flying free from a tire, but increases the maintenance required to keep wheels clean and in good condition.
Custom wheels replace painted steel with chrome steel or polished aluminum. Both types of wheels provide a durable and decorative alternative to stock rims. Aluminum wheels offer less weight than chrome-plated steel wheels, but require a lot of maintenance to ensure that the clear coating that protects the aluminum is not damaged by corrosive brake dust or road debris. Chrome wheels are easier to maintain than aluminum wheels, but are prone to rust and pitting in areas that salt roads in winter.
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