Do Aftermarket Wheels Affect Ride?

Thanks to all types of tires and the different types of wheels available, it’s easy nowadays to find the wheels that will perfectly meet your expectations. If you’re interested in purchasing a car, it’s possible you have run across a used vehicle with aftermarket rims or wheels, which often enhance a car’s look. You vehicle could even get an old-school look with some cool wheel types. But, do aftermarket wheels affect ride? We believe there might be a few drawbacks, so we’ve listed for you some things you should consider before buying a used vehicle with used aftermarket wheels.

Size Does Matter

Adding larger wheels could affect a car in several ways, so size does matter when it comes to rims or wheels. For instance, there could be a negative effect on the transmission with wheels that are way larger than the car’s original set, as they make it work harder than normal to turn the axles and move the car. Therefore, this could cause premature transmission failure over time. Also, bigger and heavier rims can cause the engine to work harder, which affects fuel economy and dulls acceleration as well. Other components such as wheel bearings would also receive a negative effect by larger and heavier wheels. Therefore, it is important to know how to measure the wheel offset when necessary.

Ride Quality

Do aftermarket wheels affect ride quality? They possibly do. Original wheels are usually designed to optimize ride quality, so adding bigger wheels often means needing thinner tires. Therefore, a car’s ride quality is affected. There are probably more negative effects on how the vehicle drives and rides when the wheel size is larger than the original.

Track Use

You should ask about track use if you’re interested in purchasing a performance car to which the driver has added “lightweight” wheels to save weight. When a driver tries to save weight by using lighter wheels, chances are the vehicle was used on a race track, where all car components are exposed to higher stress and wear. So, if you see lightweight wheels on a vehicle, you should get it inspected by a trusted mechanic to make sure there aren’t any extra hidden issues you might overlook.

Resale Value

Do aftermarket wheels affect ride in terms of its resale value? When it comes to selling certain vehicles, such as high-end luxury models with very particular buyers, drivers commonly insist on getting the original wheels when purchasing the car. So, the fact that the previous owner and you liked the wheels, doesn’t mean that the next owner will like those aftermarket car rims. As a consequence, aftermarket wheels might diminish your car’s resale value and will probably make it longer to sell the car.

OEM vs Aftermarket Wheels: Our Two Cents

Generally, getting a car with aftermarket wheels won’t be an issue. Nevertheless, there are just a few disadvantages you should keep in mind when thinking about buying the vehicle. We hope this list helps you understand what you’re getting into before getting a car with aftermarket rims or wheels.