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Custom Wheels FAQ's at Element Wheels

STORE FAQ'S

Is Element Wheels are real store, or just a web store?
You can read more about Element Wheels here.
Do you have any shipping restrictions?
We ship anywhere in the United States as well as any country allowed by Fedex International. The only restriction is that we cannot ship a wheel and tire package to an APO address because of the size and weight restrictions through the United States Postal Service. We can however ship wheels, or any wheel accessory to an APO or FPO. Additional shipping charges may apply.
Do you do mounting and balancing in house?
Yes, we perform all mounting and balancing in house.
Do you do installations at your store?
Yes, we are a full service shop. All mounting, balancing, and installation of wheels is performed in house.
Do you carry brands not on your website?
Yes, the task of adding new wheels brands to the website, and keeping existing brands up to date is extremely time consuming. We do the best to add new brands as often as we can, but only about 50% of what we carry is currently listed. If you are looking for a wheel not found on our website, give us a call at 1-800-242-9883 or send an email to sales@elementwheels.com.
Do you have a return or cancel policy?
Yes, we have a return and cancel policy. As long as the product has not been installed, you can return it to us within 30 days of delivery. This includes, but is not limited to, unmounted wheels and tires, suspension, and any other parts that are not custom made to your vehicle. The product MUST be in BRAND NEW RESELLABLE CONDITION and MUST be in ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS PACKAGING. For returns, you must first call and get an authorization from us, so that we can document the reason for its return. If you do not get this authorization, we will not know why the wheels have been returned, and many times we will not know who it is returning the wheels. For cancellations, you must first call and verify that the order is not in production if your wheels are custom drilled or shipped. If the product is received by us for mounting and balancing, restocking fees and shipping fees may incur. Restocking fees are determined by the wheel, tire, or suspension brand. Some manufacturers do not charge a restocking fee. Some restocking fees can range from 25% to 50%. On single wheel orders our restock fee is 50%. You will be responsible for the return shipping if delivered, and the initial shipping charges incurred are non refundable. If items have shipped, Route shipping protection is non-refundable as that covers a one way trip only. Clearance items are non-refundable and do not come with a warranty as many times the product is being discontinued, and will no longer be available. Wheels that are custom built or semi-custom built are not returnable and cannot be exchanged as they are built specifically for your vehicle. If your wheels are in production and are custom made to your vehicle, they are not able to be cancelled. Any product that has been altered, modified, or customized for the customer or by the customer is sold as is, and cannot be returned or refunded for any reason.
What warranty does the product come with?

All of our non-Clearance wheels and tires come with a manufacturers warranty. Clearance items do not come with a warranty as many times the wheel is being discontinued, and will on longer be available.

Most wheels come with 1 year warranty on the finish, and lifetime structural warranty against any manufacturers defects. Tire warranties depend on the manufacturer and model of the tire. Please see the manufacturers website for complete warranty information.

Some manufacturers deal directly with the consumer in handling warranties, but generally Element Wheels will facilitate warranty exchanges. Please note that defective products will only be replaced with the exact same product, and cannot be substituted for a different item. Element Wheels is not responsible for any costs associated with the exchange of a warranty item such as shipping back and forth, labor charges, time, etc. Any costs associated with the exchange will be the responsibility of the customer. The role of Element Wheels is to only facilitate exchanges, as Element Wheels does not manufacture any wheels or tires.

Do you charge sales tax?
Yes, you will be charged the appropriate sales tax based on the destination state.
Do you have a fitment guarantee?

Element Wheels performs many steps to ensure that all orders we ship will fit your described vehicle.

Please be aware that if you are installing aftermarket wheels, and/or changing tire size you are customizing your vehicle; therefore, the products you order from Element Wheels may not fit exactly the same as the factory settings. If the order is approved for our 100% Fitment Guarantee and the product doesn't fit we will offer you a replacement or a full refund, including shipping charges (*some conditions apply).

To qualify for our 100% Fitment Guarantee the following conditions must be met: You must provide your vehicle information. The selected vehicle information must be accurate and complete. It is the customers' responsibility to provide accurate and complete vehicle information. The vehicle must be unmodified and has all original factory settings. Please note, If your vehicle is lowered or lifted you MUST inform us first unless it is specified in the title of the vehicle. You are purchasing a full set of tires, wheels or tires and wheels package. Less than a set (3 or less) may not qualify for our 100% Fitment Guarantee. We will email you to confirm your order.

We guarantee that the products you have purchased will fit your vehicle, meaning the following:

Wheels: Wheels will bolt on and will not interfere on OEM brakes, suspension, or body components. Wheels that require hub centric rings or different wheel nuts/bolts are still considered to be correct fitment.

Tires: Will fall within the approved overall tire diameter, width and load rating.

Wheel and Tire Packages: The package will bolt on and will not interfere on OEM brakes, suspension, or body components. Wheels that require hub centric rings or different wheel nuts/bolts are still considered a correct fitment

When you place an order, you must select your vehicle information from the drop-down menus presented to you in the Select Your Vehicle area. Please note, the description of the vehicle may differ from your markings on the car. Always refer to your user manual for a full description of your vehicle. The failure to choose the correct vehicle may affect the selection of the product that fits your vehicle and your claim for fitment guarantee may be rejected. If you feel that your exact vehicle is not listed please add in the "Order Comments" box more vehicle information at checkout. An Element Wheels expert will use that information provided for verification.

If you choose not to provide your vehicle information, or choose to skip Fitment Check, when placing an order our Fitment Guarantee is not applicable. Once we receive your order our first priority is to check fitment. This is done by our fitment team that employs various methods and manufactures databases to check fitment. We may come to the conclusion that the products you have ordered will not fit your described vehicle. In this case, you will be notified and will be provided with alternative options. If you still feel confident about your original purchase and want to proceed with the order as it, we will ship it to you with a disclaimer stating this is a final sale and no returns or exchanges will be accepted.

Since we don't have your vehicle present to physically check it for fitment we rely on our collective experience and expertise, and consult numerous fitment sources to make approved fitments. Due to mechanical wear and tear of a vehicle, tires and/or wheels may not fit as intended. It is impossible to take these factors into account when verifying fitment. Therefore, on rare occasions when a customer claims the product does not fit we reserve the right to refuse such a claim based on our previous experience with the same vehicle and/ or manufacturers fitment data available to the public. In such cases we will request pictures showing the issues with fitment and will assess the claim on a case by case basis.

WHEEL TECH FAQ'S

What are custom wheels
 
What is backspacing?
The distance from the mounting surface to the back of the wheel. You can find out more about backspacing here.
What is offset/ET?
The distance from the centerline of the wheel to the face of the mounting surface of the wheel that contacts the hub. A simple way to understand offset, is the lower the offset, the more the wheel will stick out, likewise, the higher the offset, the more the wheel will tuck. For example, and Honda Civic generally uses around a +40mm offset. So if you put a +15mm offset wheel on the car, the wheel is likely to stick out about 1 inch. You can find out more about wheel offset here.
What is bolt pattern/PCD?
The Bolt Pattern is the diameter of an imaginary circle that goes through the center of the bolt holes. Examples are 4x100 mm, 5x4.5 in, 6x5.5 in, 8x170 mm.
What is centerbore?
The size of the hole in the back of the wheel that centers the wheel properly on the hub of the car. Many aftermarket wheels will be drilled to a larger universal size, and uses hub rings to reduce the size to match the hub on the car for perfect centering. Generally speaking, a perfect hub size match and hub rings can be optional for vehicles that use lug nuts, but are absolutely required for vehicles that use bolts such as BMW, Mercedes, and VW.
What are Staggered Wheels?
You can find out more about staggered wheels here.
What are Concave Wheels?
You can find out more about concave wheels here.
Should I buy chrome wheels if I live in an area that snows?
You can find out more about chrome wheels here.
Are black wheels the right look for my car?
You can find out more about black wheels here.
Cast, Flow formed, Forged, What's the Difference?
How to find my wheel size?
How to measure wheel offset?
How to measure an alloy wheel?
What is Ceramic Coating and how is it applied?
What is PVD Chrome?
Powdercoated VS Painted Wheels. What's the Difference?
You can find out more Painted and Powdercoated wheels here.
What is TPMS?
You can find out more about TPMS here.

Tire Tech FAQs

What size tires will fit my wheels?
You can learn more about matching up tire and wheel sizes here.
What is the proper inflation for my tires?
Proper inflation pressure is necessary for optimum tire performance, safety and best fuel economy. To maintain proper inflation pressure, frequently check tires (when they are cool) with an accurate tire pressure gauge. For example, it is difficult to tell just by looking at radial tires whether they are under inflated. Always maintain inflation pressure at the level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer as shown on the vehicle placard or in the Owner's Manual. Higher inflation pressure increases stiffness which may deteriorate ride and generate unwanted vibration. Under inflation is the most common cause of failures in any kind of tire and may result in severe cracking, component separation or "blowout," with unexpected loss of vehicle control and accident. Under inflation increases sidewall flexing and rolling resistance resulting in heat and mechanical damage.
How often should I rotate my tires?
That depends. Refer to your owner's manual for exact guidelines, but most manufacturers recommend rotating tires roughly every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Again, see your owner's manual for specifics.
What does speed rating mean?

The speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire's service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below:

Speed Rating Maximum Speed (mph) Maximum Speed (km/h)  
M 81 mph 130 km/h  
N 87 mph 140km/h Temporary Spare Tires
P 93 mph 150 km/h  
Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires
R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires
S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
U 124 mph 200 km/h  
H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes
V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars
W 168 mph 270 km/h Exotic Sports Cars
Y 186 mph 300 km/h Exotic Sports Cars
Z 168 mph < 300 km/h < Exotic Sports Cars
How do I read the tire size?

These instructions follow the example of a P195-70-R14 90T tire

The majority of tire sizes start with a letter that identifies the type of vehicle and/or type of service for which they were designed:

  • P = P-metric or Passenger. The most common service type, this signifies that the tire is fitted on passenger vehicles: minivans, cars, SUVs, and light trucks.
  • T = Temporary Spare.
  • LT = Light Truck-metric. This signifies that the tire is fitted on trucks that are capable of towing trailers or carrying heavy cargo: full-size vans, large SUVs, and pickup trucks.
  • ST = Special Trailer Service. This tire is only used on boat, utility, or car trailers. They are not designed to be fitted on motor vehicles.

The three numbers after the first letter signify the tire's width in millimeters. For the P195-70-R14 90T tire, that's 195 millimeters if you're measuring across widthwise from the outer sidewall to the inner sidewall.

The two numbers after the section width identify the tire's profile (aspect ratio). For the P195-70-R14 90T tire, that would be 70.

What's an aspect ratio, you ask? Here's where it gets technical: 70 indicates that the sidewall height (from rim to tread) is 70 percent of its section width.

What does this equation tell us? Higher numbers mean taller sidewalls, and lower numbers mean shorter sidewalls.

The letter after the two numbers representing the sidewall aspect ratio signifies the internal construction of the tire.

Per the P195-70-R14 90T tire, the R means radial, the most common tire construction. However, a D would mean diagonal construction which is used mainly for applications in spare tires and light trucks.

The two numbers after the letter identifying the internal construction indicate the diameter of the wheel in inches.

For the P195-70-R14 90T tire, the tire and wheel diameter is 14 inches. However, many new compact and even subcompact cars today are moving up to the more luxurious 15-inch tires.

The last set of numbers followed by a letter indicate the tire's load carrying capacity index (maximum weight on the tires) and speed rating (how fast the tires are designed to go).

Using the example of the P195-70-R14 90T tire, that is 90T:

  • 90 = 1323 pounds max (600 kilograms)
  • T = 118 MPH max (190 km/h) for passenger cars
I only need 2 tires. Do they go in the front or back?
If you're replacing only two tires, be sure to have the new tires installed on your vehicle's rear axle. New tires will provide better wet grip than your half-worn tires. When new tires are installed on the rear, it helps reduce the potential for your vehicle to fishtail or hydroplane in wet conditions.
How to Measure Tire Dimensions
You can learn how to measure tire dimensions here.
What is the difference between a directional tire and asymmetrical tire
You can learn the difference between both here.
Ply Ratings and Load Ratings on Tires
You can learn more about ply and load ratings here.
Determining the age of a tire.
You can learn how to determine the age of a tire here.
When to use Summer and Winter Tires
You can learn more about summer and winter tires here.
What is Road Force Balancing?
You can learn more about Road Force Balancing here here.
What are RunFlat Tires?
You can learn more about RunFlat tires here here.
How to Diagnose Tire Pull
You can learn more about diagnosing tire pull here here.
How to Break in New Tires
You can learn more about breaking in tires here here.
Why is Tire Alignment Important?
You can learn more about tire alignment here here.

SUSPENSION FAQ'S

Lowering Springs VS Coilovers
You can learn more about aftermarket suspension here.
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