Rims and Tires are probably the most well know visual and performance upgrade put on a vehicle. The wheels and tires on your vehicle dramatically effect handling, driving comfort, ride quality, safety and appearance. Choosing the right ones for your ride is very important.

When choosing a rim and tire for a vehicle you should consider the vehicles use and driving conditions. A rim’s diameter can almost always be upsized. And going with a larger rim can positively affect the driving dynamics of a vehicle. A larger rim means a lower profile tire (if you stay within 3% of OEM tire size you don’t have to recalibrate the odometer and speedometer; and the possibility of brake and gearing upgrades can be required when putting on much larger wheels and tires). Lower profile tires have less sidewall flex, and combined with a larger rim, result in less roll when cornering, better turn-in, and generally a more responsive ride. Upsizing the width of the tire also can result in more grip. This can translate into better lateral grip and better acceleration if your current tires squeal and slip under heavy throttle. A final benefit is you can switch from your traditional all season to a dedicated performance or touring tire. It is a commonly understood myth that an all season will handle better in wet weather. Most luxury and high performance tires are designed to evacuate water better than a standard all-season can.

On trucks, SUVs and jeeps, going with a taller diameter tire is often a favoured upgrade. Taller rubber fills in the wheel wells and usually has a more aggressive, off road style tread pattern. This is great for off-road use as it results in more ground clearance and better grip in loose gravel, mud and dirt. You will sacrifice cornering ability, quietness, and fuel economy due to the bigger and heavier tire; but you do gain an intimidating stance.

You can’t just slap on any rim and tire; however. Be careful buying rims and tires from private sale. Bolt pattern, offset, caliper clearance, turning clearance, and overall height of rim and tire need to be considered. For towing and heavy duty applications, load rating must also be considered. It is best to get a professional involved that will guarantee fitments and help you get proper fitment, performance and style. Some websites will also help you with fitment concerns and let you virtually try on rims and tires on you car, truck or SUV. Check out FastWheels.ca to try on their line of rims.