Driving along, you can see all the people and landmarks of a city. Want to impress the locals, your friends, or yourself with your truck? Look no further than upgrading your vehicle’s wheels. Wheels are the key to taking you ever you need to go anytime you are on the road. One popular upgrade—plus sizing—is taking America by storm. But should you plus size your wheels? What are the pros and cons of doing so? Is it even worth it? And what kind of things should you consider before taking the plunge? In this article, we’ll try to answer those questions and more on A Wheel Upgrade. Read on!
Pros and Cons of Plus Sizing
Before diving into the exciting world of upgrading your truck’s wheels and rims, it’s important to think about the pros and cons of plus-sizing your vehicle. Plus-sizing just means upgrading the wheels. How many sizes up are you going to go? Plus one, two, or three? Plus one can offer smoother vehicle handling but make for a lsihgtly bumpier ride. Plus-two gives you an awesome look but at the cost of losing some of your weather grip on the tires.
Plus three sizes will look exceptionally stylish and sleek. But they do make running over curbs and potholes a bit of an added risk. At levels two and three, hitting potholes can be a bigger pain than usual, as they’re likely to cause slightly more damage than hitting them at standard or plus one tire levels. Per an extensive review in Consumer Reports, you may lose some performance at higher levels of plus-sizing, including ride comfort, cornering in wet weather, some braking, and emergency handling of your vehicle. With these in mind, decide if plus-sizing is right for you. And if it is, start looking into some of the key factors involved in upgrading those wheels! If you just want to get new rims without plus-sizing, there are options available for those as well, with many of the same criteria covering that area.
Wheel Diameter
When you’re plus-sizing the wheels on your vehicle, knowing the wheel diameter and how it correlates to the hubs is pretty essential. If the diameter is the same width as the original vehicle tires, it’s known as plus zero. Plus-one through plus-three means increasing the wheel diameter by that amount. If you went plus-one, it would be one inch larger than the original tires. It would be the same down the line for plus two and plus three. As we mentioned above, wheel diameter has a significant impact on how well your vehicle will perform with a wheel upgrade. Larger wheels usually have smaller tire sizes, too, so keep that in mind when upgrading your wheels and rims.
Hub Size
Wheel hubs need to match the central bore. Otherwise, the wheel won’t fit! The last thing you want is to buy a sweet new set of wheels only to find they’re not going to fit your vehicle! If the wheel hub is too small (i.e. smaller than the center bore), then it won’t be centered properly. This will cause issues like vibration and the appearance of an imbalanced wheel. It can also damage the wheel, causing uneven wear. Getting your hub size, offset, backspacing, tire size, tire tread, and wheel diameter correct the first time will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Are The New Wheels Hub or Lug Centric?
Some wheels are hub-centric while others are lug-centric. So, what’s the difference? Hub-centric refers to wheels that are centered by a connection to the axle hub. The hardware keeps everything in place and holds the car’s weight. The lug nuts handle the forces that start pushing the wheel away from the plate. Most original wheels are set up this way. Lug-centric wheels mean exactly that: centering the wheel by the lug placement. Lug-centric wheels can have vibrational issues and might require hub-centric spacers. So, when you’re looking for your next set of truck wheels and rims, be sure to understand your hub size and the needs of the wheels before making a purchase. You’ll definitely be glad you did!
Budget
As obvious as it might seem, budgeting for your wheel upgrade is one of the most critical parts of the process. Just like when you’re hunting for a new car or trying to find cheap car insurance quotes, budgeting your wheel upgrade is necessary for both your wallet and your sanity! Wheel replacements—when they’re needed for an emergency repair instead of an upgrade—happen from time to time. Between parts and labor, it’s not uncommon for the average cost to hover around $700 or so. That’s why budgeting is so important here. You need to account for the price of the parts and decide how you’re going to install them. If you plan to go the DIY route (and why not, since it is your upgrade?), you can save some money on the labor costs. The other thing to consider is that some vendors might offer less expensive parts. The wheels and rims offered by American Trucks, for instance, are some of the most affordable and high-quality on the market. When you’re budgeting for the upgrade, be sure to check out all your options, weigh what you can afford with your interests, and choose the best option that won’t break the bank.