Choose a Car to Enhance the Car's Visuals

One of the components of motor vehicles, especially cars, that can enhance appearance is the car wheels. This component is also often and easily modified according to desire. In cars, wheel modifications are usually applied to passenger cars by increasing the standard or factory ring size.

Things to Consider in Car Wheel Modification

Car wheel modifications are usually done with the aim of beautifying the appearance of the wheels with a more stylish design while still referring to the original wheel size or even increasing or decreasing the wheel size.

Before going deeper, it is good for you to know the sizes of wheels commonly used on cars. A 17-inch car wheel means that the wheel has a diameter of 17 inches and is usually suitable for tires sized 235/60R17, 215/60R17, or 225/65R17.

A 16-inch car wheel means that the diameter of the wheel is 16 inches and can use tires sized 225/50R16, 215/65R16, or 225/75R16. A 15-inch car wheel has a diameter of 15 inches and can be used for tires sized 215/65R15, 215/70R15, or 205/70R15.

1. The outer diameter of the tire used

Make sure the outer diameter of the tire remains the same as before when modifying the wheels. This is to ensure that comfort while driving can still be felt because the factory has calculated it. Therefore, if you want to increase the wheel size, make sure to pay attention to the tire diameter and the size of the car's feet.

2. Tire aspect ratio

This refers to the thickness of the tire. For example, in a tire sized 225/35R19 where 225 is the width of the tire measured from the inside, while 35 is the aspect ratio. The smaller the aspect ratio, the thinner the tire. Conversely, the larger the aspect ratio, the thicker the tire used.

3. Risks of modifying wheel size

Replacing wheels with a larger diameter will certainly require changing to tires with a smaller aspect ratio. Thinner tires will reduce comfort while driving because the deflection effect becomes smaller, thus reducing vibration absorption capability.

A larger wheel diameter also affects the increased weight of the steering system. Additionally, the steering gear will wear out quickly. Not only that, but the tie-rod end, ball-joint, and wheel bearings are also prone to damage.

4. Ideally, modifications can increase up to 2 inches from the standard

To maintain comfort while driving, you can modify the car wheels by changing the size to a maximum of 2 inches larger than the standard size. Besides comfort, you can still use tires with the previous aspect ratio and do not need to recalibrate the speedometer.

5. Wheel width

Wheel modifications also need to consider the width of the wheels, which should also be adjusted to the standard tire size. A 15-inch wheel has a width of 6-7 inches. Meanwhile, a 17-inch wheel has a width of 7.5-8 inches. The wider the wheel, the larger the tire's grip area, which can cause increased body roll or the movement of the car body outward in corners and understeer symptoms where the steering remains straight even when turned.

6. Changes in the car's pivot point

Larger and wider wheels affect the shift in the center of gravity or pivot point of the wheels. Using wheels with an offset (the surface area of the center of the wheel protruding outward or inward) different from the standard also affects the pivot point. The smaller the offset, the more it sinks into the middle section and the wider the lip of the wheel.

7. EPS capability of the car

Large wheels and wide tire treads will shorten the lifespan of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS). Modifications must be adjusted to the EPS capability standards so that it does not become overloaded.

8. Material of the wheels used

Wheels are usually made from lightweight metals, such as billet steel, magnesium, or metal alloys. Lighter wheels can reduce the weight of the car without neglecting their durability, so the engine's work in turning the wheels and the braking system is not too heavy.

9. Design and model of the wheels

There are various types of wheel designs, including luxury, sporty, off-road, and touring. They can be adjusted according to taste, needs, and budget. The wheel models can range from one-piece to three-piece. One-piece models are more durable but heavier, while three-piece models are lighter and excel in cases where damage occurs to one component, eliminating the need to replace the entire wheel.

10. Quality of the wheels

It is very important to pay attention to the quality of the wheels for those who want to modify their car wheels. Ensure that the wheels you will use are original and of high quality. You can determine this by looking at the smoothness of the finish and the neatness of the wheel, as well as how many rough metal cuts are visible. However, it still comes back to personal taste and budget.

Plus One or Plus Two Strategy in Wheel Modification

Modifications can also use the strategy of increasing by 2 inches from the size, as well as using the plus one or plus two strategy. This means increasing the tire size by one step or two steps from the standard.

For example, if your car's standard tire size is 185/60/15, then the width of the tire is 185, the height is 60, and 15 is for the wheel diameter. If you increase by one step, you can use the size 205/60/16. If you increase by two steps, the size becomes 205/60/17.

Modifying car wheels has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are interested, make sure to adjust it to your needs and budget. For safety, consult with an experienced workshop expert.

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