Tire R
ack is excited to offer Hurst wheels for the new Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang.
The
Stunner is a new custom wheel (rim) that is exclusively engineered for the late model
Ford Mustang and
Chevrolet Camaro. The wheel is available in a 20" diameter for either staggered or non-staggered applications.
Designed with a durable, machined/clear-coat finish to protect the wheel from corrosive elements, this new wheel is the perfect complement to your Mustang or Camaro tires.
Shop by vehicle to see if the the new Stunner is a fit for your vehicle.
As many Corvette owners know all too well, purchasing
C5 and
C6 tires can get a bit confusing and even frustrating. This is primarily due to the unusual staggering of the wheels. Unlike most vehicles with staggered (different front and rear sizes) tires, Chevrolet has been equipping Corvette wheels, since 1997, in the rear that aren't only wider, but also an inch larger in diameter than the front wheels.
Traction Control
This staggering makes it more difficult to find matching front and rear tires for the Vette. Additi
onally, using sizes that don't match the O.E. front and rear diameters will render the vehicle's traction control (Acceleration Slip Regulation) non-operational. This is because the car was engineered to have a tire that is one inch taller in the rear.
Winter / Snow TiresTo make matters worse, we have many customers looking for winter / snow tires for their Corvette and they're surprised to find that their options are extremely limited. The summer tires that are Original Equipment on the vehicle are nothing short of dangerous when driving on ice and in the snow. The lone winter option for the Corvette is the
Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero, which is only available in a non-run-flat front/rear match. The good news is that this is a good winter tire, however they can be hard to find in stock.
If you've decided that you want to make the move and install a set of winter / snow tires on your Corvette rims, then take a look at the Pirelli tire
prices for the Winter 240 Sottozero and make this year's winter driving as safe as possible.
Earl
ier this year, General introduced their new Ultra High Performance All-Season tire, the
General G-MAX AS-03. Designed for the drivers of sports cars, sporty coupes and high performance sedans, this newer radial combines performance handling with all-season traction in dry, wet and wintry conditions, even in light snow.
During
testing, we were impressed with the tire's traction, especially on the wet track. Its directional tread design not only looks cool but functions very well as it channels away water. It had relatively good handling and responsiveness and the noise level was acceptable for an ultra high performance tire.
The tire is attractively priced for those drivers looking for good value to go along with performance. Available in many sizes ranging from 15" rim diameter up to 20", this tire also comes with a 40,000 mile treadlife warranty and 45-day customer satisfaction trial. The G-MAX AS-03 is a great choice for owners who drive a Subaru WRX, Honda Civic, Ford Mustang or Chevy Malibu.
Many SUV and truck owners need excellent snow and ice traction. In some cases, it's not practical to have a dedicated set of winter / snow tires, therefore I'd like to showcase a few tires that perform well during all seasons while maintaining great snow traction. Each snow tire, as well as the following all weather options from BFGoodrich, General and Goodyear are marked with a mountain/snowflake symbol. To learn more about the mountain/snowflake symbol, read "
How to Confirm a Winter Performer."
Take a look at what customers are saying about their experience with these On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires:
"I have put 80,000+ on this set of BFGs and they are still going strong. I had a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee before and I put 93,000 on those. I live in Michigan and I hardly use my four-wheel drive in the winter. I tow a 16 foot enclosed trailer, my friends 21 foot boat sometimes. Deep snow, slush, mud and sand are not a problem. These tires respond very well to the load and handle them with ease. The rim protector is great for protecting your rims from curbs. The trick to getting the mileage out of theses tires is to rotate them every 5,000-6,000 miles. I do plan on buying another set here once mine wear out. As the saying goes 'Why mess with something that works?' These tires have been proven through the years on-road and off-road." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2003 Dodge Durango 4WD (BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO)
"I originally bought these when I had a selectable 4WD Explorer and never had to use 4WD during the winter and always had excellent traction. Now I have them on an AWD Explorer and they make the AWD traction, in any weather, insanely good. There is some tire noise which is expected and personally doesn't bother me at all. Advice on these tires, have them rotated and balanced every 5,000 miles to keep the treadwear even and these tires will last a long time. The tires also made my SUV look more aggressive compared to the previous tires that were on it, and have had a few people comment on them." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2000 Ford Explorer (General Grabber AT 2)
"
I had a set of these on my 2004 2500 Silverado. They were the best tires I've ever had. I literally got 65,000 miles out of them and NEVER had a flat. Mine are 10 plys but I drive in absolutely miserable conditions. Frequently on scrap steel sites which destroyed other tires. Frequently towing heavy loads. Frequently overloaded. Driving on mountain roads. These are more expensive than other 10 plys out there in the same size range but I will stick with the Wrangler SA. They are worth it." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 Chevrolet Silverado C2500HD Crew (Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor)
If you decide to buy BF Goodrich tires, Goodyears or Generals this winter, be sure to look for that mountain/snowflake symbol!
The most popular upgrade for cars and trucks is new custom wheels and tires. After that, suspension upgrades are very common on both late model and older vehicles. Typically, drivers will want to simply raise or lower their car or truck for aesthetic reasons, but there are often performance reasons for suspension upgrades, as well.
Raising, often referred to as lifting, is most common on trucks and jeeps. In addition to creating a taller ride height, this is regularly done for performance reasons such as allowing for larger wheels and tires than what the factory (O.E.) suspension will allow.
There are two primary ways for lowering a vehicle: lowering springs or an adjustable coil-over suspension kit. Both of these options will give the car a lower center of gravity and stiffen the car's chassis, which will allow for less body roll in corners and improved handling and cornering. Coil-overs give the added advantage of ride-height adjustability and with certain models, dampening adjustability for fine tuning the balance of ride quality and handling.
Whether you're looking for performance shocks, gas shocks or other products to upgrade your suspension, it's important to consult with an expert. Changing a car's suspension will require alignment adjustments and may create fitment challenges with your custom rims (wheels) and tires.
Due to the
recent sales success of the popular and newly redesigned Ford Focus, many customers have been calling in exploring their options for dedicated winter / snow tires.
This hot new hatch and sedan, dependent on trim level, came with 15"-17" wheel fitments and several different Original Equipment tire selections. Regardless of model and trim levels, the modern Ford Focus shares the same brakes and wheel hubs. This allows us to recommend and supply a large number of wheel fitments including steel wheels (car rims).
This season, Tire Rack's recommendation for a
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package mirrors my own personal choice: the low-cost option of a 15" steel wheel paired with the
Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 tire is a hard to beat combination of performance and affordability. Of course, alloy wheels are available for those looking for a more aesthetically pleasing setup.
And if you could use some extra help on whether to choose an alloy or steel wheel, read "
Alloy vs. Steel Wheels in Winter Tire & Wheel Packages."
As the snow starts to fly, there's a mad rush for customers to get winter wheels and tires. However, should you order steel or alloy wheels with your
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package? The decision depends on the vehicle, price, the customer's needs and availability.
Availability: Certain vehicles can only be installed with alloy wheels, as steel wheels are not designed as aftermarket rims (wheels) for all applications.
Price: Steel wheels are the most affordable option even when you add a set of
wheel covers to your purchase. However, the price differe
nce can be minimal at times and many customers choose alloy wheels because they prefer the look and ease of not purchasing wheel covers.
Appearance: Obviously, there are many more styles of alloy wheels available than the simple black steel wheels. For some drivers, this is important. For others, the black steel wheel is perfectly sufficient.
Performance: Alloy wheels offer several performance advantages over steel. Compared to a steel wheel, an alloy wheel is lighter, stronger and will not rust. To gain a better understanding of how to compare alloy to steel wheels, read "
Alloy vs. Steel Wheels in Winter Tire & Wheel Packages."
Winter / snow tires offer dramatic improvement in safety and performance in winter conditions including snow, ice and freezing temperatures. This improvement is especially important for vehicles that include Max Performance Summer tires as Original Equipment.
The Porsche Panamera and new body style Cayenne commonly come with O.E. Max Performance Summer tires and are dangerous to use in a winter environment. The few all-season Porsche tires available are not well-suited for deep snow and ice.
Tire Rack offers custom
Winter/ Snow Tire & Wheel Packages for these vehicles in 18", 19" and 20" diameters. The packages come completely mounted and balanced and have the option of coming with TPMS sensors and Porsche center caps.
Winter packages for the Panamera start at around $1,800* for the 18" fitment. This package includes the
Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero Serie II tire and
Sport Edition Cup 4 alloy wheel. And after you buy Pirelli tires for your Porsche, read "
Breaking In New Winter Tires" to better understand how the personality and handling traits of your new tires are different than your Original Equipment.
Winter packages for the Cayenne start at around $1,300* for the 18" fitment. This package includes the Bridgestone
Blizzak DM-V1 and the
Sport Edition TX8 alloy wheel. This combination of Bridgestone SUV tires and aftermarket wheels will make winter driving a breeze compared to any all weather tires you may find.
Find the right wheels/rims and tires for your vehicle by creating a
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package today!
*Prices subject to change
Tire Rack is excited to offer a new custom wheel (rim) line from
ciao.
The
ciao wheels are available in 17" diameter exclusively for the FIAT 500 and in several finishes, including silver, matte graphite, black and anthracite.
Ciao wheels are available in six designs including split spoke, solid spoke and rally style. These wheels will give your FIAT 500 the custom look you are looking for.
Click on the wheels below to see what they will look like on the 2012 FIAT 500.
Tire Rack is excited to offer a new custom wheel (rim) line from
Advanti Racing.
Established in the mid-1990's, Advanti Racing custom wheels offer wheel options for a variety of tastes. Advanti wheels are available in diameters ranging from 15"- 22" and in several finishes including silver, gunmetal, black and hyper black.
Advanti Racing wheels are available in 11 styles ranging from classic 5-spoke to more modern 20-spoke designs. These wheels are aggressively priced from $103.00* each for 15" wheels to $270.00* each for 22".
Some popular vehicle fitments include: Chevrolet Malibu, MAZDA 6, Ford Mustang and Pontiac Grand Prix.
To find out if there is an Advanti Racing custom wheel for your car, contact one of our knowledgeable
sales specialists.
*Prices subject to change
Tire Rack has recently partnered with wheel brands
Ultra and
KMC XD Series to offer custom wheel styles for dually trucks. Below is a sample of the wheels currently available, with the Ultra Goliath Dually and KMC XD Series Rockstar Dually also available in a chrome finish:
These wheels are sold in sets of four, with different front and rear part numbers to accommodate the unique offset requirements of dually trucks. The inner rear wheel is retained on both rear corners to complete the set. They meet all required load ratings for their specified applications.
Each wheel is available in 16" and 17" rim diameters.
Shop by vehicle to find the wheels that are a match for your vehicle.
At Tire Rack we
work hard to properly classify the tires we sell by
performance category. This helps us to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about the type of tire you need for your driving style and the conditions you regularly experience.
Once in a while we encounter tires that seem to defy description, tires that don't quite seem to fit in any one performance category. Two tires that come to mind are the
Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61 and the new
BFGoodrich Rugged Terrain T/A.
If you drive your light truck or SUV on paved roads most of the time but need a tire that will really come through for you when you need it to in difficult weather conditions or on unpaved roads, you should look closely at these two tires.
The Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61 (SAT for Stylish All-Terrain) is a unique light truck and SUV tire that combines exceptional all-season traction with highway tire ride comfort. The SAT is the perfect replacement for your vehicle’s Original Equipment. Ideal for a person that drives mostly on highways and city streets, but still needs off-road capability. The SAT also earns the Severe Snow Rating, certifying snow traction performance equivalent to a “dedicated” snow traction tire. Kumho's casing construction technology ensures a uniform contact patch with the road surface. The internal structure includes twin high-tensile steel belts reinforced by spirally wound nylon that blends handling with durability. Polyester cord reinforced sidewalls molded into a computer-optimized contour reduce internal tire stresses to increase ride comfort along with tire durability, while rim flange protectors help shield wheels from off-road debris and accidental curb damage. The tread compound offers the wide operating temperature range you need for all-around performance and outstanding winter traction. A straight, center rib block improves steering response and stability, and helps maintain low noise operation and 3-D tread block edge prevents snow build-up, and contributes to longer, more even tread wear.
The Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61 comes in 25 popular light truck sizes and carries an exceptional 6-year, 60,000 mile tread wear warranty.
The Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61 is currently rated #1 in our customer survey of 21 On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires. It has received superior marks in 10 out of 12 categories.
Unlike the Kumho, the
BFGoodrich Rugged Terrain T/A is classified as a Highway All-Season light truck tire. The
Rugged Terrain T/A was developed to fill a perceived gap between conventionally treaded Highway All-Season tires and the more aggressively treaded All-Terrain tire. If you drive a Jeep, light truck or SUV and you are looking for a more versatile tire that can work during the week and be ready for a little adventure on the weekends, the
Rugged Terrain T/A combines a bold off-road appearance along with on-road appeal. This new tire blends aggressive looks with pleasant ride qualities, low noise and year-round traction in dry, wet and wintry conditions.
With two large circumferential grooves that evacuate water while you drive, wet traction and hydroplaning resistance are excellent. The tire's internal structure features twin steel belts reinforced by BFGoodrich's Equal TEnsion Containment (ETEC) System that spirally wraps nylon above the steel belts for extra toughness in all terrains. To ensure a smooth ride, a two-ply polyester carcass is used.
The
Rugged Terrain T/A has been introduced in 36 sizes and is backed by a 6 year 50,000 mile Manufacturer's Limited Treadlife Warranty.
While the
BFGoodrich Rugged Terrain T/A is too new for any accumulated survey results, the individual reviews on this tire have been excellent.
If you are looking for the rugged good looks of an All-Terrain tire with the smoother ride comfort and longer tread life of a Highway All-Season, perhaps you need to try the tires that defy description.
The late model BMW M3 comes equipped with a sport suspension system optimized for aggressive street driving. For drivers looking for improved track performance and the flexibility to adjust for reasonable street manners, upgrading to a fully adjustable coil-over kit is a great solution.
A coil-over suspension kit incorporates precisely matched
coil springs and dampers in a compact solution to provide maximum performance. In addition to improved handling, these coil-over suspension solutions reduce the unsprung weight of a vehicle. These improvements translate to faster lap times and improved daily driving comfort.
Coil-overs can also be a great solution for lowering your car with upsized custom wheels (rims) and tires. The ability to fine tune the car's ride height can be a great way to overcome many challenging wheel fitments.
There are several options including kits from
KW and
H&R that can adjust both the ride height and dampening:
Search suspension components by vehicle to see which suspension products work best for your vehicle.
While helping a customer decide on a
Tire & Wheel Package for his navy blue 2009 Volkswagen GTI, we decided a great wheel option was the new
Bremmer Kraft BR05 Bright PVD.
This wheel provides a highly durable metallic finish that would look outstanding on an Audi, BMW or Volkswagen. Lose a center cap for your BMW? The BMW original center cap is also available for this new wheel from
Bremmer Kraft.
Features of the BR05 include:
- Mesh spoke design
- One-piece, cast
- Snap-in, exposed lug
Available Rim Diameters: 18", 19" and 20"
Shop by vehicle to see which wheels work best for your vehicle.
Tire Rack is excited to announce new wheel options from Helo.
Helo wheels are available in unique styles that define the look of stock, lowered or lifted trucks and most passenger cars.
Helo is a car and light truck custom wheel (rim) line offered in 20 different styles with sizes ranging between 16"-24". Some popular applications include:
Cadillac Escalade,
Dodge Ram,
Volkswagen CC and
Nissan Altima.
Shop by vehicle or contact one of our
sales specialists for fitment options and pricing.
Aftermarket wheels designed to use the Original Equipment center cap are available at Tire Rack. Let the wheels from Bremmer Kraft, Breyton, ASA, Elbrus and O.Z. Racing give your vehicle that custom look while maintaining the factory edge. Take a look at a few options that will set your car apart from the rest:
Use our website to view exact fitment and availability as some wheels may not be compatible with certain makes and models.
Note: Click the "Product Description" tab on the rim summary page to see if the wheel will accept the O.E. center cap. If available for the wheel selected, the O.E. center cap can be purchased from the "Optional Hardware" tab.
Steel wheels, or "steelies," make a great economical wheel for a winter package and are typically priced between $50-$55 each depending on size. They are not nearly as nice looking, but if function and price are your goal than the Steel Wheel is your cup of tea. We have a lot of fitments for steel rims available (mostly for cars as they get too expensive for larger vehicles). These are not "cheap steel wheels" but an economical option for your winter driving needs.
If you like the price of the steel wheel but not the look, Tire Rack carries classic wheel cover options for customization. These wheel covers may not fit your factory wheels and are only tested to fit on the steel wheels purchased at Tire Rack.
How do you know if steel rims are available for your vehicle?
Select your vehicle and begin creating a
winter package, pick your tires or "skip to wheels" to see your steel and/or alloy wheel options.
I talk to a lot of customers who have a sports car equipped with summer tires, but they need to drive their vehicle year round. These sports cars also have tires in a wider size that hurt winter driving performance. I always suggest an affordable wheel and tire package for winter, downsizing the wheel and tire whenever possible. By downsizing, you get a higher sidewall aspect ratio along with a narrower tread width that helps the tire cut the snow.
But what do you do about your tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS)? Most of these systems have sensors inside the wheel that measure the air pressure and send that information to the factory installed computer.
Tire Rack offers the sensors as an option on packages for cars and trucks. We take the wheels, tires and TPMS sensors and mount and balance them at no additional charge as part of the package. When your winter rim and tire package arrives, installation is simple.
Search for Winter / Snow tires & wheels for your vehicle.
Want to test fit your custom wheels (rims) before you buy them? Check out the
Upgrade Garage at Tire Rack! It's a simple and easy way to get the right look for your vehicle.
The first step is to
search for wheels by vehicle.
Then, find a wheel that you like and select "View on Vehicle.” You can even choose the color of your ride!
It's just another way that Tire Rack takes the guesswork out of purchasing wheels.
Looking to customize the look of your Ferrari without changing or compromising factory specifications? The O.Z. Racing Tuner System
Mito Rosso III is built exclusively for Ferraris and as a tribute to Ferrari’s factory wheels. It is designed to incorporate the original Ferrari center cap and to bolt on with the original Ferrari lugs. This OZ Rim has the unique feature of being hubcentric without requiring a hubcentric ring for most late-model Ferraris. Applications include the 599, 612 Scaglietti, 360, 430, and California.
The cap shown on the wheel here can be purchased as an option for this OZ Wheel as well.
All O.Z. Tuner System wheels are manufactured to the highest standards. Final assembly takes place in our headquarters in South Bend, Indiana and each wheel ships with its own unique build sheet showing that it has correct specifications for radial run-out and torque on each fastener. Read the full story about the OZ Wheels
here.
