One of the byproducts of lowering a vehicle can be an increase in the amount of negative camber. When looking at the wheel and tire assembly, this can be identified when the top side of the wheel/tire slants inward towards the vehicle's center.
Negative camber is a positive trait for those looking to track their cars or drive spiritedly. It helps the car turn in and the tire's contact patch to remain flat when one side of the car is loaded entering a corner. Also, it's not uncommon for some race applications to see as much as five degrees of negative camber.
Not everyone is looking for large amounts of negative camber for race use. Typically, most passenger vehicles tend not to exceed 1-1.5 degrees as they leave the factory. Having a lesser degree of camber helps with tire wear and is the primary cause for camber correction. Cars with large amounts of negative camber will tend to wear the inside shoulder of the tire more rapidly than the outboard.
If you have lowered your car on a conservative or moderate spring such as an Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set or H&R Sport Spring Set, your camber specs may still be acceptable according to factory spec ranges without any other modification. However, as you begin to look at more aggressive set-ups, such as coilover kits, you may want to consider camber correction if you're interested in the best possible tire life on the street.
Camber correction can be done using camber correction bolts, adjustable control arms or adjustable camber plates. While all of these methods work great, which type you'll need is dependent on your vehicle type.
For more information on camber, read our tech article on alignment.
We know the Focus ST has enough power to be fast, but can it use a style infusion?
My colleague Joe recently picked up a tangerine scream Ford Focus ST. It's a great color for the car, but Joe wasn't equally thrilled with the Original Equipment wheels from day one. After scanning his options in our Upgrade Garage, he narrowed down is choices to the following 18x8 5-108 45ET options:
They're all good options, however Joe decided on the Sparco Assetto Gara with a matte graphite silver finish. The wheel provides the perfect contrast to the car's bright tangerine scream finish while matching up with the vehicle's black trim. Joe now has the combination of speed and style he was truly looking for.
2013 Ford Focus ST FAQ:
1. What's the width and offset of my Original Equipment Focus ST wheels? The wheels are 18x8 with a 55mm offset (ET).
2. How do I add a new set of tires to my wheel purchase? Create a Tire & Wheel Package. First, pick the wheels you would like for your Focus ST. Next, you will be given tires that are a match for your vehicle. It's that simple! Also, mounting, balancing and any required hardware are included at no additional cost.
3. Will my Focus ST automatically recognize my new TPMS sensors? We offer O.E. TPMS sensors, however you'll need to initialize them since each sensor has a unique serial number. You can either have your dealer do this (labor charges may apply), or use the FORDTRIGGER tool.
Upgrading the wheels on a car is one of the most popular modifications drivers like to make. It allows you to add a personal touch, while also helping it stand out in a crowd.
What wheels will fit on your car? Simple. Just use our shop by vehicle feature and we'll show options that are guaranteed to fit your vehicle. In some situations, our site will also let you know if a modification to the vehicle is needed for the wheel to fit. This message will appear under the "Important Notes" section. Situations like this are likely to occur with trucks where a lift kit is used. To ensure the wheel is a perfect match for your vehicle, we measure or verify many items, including:
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Bolt Pattern
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Centerbore Diameter
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Hub Diameter
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Load Capacity
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Lug Hardware
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Suspension Components Clearance
Once you have selected your wheel, the next step is choosing a set of tires that's best for how and where you drive. If you select a wheel diameter that's different than the Original Equipment, you may need a new set of tires. You can shop by size to help you find the tires that are right for your application.
For more information on selecting the proper wheel, read "What is Wheel Offset and Backspace?"
Deciding what size wheels fit a car isn't a simple process. You must consider details, such as bolt pattern, offset, width and diameter. We have made the process easy by already taking these factors into account. When you shop for wheels by vehicle on our site, you'll be able to see all options that fit. Tire Rack's website only shows sizes we know will safely work on the vehicle. We also let users know important information, including the fitment may be aggressive and may require fender modifications for a proper fit.
To ensure a match for your car, we measure your vehicle's critical components with sophisticated electronic tools that allows our fitment engineers to create extremely accurate drawings of these parts. We do the same for the wheels that we offer and then use Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs to match the wheels to a vehicle. Using these electronic tools helps us verify the numerous different critical areas before a wheel can be listed for a vehicle. The items we measure or verify include:
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Bolt Pattern
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Centerbore
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Hub Interference
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Load Capacity
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Lug Hardware
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Suspension Components
When viewing wheels in our Upgrade Garage, you can filter options by diameter, price, finish, brand and even weight. Some vehicles come from the factory with a staggered wheel size fitment and our fitment listings will indicate if we have larger rear wheels for your car. Even if your car originally came with larger rear wheels, you can elect to use the same size in the front and rear if you don't want to stay with a staggered set-up. This will allow you to rotate your tires. Also in our Upgrade Garage, you can select the option that allows you to view the wheels on your vehicle.
For more information on choosing the right wheel for your car, read "Why Shop for Wheels by First Selecting a Vehicle?"
Starting with 2008 model year cars and light trucks, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has been required for all new vehicles sold in the United States. While some vehicles (Audi and BMW most recently) use the ABS system (or indirect system) to keep watch for a deflating tire, most use a battery powered sensor (based in the base of the valve stem assembly) to give the most accurate read of your tire pressure. When replacing tires or wheels and tires as a complete package, the presence of these remote sensors can require a few extra steps in the purchase and/or installation process.
Why does my installer charge a "TPMS" service fee for installing new tires?
Many of our Recommended Installers will charge a TPMS service fee as part of new tire installation. When the old tire is being removed from your existing wheel, it's best to remove the TPMS sensor (and the attached valve stem). This avoids any damage caused by breaking the tire bead loose from the wheel as well as seating the new tire onto the wheel. Once the sensor has been removed, it will require a new "O" ring and/or compression ring to seal the sensor properly.
What happens if I do not add new TPMS sensors to my Tire & Wheel Package?
When we sell a set of wheel and tires, we're happy to mount and Road Force balance the tires to the wheels at no cost prior to shipment. Given the TPMS sensors are located inside the wheel (opposite the valve stem hole), the sensors (if requested) need to go in the wheel before the tires are installed. Without the sensors installed, most vehicles will display a warning light and chime upon engine start up (the light will continue to blink as long as the engine is running). Some vehicles may also limit your ability to turn off traction control if you need to "rock" out of a snow drift in winter or even limit engine output. In many states, an active TPMS system is required as part of the state's safety inspection, and any illuminated warning lights may cause the vehicle to fail its annual safety inspection. With your purchase, you can elect to add the correct sensor (at an additional cost) or choose to have your existing sensors removed from your old wheels and installed on the new wheel. If run-flat tires are being purchased with new wheels, new sensors are required.
If I purchase new sensors as part of my Tire & Wheel Package, what else needs to be done before use?
Many vehicles require new TPMS sensors be activated or initialized at an authorized repair facility or dealership. This process normally involves connecting the vehicle to a service computer (via the ODB port under your dashboard) and having a technician load the new sensor's ID codes into the car's computer. Most cars will need to have this activation service performed each time wheels and tires are changed out (like when changing from dedicated winter wheels and tires back to your summer/all-season set). As always, consult your owner's manual or contact your dealer for more information.
If you have narrowed down your tire choice using the help of our Tire Survey Results, or have pieced together a Tire & Wheel Package, you may be asking yourself: "What's next?"
As a mail order company, Tire Rack ships products using various shipping providers. We ship to residential and business addresses, as well as to our own network of Recommended Installers. How does it work to ship to a Recommended Installer?
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Shop our selection of products for your vehicle and add what you need to your cart.
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Take a look at the Recommended Installers in your area and read consumer reviews and pricing information.
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Before checkout, select your installer and save it to your addresses in "My Account" for later. Or, while in the cart, select your installer and your order will be shipped directly to them.
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Call your Recommended Installer to set up an appointment.
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Drive in for installation.
If you live in the continental United States, your order will ship from one of our six distribution centers and typically arrives in 1-2 business days via UPS. If the product is not available in the location nearest to you, express shipping via FedEx is also an option. Other shipping options include, One-Day Express and Express Saturday. Estimated shipping charges can be seen when you select "Shipping Quote" in search results and enter your ZIP Code when prompted.
Buy your vehicle and
hold onto it for as long as possible. That's typically the best way to get the most out of your car and budget. Obviously, you'll need to maintain and take care of it as best you can.
If your vehicle originally came with chrome wheels and you live in snow country, one challenge you'll probably face is peeling chrome. Eventually this peeling chrome will prevent your wheels from properly sealing against the tire beads. One way of fixing this is by having an installer clean the wheel and use a bead sealant to reduce or eliminate the air loss.
If leaks persist to the point you're still adding air to your tires every morning, then it's time to replace your wheels. A great option to consider is a set of Sport Edition F7 wheels. This five-spoke wheel is available in both a 16" and 17" rim diameter. Sport Edition wheels combine quality, style and price to offer an exceptional value. Using the latest production standards, Sport Edition wheels complement the appearance of many popular vehicles.
Not only could new wheels fix your leaking problem, but your vehicle will look better, too!
An Audi Q7 with Audi's quattro® all-wheel drive should have zero problems in the snow, right? Not if your Q7 came with 21" Original Equipment wheels and 295/35R21 summer tires. Unfortunately, none of the major tire manufacturers make an all-season in this size and there's not a good alternative 21" tire.
If you live in an area outside the Snowbelt, you may not need a set of dedicated winter / snow tires. However, the summer tires currently on your vehicle aren't going to be much help once the temperature begins to drop. The solution? Downsize to 275/45ZR20 Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires on 20" Andros Spec P wheels.
The ExtremeContact DWS features Tuned Performance Indicators -- visible letters molded into the second rib from the outboard shoulder to alert drivers of their tire's performance levels. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry and wet roads only. After the "W" and "S" have worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has proper tread depth for dry conditions only.
275/45R20 has the same overall diameter as the 295/35R21 and is 1/2" narrower. The 275/45R20 is an Original Equipment size that Audi uses on certain Q7 trim levels and is compatible. Since your Q7 uses the Indirect ABS-based TPMS system, there are no direct TPMS sensors to purchase. We'll include our free mount and balance, therefore your Tire & Wheel Package ($1156* plus shipping) will arrive ready to install.
*Prices subject to change
Upgrading the wheels on a car is one of the most popular modifications drivers like to make. It allows you to add a personal touch, while also helping it stand out in a crowd.
2012 Lexus CT 200h
2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport
