Difference between Wheels and Rims?

[JaCe]

Just wondering what the actual difference is?

I'm under the impression that wheels are the things which tyres are on, and rims are the things they can like.. put on top of the wheel (a bit like a hubcap?)?

I'm looking at these- http://www.tempetyres.com.au/products_closeup.asp?part=&part_no=677
... are those wheels or rims? I'm thinking wheels; but I'm a n00b!

[destrukshn]

my assumption
wheels = rims.

[NeRV]

yeah i thought its the same thing?

[DOHCTR Coopz!]

mags??

[JaCe]

Well the reason I asked is because someone asked me if I was planning to get 'wheels' or 'rims'... and at first i thought, hmm... aren't rims the thing which the tyre sits on? but then i thought, that's the wheel.

*shrugs*

I also thought they were same thing until I got asked the "OR" question.

[destrukshn]

ah.. mags is a different story.
mags were short for wheels that were made out of magnesium or part.
that's why they are called mags.
lol.
so mags are a different league to wheels/rims.
in my opinion. lol

[DOHCTR Coopz!]

haha nice 1 destruction! i didnt know there was a difference.. i thoughts mags was the 80's/90's term for rims/wheels...! u dont hear 'mags' much these days..
"oooh check out the JDM mags yo!!"

[destrukshn]

lol, yeah it was kinda.. to a certain respect.
it's becuase mags were the IN thing back in the day.
lol.

[JaCe]

Don't mags refer to wheels of magnesium alloy?

EDIT: I hate having a slow internet connection!

[destrukshn]

Don't mags refer to wheels of magnesium alloy?

EDIT: I hate having a slow internet connection!
what's what i said? didn't i?
=/
lol.

[EuroDude]

Rims = Alloy rims or Steel rims
Mags = 80's term for Alloy wheels
Wheels = Rims with tyres (Generic term)

[JaCe]

Haha sorry I meant to say I clicked post.. but by then when it appeared, there were so many posts which had been made!

As for what EuroDude said, that sounds pretty reasonable... wheels include tyres; and I guess if I buy a rims/tyres pack, then that means they are wheels!

[destrukshn]

not quite..
when you see advertising.. they say wheel + tyre packages.
not wheel packages.
so i'd still say rims = wheels.

[EuroDude]

Yeah the term "wheels" is very generic, and used differently in various situations. A wheel is basically a round device used for transport ;)

So Wheels = Rims, or Rims+Tyres.

[NeRV]

lol... confusing thread...
So if a rim = a wheel, and a wheel = a rim + tyres... and a mag is a 80's term of a wheel, which = rims + tyres... then whats a hubcap?... cause im sure mag's = hubcaps?? :confused:

[EuroDude]

rofl =)

I'm pretty sure Mags = Alloy wheels. http://www.mrmag.com.au

Hubcaps are those round plastic covers (fake alloys) you put on Steel Rims

[destrukshn]

lol
the covers that covers the whole wheel are called wheel covers.
hubcaps technically cover tHe hubs. lol
and mags are not just alloys, there wheels that are made of magnesium or part of, hence the short name of mags

[EuroDude]

yeah hubcaps are supposed to be those small cap covers, but nowadays wheel covers are widely called hubcaps as well. http://images.google.com.au/images?q=hubcaps&oe=UTF-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

lol i'm as confused as the next person :p

[destrukshn]

yeah hubcaps are supposed to be those small cap covers, but nowadays wheel covers are widely called hubcaps as well. http://images.google.com.au/images?q=hubcaps&oe=UTF-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

lol i'm as confused as the next person :p
yeah i know..
i'm just being difficult. lol, confuse more people.
=/
lol.

[EuroDude]

lol=) well let me elaborate...

Wheels = Mags or Rims, with or without tyres.
Rims = Alloy/Magnesium/Steel rims without tyres.
Mags = Magnesium and/or Alloy Rims.
Hubcaps = Wheel covers that cover steel rims, or the small covers that cover wheel hubs.
Tyres = Those round black rubber things.
Panadol = what you take after figuring all this out lol

[destrukshn]

lol=) well let me elaborate...

Wheels = Mags or Rims, with or without tyres.
Rims = Alloy/Magnesium/Steel rims without tyres.
Mags = Magnesium and/or Alloy Rims.
Hubcaps = Wheel covers that cover steel rims, or the small covers that cover wheel hubs.
Tyres = Those round black rubber things.
Panadol = what you take after figuring all this out lol
lol.
eh, close enough for me.
lol.
=)

[Zdster]

Panadol = what you take after figuring all this out lol

= what I need after reading this thread :).

As stated - mags/wheels/rims/alloys are all the same thing. They are the part that rubber (or tyre) sits on. The only real difference is the materials or way in which they are made (ie 'alloys' being made out of a metal alloy), but that being said, for most people if you were to discuss 'wheels' and mentioned any of the above name they should understand what you are talking about.

Hubcaps are simply hubcaps. I have never heard of hubcaps being called 'mags'.

EuroDude has hit the nail on the head, so plus PQ points for you :).

[panda[cRx]]

Lmfao @ This Thread

Gotta Love Ozhonda

[tRipitaka]

if wheels = rims..
then why don't we call stock wheels (hubs/steelies), rims ?

[quangsta]

rim
A circular metal structure around which a wheel tire is fitted.

wheel
A solid disk or a rigid circular ring connected by spokes to a hub, designed to turn around an axle passed through the center.

- taken from www.dictionary.com

so a rim is the other part of a wheel, which is a disk or a rigid circular ring connected by spokes or a hub???....:confused: ...
so a rim does not equal a wheel...a wheel is not a hub..rims are not hubs or steelies as they are just the other part of it....

:D

[EuroDude]

if wheels = rims..
then why don't we call stock wheels (hubs/steelies), rims ?

We do, they are called Steel Rims, or steelies for short. :thumbsup:


@quangsta, my head hurts lol

[quangsta]

^^^ u made mine hurt first, ehehe...

[JaCe]

Thanks for the answers guys... Man that was confusing for something which I thought would be an easy answer.

[panda[cRx]]

this is the kind of thread that gets posted on other forums and makes honda owners look like retards

[Kerdze]

IMO wheel = Rim/mag + tyre, cos we say four-wheel-drive not four-rim-drive. :)
so wheel = rim/mag + tyre (proved)

[EuroDude]

yeah but n00bs who dont know anything about cars, call Rims 'Wheels', hence all the confusion and product naming changes :p


for n00bs:

Rims = wheels
Alloys = wheels
Mags = wheels
Tyres = wheels
hubcaps = wheels

...simplistic, yet so true :D

[dc2dc2dc2]

those hubcaps are hot y0 ~

[qikteg]

so why do they say you have mag wheels or alloy wheels, but never rim wheels?

:)

and wats a chromie? :P

[mrwillz]

for n00bs:

Rims = wheels
Alloys = wheels
Mags = wheels
Tyres = wheels
hubcaps = wheels

...simplistic, yet so true :D

sticky that... done and done...!

[NeRV]

and wats a chromie? :P
Chromies are for the homies

[EuroDude]

so why do they say you have mag wheels or alloy wheels, but never rim wheels?

:)

and wats a chromie? :P


Because "Rim" is a noun (object), and "Alloy" and "Mag" and "Chrome" is an adjective (material/description) :p


...seeks panadol

[Jo_e]

Chromie refers to a type of shiny "wheel", I think. "Chrome"=chromies.

[qikteg]

Because "Rim" is a noun (object), and "Alloy" and "Mag" and "Chrome" is an adjective (material/description) :p


...seeks panadol

so then i could have a chrome mag alloy rim/wheel?

:)

[Zdster]

As stated, 'chromies' simply refers to wheels that either are dipped or have a chrome like finish.

^Yes.

I am going to lock this thread as I think we have covered everything. If anyone has any further questions PM me and I will reopen the thread.