Factory OEM Rims Are Best - By: Pete Nisbet

Factory OEM rims are important to you and your car because they are the original wheels fitted to the vehicle. Not only do they offer the best airflow through your braking system and so help to maximize the efficiency of your braking, but they also look good because they are designed to be part of your car and will wear better than cheap generic alloys.

If you have a Chevy Tahoe, you want Chevy Tahoe rims, not something that will cost you a few bucks and will make your car look cheap by chipping and scratching so easily. Original equipment manufacturer replacements or OEM in short, are made by the original manufacturer of the rims as originally supplied with the vehicle. So you know you are buying rims that were made for your model and year, and your car will therefore look authentic.

Original Rims are Best

In order for your car to look as it should, the original rims provided with the car when it rolled off the assembly line are the best replacements. Your factory OEM rims might not be stamped with the big name, but with the logo of the purchasing company that are marketing them, but they will otherwise be exactly the same.

That is one reason why they so inexpensive - because they don't carry the big brand logo. However, they are the same wheels. Don't be surprised to find original rims with various logos stamped on them, because the logo will be that of the retailer who purchased them from them from the original wheel-maker.

Maintain a Good Trade-in Price

Another advantage of factory OEM rims is that used vehicles with OEM rims fitted will hold their price a lot better than those with cheap alloys, or with rims that obviously don't belong. Fit the wrong rims, such as cheap generic alloys, and the value of your car immediately drops. Fir the rims it came with, then it holds its price and you will get a good trade-in deal when you want to change.

Ordinary aftersales rims might look like your original wheels, but they are likely made of cheaper alloy and do not have the same resistance to corrosion and chips as the originals, and will not last as long. The more expensive aftersales may be manufactured by the original maker that supplied the wheels to the car manufacturer, but not necessarily so.

Alloy Rims are Stronger than Steel

Factory OEM rims come in both steel and alloy, although alloy is better because, not only is it lighter, but it is also stronger and less liable to bend than steel. Many people replace steel wheels with OEM alloys, both for strength, weight reduction and for looks. Alloy looks a lot better than steel on your wheels, and if you purchase original equipment manufacturer alloy rims you know they are going to fit. However, some keep steel rims for winter where alloys can get scratched and chipped, and then go back to alloys in spring.

Among other advantages of purchasing the correct rims for your vehicle is that they simply look right for the car. They look as if they belong, and as inferred earlier, because they are part of the overall design, they contribute to the aerodynamics, braking efficiency and speed in a way that ordinary generic alloys or aftersales rims could not.

There are no apparent negatives to purchasing factory OEM rims, unless perhaps they are only available in steel. If the original models were steel, and no alloy versions had been released, then you might have a problem there. However, that's about the only disadvantage there is in purchasing the original manufacturer's rims.

Don't Buy Just for Looks

It is possible to buy rims made for one car and fit them to another. Sometimes this can be effective in giving your car a unique sleek look to it, but mostly they will just look out of place. Also, the handling might not feel right, although it's true that they are likely to look better. This is particularly the case if you bought the rims for their looks.

However, it is far better to purchase factory OEM rims made for the car you are driving, and that you don't try to fit a set that was not originally manufactured for your car. Your Jeep Grand Cherokee will look a lot better if you fit the correct factory rims. You get these OEM rims at amazing prices at auctions - a lot less than buying them from a Jeep dealer.

When purchasing any parts for your car, but particularly rims and other parts that can affect performance and safety, it is highly recommended that you purchase factory OEM rims and be certain that the replacements you are buying are the same as those that were originally fitted to the car. They will look right and your vehicle will drive right.

About the Author

More information on the importance of using Factory OEM Rims on your car is available from Larry's website http://factory-oem-rims.com where you will also find a good selection of rims for a wide range car models and years.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Pete-Nisbet/37304

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