It’s not surprising that caring for your car is essential. Ideally, you’ll try to extend the life of your vehicle for as long as possible. When you suspect that something is amiss, it’s important to get it checked out as soon as possible. However, this can be stressful; the truth is over half of Americans are intimidated by their mechanic. It’s imperative that you meet a professional though because some issues are harder to identify than others—especially when they are related to car parts that are known for sporting a long shelf life.

One thing that you need to consider from time to time is your wheel bearings. These are a part of your wheel assembly; it’s the metal ring that links your wheel to your axle. Wheel bearings tend to last for a long time, usually between 85,000 and 100,000 miles. It’s important to be able to pick up on the signs that a bearing needs replacement, especially as the diagnostic process tends to be a tricky one. Whether you’re dealing with Pontiac G6 wheels or a Jeep Wrangler’s, the warning signs tend to be the same.

Car enthusiasts are quick to tell you the importance of having a rim that’s appropriately suited to your car. Your car’s rims determine the profile and traction of the tire, which is integral in impacting your car’s performance. Anyone trying to decide what rims are best suited for their car must first consider the materials the rims are made of and how they will affect your car’s performance; the three most common are steel, alloy, and chrome. There are important differences between the three that one should be aware of when considering how they want their car to drive. 

Knowing how your wheels are made, and what they’re made of, is important when considering the amount of time that’s spent behind the wheel. Americans tend to spend 17,600 minutes driving per year—that’s a lot of wear and tear on our vehicles. The type of rims that you should use usually depends on the type of car you drive; Jetta rims are oftentimes alloy due to their lightweight frame, while heavier duty vehicles may utilize steel.

Our cars aren’t just necessities—they’re also accessories. Proud car owners want to keep their vehicles in the best possible condition, so it comes as no surprise that the U.S. car detailing industry is constantly growing­—in 2018, it accrued a revenue of $12 billion. This number is proof of the pride that people take in their cars.

When it come to car care, wheels are just as important the rest of your vehicle. Cleaning your wheels may seem like an easy task overall, but there are a few common mistakes people make when cleaning a car wheel.

1. Cleaning the Wheel Last

It makes sense to clean your wheels last, right? After all, if you’re washing your car from the top down, the wheels would naturally be the final step. However, that actually isn’t the ideal way to go about the task. Being closest to the ground, your wheels collect the most dirt and other debris such as salt. If you clean the wheels last, you might splash some of this grime onto other parts of your newly cleaned car—and the last thing you want to do is revisit an area you’ve already washed.

2. Using Brushes on a Dry Wheel

Using a brush is a great way to ensure you’re really cleaning all the debris from your wheels. If your wheels are dry, however, a brush can do more harm than good. The abrasive texture of the brush could scratch the surface of the wheel rim, especially if the rim has a chrome coating or a custom paint job.

3. Using the Wrong Cleaning Agents

Many people use dish soap or laundry detergent when cleaning their cars. This, however, is unadvisable, as these items contain stripping agents. These formulas are created to eliminate grease and oils from dishes and laundry, and they can be too harsh for your car. They might make your car look good, but they can ultimately do more harm than good. Use a specially formulated car soap instead.

4. Skipping the Polish

If you’re detailing your car, you want to make sure it has the proper finishing touches. If you simply wash your wheels and call it a day, you may find that something feels unfinished. Your 2015 Toyota Camry’s rims, for example, may not look dirty—but they could also look better. Finishing things off with a nice coat of polish is a surefire way to make sure your rims shine as brightly as they can.

We spend a lot of time driving, logging an average of 12,000 miles a year. If your car is made by a company known for high-mileage vehicles, this may not seem like an issue. Sure, your car may need some maintenance now and again—for example, if you have dented 2009 Honda Accord rims, you may have to replace them. Incidents like these are annoying, but they’re usually expected.

Despite these occasional incidents, some car models have long lifespans, but this is only true if you take proper care of your car. It’s important that you maintain your car on a regular basis, not just when something seems off. You should follow a few simple steps to make sure you’re allowing your car to live out its entire lifespan.

Keep It Clean

As fun as it is to pick the color that best suits you, your car’s paint job isn’t just cosmetic: the paint also helps protect what’s underneath it. Keeping your car’s exterior clean will prevent anything from eating through the paint, especially in the winter. Road salt is corrosive and can rust your car if not washed off in a timely manner. Washing your car won’t just make it look good—it will also keep it in prime condition.

Service as Needed

You should regularly change out the necessary parts and maintain your engine fluids to keep your car running to its best ability. This standard maintenance includes:

• Radiator. The general rule of thumb states that you should flush your radiator every 100,000 miles or every five years to remove old antifreeze and other contaminants. You can consult your owner’s manual for exact instructions.
• Air filter. A clean filter allows your engine to receive proper airflow.
• Brake fluid. You use your brakes a lot—especially in traffic. Your brake fluid may eventually begin to absorb moisture and lose its effectiveness, so you can expect to have to change it every four years or so.
• Spark plugs. Regularly changing your spark plugs can help protect your car from misfires.
• Tires. These should be replaced when the tread is worn down or if your tire begins cracking. Also make sure to rotate your tires regularly.

Drive Carefully

Even if you have the most durable tires, you should be careful when driving over rough surfaces. Slow down as you cross train tracks, and always avoid potholes and other potential hazards when it’s safe to do so. Driving carefully will prevent not only tire issues, but also more costly problems such as a bent car frame, dented rims, and cosmetic damage.

Check in with Your Mechanic

You should take your car to the mechanic once or twice a year to have it looked over. An assortment of unseen problems could affect your vehicle and catching them in a timely manner is essential to your car’s longevity.

Car wheels, also known as rims, are made from different materials. The quality of the material determines the cost of the rim and each material has varying effects on the weight, durability, strength, and finish of the wheel.

So you have found yourself in the market for a new wheel(s) for your vehicle but the terminology on this and other sites is unfamiliar. When it comes to the difference between lugs and center bore you are unsure what those terms mean and if they are important. Don’t worry, we will explain the basics of what you need to know to make certain you select the right wheel for your vehicle. 

One of the most frequently asked questions by our customers is “does your remanufactured wheels LOOK brand new?” It is a definitely priority to have all of our wheels look visually appealing to our customers, but in our opinion the more important question is “are your remanufactured wheels as structurally sound as a brand new wheel?”