What is a wheel vs rim?

11 Mar.,2024

 

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Are rims and wheels the same thing? Most drivers are far from technical experts, which explains why they often mix up the names of different car compartments for the sake of convenience and familiarity. Wheel, rim, and tires mean the same to them, despite striking dissimilarities in functions, design intent, and mechanisms!

My article will delve into this widespread confusion. Keep scrolling. 

Wheel vs. Rim vs. Tire: How Do They Differ?

1. The Difference Between Wheel and Tire

Overview

  • Wheels:

“Wheels” are entire metal circles that the tires are attached to. Each standard wheel comprises two major parts: the center discs and the rims (we will return to the rims later), with specific purposes and designs to create a fully functioning set of tires and wheels.

  • Tires:

On the other hand, “tires” are rubber, ring-shaped parts fastened on the wheels. Natural and synthetic rubbers, bead wires, and fabrics are the main ingredients, which then manifest the body and thread of the tires: 

  • The tread: responsible for tire and wheel movements when their surfaces are under pressure.
  • The body: enabling specific compressed air volume (known as PSI or tire pressure) for maximum performance.

Comparison

WheelTireMaterialsMetal componentWire, fabric, rubberFunctionsSupporting the tiresKeeping tires sealedProtecting rimsContaining airPositionInnerOuter

From the brief overview above, identifying the differences between tires and wheels should not be that challenging. Long story short:

  • Factory/Aftermarket Wheels: circular, comprising central wheel discs and rims, supporting the tires
  • Tires: ring-shaped, attached around larger wheels, protecting your rims and enclosing PSI. 

Together, they foster the car’s movements from one place to another. 

2. The Differences Between Wheels and Rims

Overview

  • Rims

In simpler terms, rims are the wheel’s outer edge. If the tires are popped or removed, the rims will be the first wheel compartment that touches road surfaces directly. 

Certain places refer to rims as “barrels,” – though such terms likely indicate the hidden parts of the rims (concealed by the tires) rather than the entire rims. 

Comparison

WheelsRimsDefinitionThe entire circular structureThe outer, abrasive edges of the modern wheelsFunctionSupporting the tires
Providing structural strengthForming outer sealsHolding tires in placeMountingAttached to car hubsAttached to wheel hubs via lugs or bolt circles 

The variations should be clear enough: while the terms wheels comprise entire units of different pieces and compartments (including the rims themselves), rims are only a small part of the whole wheel. They foster outer seals to hold the clincher tires in place, aiding the wheels in structural strength and overall tire support.

Why Do People Still Call Wheels “Rims”? 

Two major reasons might be at play:

  • Simplicity: While calling the whole assembly (including axle hubs, wire spokes, central discs, and rims) as “wheels” is more accurate, rims are the preferred option – easier to pronounce and much faster to write down. 
  • Visual Focus: Compared to other parts of the wheel, rims are much more visible and prominent, especially where aesthetic and customization aspects are involved. 

As people put more spotlights on rims’ size, finish, and design, they use “rims” as marketing terms to indicate the entire visual standouts of the wheels. 

Why Do People Still Call Wheels “Tires”? 

Similarly, people mix up “wheels” and “tires” due to:

  • Visual Dominance: Like rims, larger tires also look strikingly outstanding when observed from the wheel’s outside, with unique tread patterns, size measurements, and sidewalls. As they draw all the attention, people like to use “tires” to point to the whole assembly.
  • Commonplace Usage: Calling wheels “road tires” has been a common practice for years; people simply pick up words used by others without double-checking the accuracy. 
  • Cultural Influence: Several communities and countries prefer to use “tubeless tires” to describe wheels from time to time. To clarify, it is not a technical mistake or word misuse – but rather a custom passed down from generation to generation. 

How Rims, Wheels, And Tires Affect Each Other and The Average Vehicle Performance

The wider tires are mounted to the wheels (and rims), while rims are a part of the wheels. As such, it is not difficult to visualize their interconnected relationships:

  • The entire wheels and rims deliver proper fitting/mounting surfaces, tire bead sealing, and installation fitments. Ill-fitted choice of wheel sizes and rims will significantly reduce the tire’s movement ranges and performances on wet pavements.

In particular, too small tires allow air to leak out and can’t completely cover the sidewall, thereby giving rough rides over bumps or potholes and eventually bend the rim.

Too wide tires compared to the rim increase traction and distort the sidewall, making sharp, fast turns a real challenge.

  • Likewise, season tires transmit vibrations and forces from dry pavements to the rims and wheels. High-quality and proper tire sizes/materials reduce these impacts to the maximum and lengthen the shelf life of the rims/wheels, while substandard tires do the exact opposite. 

Conclusion

All these burning inquiries have been properly addressed in my article with detailed analysis and comparison charts, ensuring no confusion lingers. While scouring through my guide, you may also look at the manual’s illustrations or your own car for better visualization!

If struggles persist – or there is any aspect not yet covered in my instruction – feel free to let me know in the comments.

Getty Images

Article QuickTakes:

One of the most important parts of any car, truck, or SUV also happens to be one of the most commonly mislabeled. Whether you call them wheels, rims, or "those round things at each corner," everything from the comfort of your car's suspension to the feel of your steering to your fuel economy can be impacted by those four circular pieces of metal.

But when someone talks about a vehicle's wheels, are they also talking about the rims? The answer is both yes and no. The two terms, wheels and rims, are often used interchangeably, even by automotive experts, but wheels and rims aren't really the same thing. Here's a look at the differences, along with a quick history lesson on a long-running quirk in our relationship with car wheels and rims.

Wheels and Rims: What's the Difference?

The simplest way to think of it is that a rim is part of the wheel, even though the word "rim" is commonly used as slang for an entire wheel. Got it? No? We'll explain.

Let's say you're checking out a new SUV and you have a choice of wheels that are either 18 or 19 inches in diameter. Each set is encircled by a corresponding tire and secured to the brake and suspension assemblies by a series of lug nuts in the center of the wheel (or hub). The rim itself is the outer edge of the wheel, where the metal meets the rubber of the tire—and it's the diameter of the rim that's measured to determine wheel size.

What's the job of a rim?

It's up to the wheel's rim to give the entire wheel strength and support—and, of course, to maintain an airtight seal with the tire. When a wheel has a nasty encounter with a jagged pothole or unforgiving curb, the part that usually bears the brunt of the impact is the rim.

Now that you know your wheels from your rims, here's one more term for those who really want to impress their friends: The inner part of the wheel—the section between the outboard rim and the inside rim—is called the barrel.

Manuel Carrillo III | Capital One

Why Do We Kick Tires?

We've likely all done it when considering a car or truck, especially if the vehicle is used. You walk around the car, take a look at the bodywork, and peek into the interior. And then, thump! You give one or more of the tires a light kick. What's going on here? Why is tire kicking something so many of us do?

There are a few versions of the backstory, but they all come back to the dawn of the automotive era, when tire quality was notoriously dubious. In the early 1900s, most roads were little more than narrow, bumpy lanes. Combined with the similarly narrow and fragile tires of the time, it was the perfect recipe for flats and broken wheels—the earliest of which were made of wooden spokes like those on a horse-drawn carriage. Car shoppers back then often kicked a tire to make sure the wheel and tire wouldn't fall to pieces or burst apart.

While modern wheels, rims, and tires are highly unlikely to succumb to such a blow, this quirky car-buying habit remains.

What is a wheel vs rim?

Rims vs. Wheels: What's the Difference?

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