Wheels vs. Rims

[ss dave]

Maybe I'm a little behind or just not hip enough, but when did wheels become rims? I've heard this term from several different sources talking about getting some new rims! Is this the new slang for wheels? and when did this start?

[Andrew McBride]

As far as I know it is the same thing! No difference

[nancejd]

I think it's people just being more precise. A wheel has a rim and a tire. In the past, there weren't nearly the number of tire choices there are now, so people just bought wheels.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

I've heard people refer to wheels as rims as far back as 8-10+ years ago and I'm sure it's been around longer than that. At first it was more of a slang term (IMO at least), but now it's become almost commonplace; I still generally say "wheels" though. Rims is kind of the new "mags".

[rocketrod]

I think it's people just being more precise. A wheel has a rim and a tire. In the past, there weren't nearly the number of tire choices there are now, so people just bought wheels.

You are correct a wheel is the rim and tire and people have been interchanging the two terms for a lot longer than 8-10 years.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

and people have been interchanging the two terms for a lot longer than 8-10 years.

I can't recall discussing wheels or rims that often when I was 8, haha--just offering up my time-line with the term. In the 70s, 80s and early 90s, mags was the most prolific term used for wheels, most guys from that era still use it. Most people in NY that say "rims" are either younger kids, sport truck or SUV guys who are referring to 22"+ stuff, or the import crowd. Most performance minded guys still say wheels around here; though lately even they will sometimes say rims.

[Jim Nilsen]

The difference is something that goes back a long long way and if you look at the cement truck that goes by you next time or some other big truck with Kelsey Hayes wheels on it you will see what a rim is. 2 pcs make up the whole set up , one piece is the inner wheel/hub and the outer piece is the rim. You can put different sizes of rims on some of the wheels. Most of these wheels have split rims making them realisticaly 3pcs. You won't see people arguing over whether to use an impact wrench vs a torque wrench on them.

It is a question that has caused as many arguments over the years as much as lifters vs tappets. When 2 people want to argue over it I start to laugh. Trying to be smarter than someone else over a word describing the same thing only shows ignorance to what the difference really is if they knew what they were talking about. Some just want to fight and some just want to be different

To be real basic about it if you have a wire spoke wheel you can bend the rim and need to get your rim fixed. If you have a 2 or 3pc modular wheel you can just bend the rim and not the whole wheel. If you have a bicycle or a motorcycle you you have the same deal.

I like the sound of mags and it was a term founded in the 60's when wheels actually were made out of magnesium. You really had something and were considered high on the post if you had "mag wheels".
I never heard anyone say "mag rims" now that I think of it.

So the next time your drinking and don't have anything to fight about,bring up the subject and relive the experience

Jim Nilsen

[Kenova]

and when did this start?

It's been going on since I was a kid, and I'm on the wrong side of fifty.
Ken

[Jim Nilsen]

Ken, I was trying not to give away how old I am even though most people here already know

Makes you wonder if the subject came up during chariot races at the colliseum and the guy that always wanted to argue over it won the fighting matches and kept on teaching his son how to fight about it!

Jim Nilsen

[4MuscleMachines]

Back when I was 10yrs old (over 30yrs ago) I was calling them rims. The way the term "wheels" stuck to me is recent and when I started using eBay. I kept typing "rims" in the search field and barely anything came up. Then I tried "wheels" and whoala!

[jacobgiles]

[zbugger]

The difference is something that goes back a long long way and if you look at the cement truck that goes by you next time or some other big truck with Kelsey Hayes wheels on it you will see what a rim is. 2 pcs make up the whole set up , one piece is the inner wheel/hub and the outer piece is the rim. You can put different sizes of rims on some of the wheels. Most of these wheels have split rims making them realisticaly 3pcs. You won't see people arguing over whether to use an impact wrench vs a torque wrench on them.

It is a question that has caused as many arguments over the years as much as lifters vs tappets. When 2 people want to argue over it I start to laugh. Trying to be smarter than someone else over a word describing the same thing only shows ignorance to what the difference really is if they knew what they were talking about. Some just want to fight and some just want to be different

To be real basic about it if you have a wire spoke wheel you can bend the rim and need to get your rim fixed. If you have a 2 or 3pc modular wheel you can just bend the rim and not the whole wheel. If you have a bicycle or a motorcycle you you have the same deal.

I like the sound of mags and it was a term founded in the 60's when wheels actually were made out of magnesium. You really had something and were considered high on the post if you had "mag wheels".
I never heard anyone say "mag rims" now that I think of it.

So the next time your drinking and don't have anything to fight about,bring up the subject and relive the experience

Jim Nilsen

That's how I see it too. When I see a car with custom wheels, I call them wheels. The combination of wheels and tires is wheels and tires to me. Rims are just the outside of the wheel that the tire mounts to in my opinion. Well, I guess what I'm saying is that I just call them wheels.

[BonzoHansen]

I always thought a rim was part of a wheel. When I think rim, I think a split rim off an OTR truck. But in practical use, the terms are really interchangeable. Kind of like engine & motor (runs & hides from technical police )

[ss dave]

The reason I posted this is that a friend and I get a good laugh at people saying they are getting new "RIMS" for their ride. Mostly the young tuners or "hippers". We grew up and still refer to rims/wheels as "wheels" I thought that maybe this was the new slang or hip term for "wheels" and I was curious when this started and where. Thought maybe this began with "Pimp my Ride" or "Overhaul" (can't picture Boyd C saying "rims" LOL). But it appears it has been going on longer than that. At most of the car shows, meetings etc. you here the X, Y, Z gens talking "rims" and the boomers "wheels". I just want to be "hip" and not show my bias (age) but I have a difficult time talking about my "rims" without a smile . Thanks for the historical info. It such a nice day I think I'll go polish my rims before I go cruisin' topless

[Blitz]

Didn't know the term wheels OR rims had such a odd meaning to some. Geez, let me think. I can't remember the last time I did refer to my wheels as "Wheels". I remember my father saying Mag Wheels though. And sometimes people would ask, "what kind of wheels are those?" or maybe even talking about the entire car, "I need some new wheels".

Hmm, maybe it's a factory vs. aftermarket thing? I don't know. I'll stick with "rims" and use "wheels" for some catchy phrases like:

"I can't get anywhere with this project. I just keep spinning my ..."

"I bought a new Momo steering ..."

"The Braves shortstop ...ed around to throw out the lead runner"

"Those new 28" rims Chad bought Buffy remind me of wagon ..."

Annnnnyway, don't be afraid of these "new" terms that sometimes come around ohhh, every now and then. "Ya dig?"


by the way...what's a "hipper"?

[ss dave]

Dig it man! Hip hopper X Y Z guy into big rims.