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This guide is quick glossery of wheel related words. This guide is meant to define a lot of the terms you may not understand when it comes to buying custom wheels, or even when you go to your mechanic. Keep checking back as we will add more terms as we think of them.

Adapter - When it comes to wire wheels, adapters are the parts that bolt onto the car, which the wheel sits on, and the knockoffs screw down. Billet adapters, or bolt pattern adapters are alluminum rings that change your bolt pattern to adapt to a wheel with another pattern.

Alloy - When used in wheel terms, usually means a mixture of metals the wheel was made from. For example, alluminum alloy wheels. Alloy wheels can be chromed, painted, polished, and clearcoated, among others.

Aspect Ratio - Aspect Ratio is a term used to describe the sidewall of a tire. Aspect ratio is the second set of numbers on a tire sidewall, for example, 255/35/20. The 35 would be the aspect ratio of this tire. This shows the percentage of the width of the tire, the sidewall measures. So if the tire is 255mm, the sidewall would be 35% of 255mm.

Bolt Pattern - Used to describe the amount of lugs your car, or wheels, have, and also the measurement in between them. For example, 5x4.75. This would be 5 lugs, spaced 4.75" across. Also measure in mm, for example 4x100. 4 lugs, spaced 100 mm apart.

Chrome - Chrome is a term used in short, or slang, for the word chromium. Chromium is an element which chrome plating come from. Chrome refers to something plated with an alloy of chromium. It is a very shiny, durable, finish for wheels.

FWD - Stands for Front Wheel Drive. Refers to vehicles which are powered by the front wheels. FWD vehicles usually need higher offet wheels than RWD vehicles.

Knockoff, Knockoffs, or Knock off - These are wheels that have an adapter which bolts to a vehicle, with a large center nut that holds the wheel on. The center piece is usually referred to as a knockoff, or a spinner (usually an older term for them). They got their name from the fact you "knock" them off with a lead hammer to remove the wheel.

Lip - Refers to the outer edge of a wheel, from the front of the wheels spokes, to the outer edge of the wheel. Lip size is a matter of preference, some people like big lips on their wheels, while others like small lips. The trend now is toward bigger lip wheels. Lip size also depends on what your vehicle can handle for wheel width and offset.

Offset - Offset is the measurement of where the mounting surface of the wheel is (where the bolt holes are), compared to the centerline of the wheel. Usually referred to as negative, positive, or zero offset.

P.C.D. - P.C.D. stands for Pitch Circle Diameter. This is another term for bolt pattern, see above. It is basically a measurement of the imaginary circle your wheel lugs form.

Powder Coating - Powder coating is a finish used on wheels. It is a powder based paint, that is baked on. It is a very durable coating, and looks nice on color matched wheels. Generally more durable than regular paint.

Rim - A rim is the part outer part of a wheel assembly. Also used to refer to a wheel (the part that bolts onto a car).

RWD - Stands for Rear Wheel Drive. Refers to vehicles powered by their rear wheels. Usually use low offset wheels.

Spinner or Spinning wheels - Spinners are referred to one of three things. Spinning wheels, are wheels that have built in spinners, which keep spinning when the wheel stops. Spinner add ons, are spinners that bolt onto the front of your wheel, which also keep spinning when your vehicle stops. The word spinner is also used for knockoffs on wire wheels, also some centers on old school wheels/hubcaps they spin when the wheel is turning. Spinners have lost a lot of popularity recently.

That is all for now on the wheel term glossary. Keep checking back as more will be added over time. Thanks for reading. Please remember Wheels 4 You for all your wheels needs!

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