Key Things to Know About OEM Wheels

by Carla ·

If you are new to the term ‘OEM’ you need to find out what the meaning of the term is what it stands for. It means original equipment manufacturer. It may be used in reference to the wheels which come fitted in the vehicles when they are delivered from the factory.

Those wheels that are not OEM, are referred to as non-original, after-market, or replica. They may be used by other terms that refer to the fact that the vehicles didn’t come originally on the vehicle.

Types of OEM Wheels

The wheels come into types: steel and alloy. The steel wheels are less costly and are used as a base wheel on the vehicles which are cheaper too than the models which are very popular. They are also used on the trucks. Then there are other kinds of OEM wheels which are far stronger and better looking than the steel wheels. The wheels are made from alloy. The alloy wheels are made from the alloy of aluminum. The OEM wheel is manufactured by the OEM manufacturers.

Pros of OEM Wheels

There are many reasons why the OEM wheels on a vehicle can be needed. They ensure that the vehicle is original and can help in maintaining the value of it.

If the OEM wheels are replaced with non-original aftermarket wheels, the value of the vehicle may be negatively impacted. The manufactures follow high standards for their OEM equipment than the after-market wheels. These wheels are far lower in quality and engineering as well.

Another benefit of the OEM wheels is that they look better on a given vehicle than the non-original ones as they are designed and chosen for the vehicle that they are fitted to. The aftermarket wheels often don’t look apt on a car if its design doesn’t complement well with the design of the vehicle.

Cons of OEM Wheels

Because of cost limitations, the OEM wheels are sometimes made with steel. The metal is heavier than alloy and bends easily. These wheels are not as attractive as the alloy wheels and are painted in silver or black. The vehicles having these wheels may need to be upgraded with alloy wheels for performance and the appearance.

OEM Replica Wheels

The rims being installed on the automobiles by the consumers are aftermarket wheels. These are also called replica wheels which means that they were not manufactured by the automobile manufacturers.

They are made of aluminum alloy which contains other materials like magnesium and other non-ferrous metals to strengthen the aluminum. But the integrity of the metal varies greatly.

These wheels hardly go through many quality checks and they may not be designed for the vehicle. They may affect the stability and the handling as well. Depending on the integrity of the rims, and the stress applied these wheels can fail in numerous ways.