What to Look for When Buying Alloy Wheels?

There are a number of factors that should be considered when buying a new set of alloy wheels. The first is, of course, style. Choosing the design of the wheel, its rim size and its colour are three key factors which will impact the new look of your vehicle. Second, on the list is the budget you have for your new wheels and the third is the fitment. 

Owning a vehicle can be a wonderful experience, especially if you upgrade an aspect of it every now and then to give it some TLC. One of the most impactful changes you can make to improve your vehicle's aesthetics is upgrading the alloy wheels. But with so much on offer, making a decision can be time-consuming. Additionally, the amount of information you need to whittle down the right set of alloys for your vehicle is significant. On top of that, you may be questioning: how much are alloy wheels? How do I know these alloys are the right fit for my vehicle?

This is why we at LK Performance have put together a handy guide to buying new alloy wheels. We’ll take you through what styles and designs you can choose from when shopping through our extensive range of top-quality aftermarket alloy wheels. We’ll also show how we take care of the more technical aspects of selecting the right alloys for your vehicle. We hope that this will result in you feeling confident about buying a new set of vehicle wheels, and have you on the road with a fresh look.

What Style Should I Go For?

Firstly, the fun part! After all, many choose to buy aftermarket alloys as a visual enhancement that will make their vehicle stand out from the rest on the dual carriageway.

LK Performance’s range of colours for alloys, from more modest shades of aluminium, silver and gunmetal, to more dynamic styles like purple, white or bronze. Then there are the true standouts that will make your vehicle a bold statement, such as gold, green, atomic orange and a piercing candy red.

Spoke pattern is the next step, and you’ll find that different brands come with their own unique styles and design flairs. For example, LK Performance stocks the more traditional designs of BBS Wheels, the classically elegant stylings of Concaver and the angular craziness that Japan Racing are responsible for. The choice is wide and varied, and all yours.

Finally, the finish of the alloy face is another area to consider, as this one has practical implications, too. Glossy wheels have an understated shimmer that captures the sun exquisitely, while matte wheels give a sterner, meaner look that stands out by being devoid of any shine. Polished wheels are the shiniest of the bunch, and tend to need extra attention and care when washing your vehicle.

What Size Should My Alloy Wheels Be?

Size is important when it comes to choosing vehicle wheels. There are two measurements that differentiate wheel sizes, however, at LK Performance, these are taken care of by our team of alloy wheel experts. We have over 30m records of technical vehicle information that will be automatically searched through when you set what vehicle you are looking to buy for. This means we will only show you the alloys that would suit your vehicle.

To give you an idea of what we do during this process, we look at the diameter and width of the tyres and wheels as these are the two main factors that can affect wheel protrusion - where the wheels extend beyond the frame of the car and can be dangerous. Our colossal library of vehicle records helps prevent this from occurring, and from there we are able to give you a range of options that can upgrade the alloy sizes while still being able to pass your MOT every year. Plus, our aftercare service also helps the customer buy the right wheels that they want while preventing any potential mishaps on their vehicle. Additionally, many prefer to maintain what is known as the rolling radius - a calculation between the width and diameter - as keeping it the same ensures that the speedometer and other monitoring programs are still accurate.

At LK Performance, our UK customers love to go for a rim size between 17” and 20”. However, there’s a world of different sizes available in stores, and at LK Performance’s online store, sizes range from 12 inches all the way up to 26 inches! Simply enter in your car’s make and model, and we’ll take care of the sizing for you.

How Do I Know My Alloy Wheels Are the Right Fit?

The wheel fitment is what allows vehicle wheels to be securely placed onto the vehicle, and thus there are different ways to fit them on. There are four variables that we look into when choosing the best fitment for your vehicle.

First is the PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter), which is the measurement of the stud pattern of the wheel. This can be, as an example, a 4x100 wheel, which tells us there are 4 holes to fit the wheel that are 100mm apart.

Second on the list is the load rating, which is how much weight the tyres and wheels are capable of taking. We take this into account especially when it comes to commercial vehicles such as vans that require hauling of a lot of extra weight in the back.

Thirdly is the wheel offset, which is the measurement from a wheel’s imaginary centre line to the mounting face. Aftermarket wheels may have a lower offset than the vehicle’s standard wheels due to their increased wideness compared to standard wheels.

Finally, the TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). The TPMS refers to the air pressure inside the pneumatic tires on vehicles. When there is a drop in pressure of between 6-7PSI in your tires, this monitor will warn you and allow to you rectify the issue. The pressure on your tyres does impact the sizing and offset of your new wheels. When a new wheel and tire package is fitted, it is crucial that the sensors aren’t being sacrificed if they don’t fit the new rims. 

Once again, you don’t have to worry about any of this. At LK Performance, we’ve got it covered so that you can get to have alloys without even needing to do the research.

How Much Are Alloy Wheels?

Cost is one of the biggest factors when deciding on a set of new vehicle wheels. A brand new set of aftermarket alloys at LK Performance starts from just £550, which amounts to just under £140 per wheel. At LK Performance, we understand the desire you may have to upgrade the wheels and tyres simultaneously to allow you to beef up the size of your rims, which is why we offer bespoke wheel and tyres packages that are available when you contact our team for pricing.

We hope that this clears any quarrels you may have about alloy wheels, but if you have any more questions, feel free to contact us via email or by phone at 01274 936040.