Performance Aftermarket Rims VS Bling

Changing out your rims is an excellent way to make your ride an extension of your personality. However, there is a huge difference between aftermarket rims that will raise the performance of your ride and those that are strictly for show. What's the difference, you ask? Here's a brief rundown:

Bling – Wheels intended for nothing more than looks will have an obvious appearance. While performance wheels are not ugly, cosmetic rims are much more stylized and beautified. An example of a cosmetic rim would be a 22-inch wheel made of chromed steel. These are large, stylish and very, very heavy.

Performance – Performance rims can be almost the same size as cosmetic wheels (though usually a little smaller) and are much lighter. Rather than chrome, these are usually made of lightweight aluminum (they were originally made of magnesium, hence the term Mags). Performance oriented rims are not as stylized as cosmetic rims, though they are far more stylish than many OEM wheels. In addition, they are made for performance, with durability in mind.

The type of wheel that you choose will be determined by the way in which you use your car. If you are tuning your car strictly for looks, then a set of cosmetic wheels will be just fine (as long as you don’t take them too large). However, if you have a need for speed, chromed steel wheels just won't cut it. Performance wheels will help you attain better speeds, as well as have easier braking.

What kind of rims do you like?