Without wheels and tires, cars wouldn’t be very good forms of transportation. That’s because these two components work in tandem to make vehicles move. Due to their stark differences, many people can tell the wheels and tires apart. However, this isn’t the case for wheels and rims.
Something that many people don’t realize is the difference between wheels and rims—they’re not the same thing! Fortunately, we are here to set the record straight so you know what your mechanic or automotive salesperson is referring to when talking about these components.
Let’s start by clearly defining a wheel. The wheel is the large metal cylinder that holds the tire to the axle. The metal in wheels can vary, but some of the most common options are aluminum alloy, steel, and carbon fiber. Some wheels might use a magnesium alloy, but these types aren’t nearly as common as they used to be.
Wheels also come in a variety of sizes; some might be relatively small, allowing for a thicker tire for oversized vehicles and drivers who like to off-road. On the flip side, wheels can be quite large and usually pair well with low-profile tires that add style to the wheelbase.
Of course, that’s just the height. Wheels can also vary in width, but these changes are not quite as extreme. Before buying a new set of wheels, you should always verify the specifications of your vehicle’s existing wheels to make sure the new ones will fit properly. Be sure to take the size of the tire into consideration, as well.
Keep in mind that even though wheels appear like solid metal, they consist of many parts. We’ll go over each section individually to help you better understand automotive wheels:
Now that we understand the wheel, let’s take some time to learn about the rim. While this term is widely misunderstood, it’s actually quite simple. The rim is just the outer edge of the barrel that holds the tire in place. While the rims of each wheel vary depending on brand and style, they’ll always raise up a bit for tire security and an improved seal.
Due to the discrepancy in rim size, this is an important detail to be aware of when buying new tires. Some tires might not fit well if the rim is too big or small. You can measure your current rims to determine their size or find this information on your vehicle. It’s typically listed in two places: on the tires that came with the wheels and on the inside of the driver door. This only applies if you have stock tires, though. If you’ve ever replaced them, you’ll need to figure out the size of the rims yourself.
While the difference between wheels and rims might seem minor on the surface, understanding this distinction can be very useful if something ever goes wrong with your wheels. For instance, if you drive on a flat tire for too long (e.g., anywhere other than straight to the mechanic), you could cause damage to the wheel. However, in most cases, the damage will only be to the rim.
When the person fixing your car tells you there’s damage to your rim, it may only be on the wheel’s outer edge. In some cases, this might be fixable. Before you start looking into buying a replacement wheel, confirm with your mechanic whether your existing rim can be safely repaired.
The difference between wheels and rims also matters when talking to a mechanic about issues you’ve noticed with your vehicle. If you constantly refer to your wheels as “rims,” the mechanic might only check the rim, which could lead them away from fixing the problem you’re experiencing.
Despite needing to know this distinction, it’s equally important to realize that many people you interact with won’t recognize it. Whether it’s in a casual conversation or when shopping for wheels, the term “rims” will likely be used interchangeably with wheels. In many cases, people refer to a wheel as a rim when the wheel is of higher quality or has a standout design. For example, saying, “Hey, nice rims!” sounds much better than saying, “Cool wheels!”
This mentality often extends to the online world, as well. Companies trying to gain attention or show off their wheels as high-quality will often refer to them as rims. Now that you understand what a rim is, it’ll be obvious that these companies aren’t selling just the rim of a wheel but rather the wheel itself. Still, understanding how the average person uses these terms will lead to a lot less confusion when shopping online for new wheels for your ride.
Speaking of buying wheels online, if you’re in the market for a new set, you might be aware of many online vendors for automotive parts. Because of that, finding a reliable source can feel tricky at times. Lucky for you, you’re already in the right place!
WheelerShip has been a leading, trusted source of replacement wheels, tires, and auto parts since 2010. And we make it easy to find affordable parts online! We have years of experience in this field and offer a great number of wheel and tire options to choose from. Whether you are looking to replace some worn-out tires or hoping to freshen up your wheels, WheelerShip is the place to be. Our family-owned and operated wheel and tire company will make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for!
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REVISED SEPTEMBER 2, 2026
This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their 'Personally identifiable information' (PII) is being used online. PII, as used in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your PII when you use our website.
When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, credit card information or other details to help you with your experience.
We collect information from you when you register on our site, place an order, sign up for our newsletter, respond to a survey or marketing communication, surf the website, or use certain site features. We also collect your mobile phone number when you text us or ask a representative to contact you by text message.
Our website is scanned on a regular basis for potential security risks and vulnerabilities in order to make your visit to our site as safe as possible. To maintain the safety of your personal information, we implement a variety of security measures when a user places an order, or enters, submits, or accesses their information.
Your personal information is contained behind secured networks and is only accessible by a limited number of persons who have special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. In addition, all sensitive/credit card information you supply is encrypted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.
All financial transactions are processed through a gateway provider and no payment information is stored on our servers.
Yes. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow). This enables the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. For instance, we use cookies to help us remember and process the items in your shopping cart. They are also used to help us understand your preferences based on previous or current site activity, which enables us to provide you with improved services. We also use cookies to help us compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future.
You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through the settings on your browser (like Internet Explorer). Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser's Help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.
If you disable cookies, some features may be disabled. It may affect theuser’s experience and some of our services will not function properly. However, you can still place orders.
We never sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. We have implemented Google Analytics, which uses first-party cookies to compile data regarding user interactions with ad impressions, and other ad service functions as they relate to our website. We use a telecommunications provider to deliver text messages on our behalf; it processes your mobile number solely to send and receive those messages and may not use it for any other purpose.
According to CalOPPA we agree to the following:
Users will be notified of any privacy policy changes:
*On our Privacy Policy Page
Users are able to change their personal information:
*By logging in to their account
We honor do-not-track signals and do not track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place.
When it comes to the collection of personal information from children under 13, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) puts parents in control. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule, which spells out what operators of websites and online services must do to protect children's privacy and safety online. We do not specifically market to children under 13.
The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect personal information. In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices we will take the following responsive action, should a data breach occur:
We will notify the users via email
We also agree to the individual redress principle, which requires that individuals have a right to pursue legally enforceable rights against data collectors and processors who fail to adhere to the law. This principle requires not only that individuals have enforceable rights against data users, but also that individuals have recourse to courts or a government agency to investigate and/or prosecute non-compliance by data processors.
The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.
We collect your email address in order to:
If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email communication or you email us at [email protected] and we will promptly remove you.
We offer two-way text messaging so our customer service team can help you with order status, product availability, shipping and tracking, pickup or appointment times, and callbacks when you were unable to reach us by phone.
How you opt in. You consent to receive text messages from us when you (a) send a text to our business number, (877) 788-8283, or (b) give your mobile number to one of our representatives by phone or in person and ask to be contacted by text. We do not purchase mobile numbers or obtain them from third parties.
What to expect. Messages are conversational and sent by our customer service team in response to your request; message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of any purchase.
How to opt out or get help. Reply STOP at any time to stop receiving text messages; you will receive one final message confirming you have been unsubscribed. Reply HELP for assistance, call us at (201) 226-0577 (Monday–Friday, 8 am–6 pm Eastern), or email [email protected] . You may opt back in at any time by replying START .
Your mobile information. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Information sharing to subcontractors in support services, such as customer service, is permitted. All other use-case categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us using the information below.
The WheelerShip LLC PO Box 1634 Smithtown, NY 11787