Author Topic: Which rims? (Read 1557 times)

circles · « **on:** December 30, 2004, 11:35:22 pm »

This is a great discussion forum and I have learned lots already.

I still have a question about rims. I am getting a used Honda Accord tomorrow and it needs winter tires. The guy at the tire shop recommended buying rims as well. Makes sense.

Now he has ugly black rims for about $70 ea. that would look really terrible on my "new" Accord. Or the more expensive silver ones but I don't know what material these are made of.

Or I could get steel rims (seems to be the material of choice for winter tires - right?) from Can Tire for $ 49 ea. I read some discussion on these; they should be OEM - what does that mean? Are all steel rims from Can Tire OEM or do they also have generic ones? How can I verify that I really got the OEM ones?

Thanks, Circles

Mdxtasy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2004, 02:35:23 am »

Well, OEM is loosely defined as the equipment that is used by the manufacturer. OEM rims for the Accord are then rims that are used by Honda. If you poke around the tire section, there is great advice on rims and tires. Some have stated that the generic rims from WalMart and/or Canadian Tire may not fit perfectly on all models. If it were me, I would spend the extra few dollars and get the black steel wheels from the dealer as winter wheels. I personally do not want to spend too much on a set of winter only rims only to have it go through the abuse of winter weather and road grime. The more expensive silver rims you speak of are probably aluminum alloy wheels. The look good but they are expensive and like I said earlier, I personally would not want to spend that kind of money on rims just for salt, rocks etc. get on them and potentially damage them.

The black steel rims look ugly but they do the job for winter. Keep the alloys (silver rims) for summer driving. Besides, nobody's car looks good in winter. :-)

circles · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2005, 07:42:28 pm »

Thanks, Mdxtasy! I went to the Honda dealer, they quoted me $90 for one steel rim. I read the thread in this forum about Can Tire rims etc. and I guess I would be taking a chance with them. Therefore I am leaning towards the OEM Honda rims. Now if only I could find some used ones - preferably yesterday :-)

circles

ovr50 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2005, 08:02:00 pm »

Seems to me that $90 is expensive for an OEM steel rim. When I got my RAV, I got 4 steels from a tire dealer for $65/each, mounted the snows and put them on. They looked so crummy that I went back to the tire store and asked to see their catalogues of available aftermarket wheels. Long story short - I gave the steels back to the tire store, they gave me a $65/each credit and I got 4 aluminum alloys for $55/each more ie. $120/each. Look around, there are alternatives out there.

articsteve · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2005, 06:00:59 pm »

Canadian Tire sells OEM rims for Honda. It will be written on the parts counter computer. Don't take the word of the first Crappy Tire Parts Counter person you asked.

ericthejet · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2005, 06:51:49 pm »

The rims from CTire will work just fine. Save your cash for sumthing else like tire shine in the spring. :-)