Are they rims or are they wheels?? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

topgun1 · 07-02-2010, 07:26 AM

This has always bugged me. How did rims come to mean wheels? A rim is a part of a wheel. 22" rims are 22" diameter wheels. Rims are the outer portion of the wheel. For those that do not know, as you will read in this article, rims and wheels are the same thing. basically, the term 'rims' has come to mean fancy wheels, namely the excessively large diameter ones.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-...and-wheels.htm

myold88 · 07-02-2010, 07:46 AM

Agreed. It's like the guys that call 1/4 panels rear fenders- lol

SK360 · 07-02-2010, 07:57 AM

Wheels.

Referring to wheels as rims sounds ghetto.

mickss · 07-02-2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myold88

Agreed. It's like the guys that call 1/4 panels rear fenders- lol

Because originally cars had front and rear fenders and running boards connecting them. Street rods have front and rear fenders when running a full bodied street rod. If you come from a street rod background chances are you still refer to 1/4 panels as "rear fenders".

Sorry for getting off topic.

brandotron · 07-02-2010, 09:03 AM

Referring to rims as wheels is nothing new. My dad used to refer to his Enkeis as rims back when I was a little brandito back in the 80's.

WadeWilson · 07-02-2010, 09:38 AM

I've referred to them both ways.

Some people see it like this: You have tires and rims. Once they're combined then they are "wheels". I believe PQ once said something similar to this.

PQ · 07-02-2010, 10:30 AM

Yup.

These are RIMS............
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These are TIRES............
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These are WHEELS.............
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WadeWilson · 07-02-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PQ

Yup.

These are RIMS............
Attachment 142001

These are TIRES............
Attachment 142002

These are WHEELS.............
Attachment 142003

Thought I remembered you saying that

topgun1 · 07-02-2010, 02:51 PM

lol, nice illustration PQ!

Oddball · 07-02-2010, 08:43 PM

Tires are tires. Wheels are rims. Rims are wheels. Tires are NOT rims nor are they wheels. Tires are "ware" items. Wheels / Rims usually are not "ware" items unless you are doing some serious racing or you just cant seem to miss the really big pot-holes or curbs.

Xmicro_SS · 07-02-2010, 08:44 PM

PQ is the man! Beat me to it!

IamJacksCamaro · 07-03-2010, 06:22 PM

I used to work at an aluminum casting plant. We cast "wheels" for GM and Chrysler, we did not cast "rims". In fact, I seem to remember (this was more than 15 years ago), that they told us that "rims" was an incorrect term.

Sir Nuke · 07-03-2010, 07:27 PM

TAMATO TOMATO.......ITS THE SAME STUFF......ITS WHAT YOU PUT TIRES ON.

Legend · 07-03-2010, 07:40 PM

I had always said rims but here on the site, I've seen the term wheels more and have more and more lately been referring to them as wheels.

I had never called them wheels before seeing it here on Camaro5!

07-02-2010, 07:26 AM	#1
topgun1 Drives: 10 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,940 View My Garage	Are they rims or are they wheels?? This has always bugged me. How did rims come to mean wheels? A rim is a part of a wheel. 22" rims are 22" diameter wheels. Rims are the outer portion of the wheel. For those that do not know, as you will read in this article, rims and wheels are the same thing. basically, the term 'rims' has come to mean fancy wheels, namely the excessively large diameter ones. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-...and-wheels.htm __________________ 5th Gen Camaros of the Carolinas SIM, 2SS/RS LS3 5/7/11 453.9 RWHP 427.5 RWTQ VMS Stage 2.5 Comp Cams kit, Cold Air Inductions intake, ADM race scoop, DT 1 3/4" headers, Solo cats, 3" Magnaflow catback, Pypes cutouts, HP tune, H&R SuperSport springs, Eibach sways/spacers, TexasSpeed UD pulley, LSR tensioner pulley, Barton shifter, skip shift eliminator, powder-coated calipers, R1 concept rotors, StopTech pads, Granatelli wires, Lloyds mats, tint, AAC afterburner taillamps, AAC scanner/sidemarkers, SRP pedals, custom engine cover, black bowties, Ridergraphix hood spears....

07-02-2010, 07:46 AM	#2
myold88 Drives: SUMMIT WHITE 2SS/RS CAMARO Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 2018: Lakewood Ranch, Fl. Posts: 8,112 View My Garage	Agreed. It's like the guys that call 1/4 panels rear fenders- lol __________________

07-02-2010, 09:03 AM	#5
brandotron I am the internets. Drives: dangerously Join Date: May 2009 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 12,571 View My Garage	Referring to rims as wheels is nothing new. My dad used to refer to his Enkeis as rims back when I was a little brandito back in the 80's. __________________

07-02-2010, 10:30 AM	#7
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	Yup. These are RIMS............ These are TIRES............ These are WHEELS............. __________________

07-02-2010, 02:51 PM	#9
topgun1 Drives: 10 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,940 View My Garage	lol, nice illustration PQ! __________________ 5th Gen Camaros of the Carolinas SIM, 2SS/RS LS3 5/7/11 453.9 RWHP 427.5 RWTQ VMS Stage 2.5 Comp Cams kit, Cold Air Inductions intake, ADM race scoop, DT 1 3/4" headers, Solo cats, 3" Magnaflow catback, Pypes cutouts, HP tune, H&R SuperSport springs, Eibach sways/spacers, TexasSpeed UD pulley, LSR tensioner pulley, Barton shifter, skip shift eliminator, powder-coated calipers, R1 concept rotors, StopTech pads, Granatelli wires, Lloyds mats, tint, AAC afterburner taillamps, AAC scanner/sidemarkers, SRP pedals, custom engine cover, black bowties, Ridergraphix hood spears....

07-02-2010, 07:57 AM	#3
SK360 Account Suspended Drives: 2005 Pontiac GTO Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 591	Wheels. Referring to wheels as rims sounds ghetto.

07-02-2010, 09:38 AM	#6
WadeWilson How U Doin? Drives: 2014 CTS-V Coupe Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Californication Posts: 24,156 View My Garage	I've referred to them both ways. Some people see it like this: You have tires and rims. Once they're combined then they are "wheels". I believe PQ once said something similar to this.

07-02-2010, 08:43 PM	#10
Oddball Drives: attentively Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,983	Tires are tires. Wheels are rims. Rims are wheels. Tires are NOT rims nor are they wheels. Tires are "ware" items. Wheels / Rims usually are not "ware" items unless you are doing some serious racing or you just cant seem to miss the really big pot-holes or curbs.

07-02-2010, 08:44 PM	#11
Xmicro_SS Thank You GM Drives: Sky Redline & Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,876	PQ is the man! Beat me to it! __________________ ITS HERE! : 2010 Camaro 2SS / 6 Speed Manual (No other way) / Silver Ice Metallic / Inferno Orange Interior Accent / RS Package / Polished Wheels / SOLO MACH X CAT BACK

07-03-2010, 06:22 PM	#12
IamJacksCamaro Drives: Camaro LS M6, Fiero, Ford F100 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 638	I used to work at an aluminum casting plant. We cast "wheels" for GM and Chrysler, we did not cast "rims". In fact, I seem to remember (this was more than 15 years ago), that they told us that "rims" was an incorrect term.

07-03-2010, 07:27 PM	#13
Sir Nuke Master of All Things Drives: '20 Corvette Stingray Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Southeast of Houston, Texas Posts: 22,328 View My Garage	TAMATO TOMATO.......ITS THE SAME STUFF......ITS WHAT YOU PUT TIRES ON. __________________

07-03-2010, 07:40 PM	#14
Legend Hello! Drives: 2008 JSB Z06! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 2,624 View My Garage	I had always said rims but here on the site, I've seen the term wheels more and have more and more lately been referring to them as wheels. I had never called them wheels before seeing it here on Camaro5!

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