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libtech

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I'm getting the bug really bad...now I've decided I definitely want some after market wheels because detaliing my stock plastic hubcaps is absolutely no fun at all! :o LOL

Seriously, I'm a goober about car stuff and I know squat about who the good wheel manufacturers are. I don't want to void my warranty with whatever I ultimately purchase.

Can any of you autogeeks give me advice on what the good wheels are and where are the best places to go to get them?

:D
Amy
 
Search google for "tirerack"

You can always put on your old wheels and usually changing wheels does not affect the warranty.

(don't know if I can post that link to tirerack)
 
Jen--yes. Yes, it is a sickness. I even had fleeting thoughts of my trusty shotgun in the bedroom closet when a mockingbird crapped on my car last weekend right after I washed it. And mockers are my very favorite birds! I love them for their attitude and the beautiful noise they make. But this cheeky bugger lit on a low-hanging branch and just let 'er rip. Pi$$ed me right off. For a few seconds all I could think when I looked up at him was a nice blast with ol' Mossie would fix his wagon. LOL Of course I was horrified at myself after another few seconds, but the thought did occur. Hanging around here is definitely effecting some changes in my brainwave patterns. :p

abrcrombe, do you mean put on my old wheels in the event I have warranty work done? In the owner's manual Toyota kind of makes a big deal about aftermarket wheels and voiding the warranty, is why I'm asking this. I do realize, though, that this may be simply so I will buy the aftermarkets they offer rather than getting them from somewhere else.
 
libtech

I don't know if this will help.
http://www.granatellimotorsports.com/magnusonmoss.htm

"Legally, a vehicle manufacturer cannot void the warranty on a vehicle due to an aftermarket part unless they can prove that the aftermarket part caused or contributed to the failure in the vehicle (per the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)) ."

Or you could just have two sets of wheels/tires. One with the stock wheels/tires, and then one for your cool wheels/good tires. Switch them for summer, winter, road trip, whatever occasion you would need a different setup.
 
IMO if investing money in rims, get some GOOD high quality tires, like Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. A/S means all season. This will improve performance.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the advice. abrcrombe, that's really good to know about the warranty. As superchargd advised, I wouldn't buy cheap rims or tires, so I hoped there wouldn't be a problem...but you never know. I didn't know but what car manufacturers are like insurance companies and will try to weasel out of paying whatever they could in the event of a problem. It's very nice to know the burden of proof is on them. So again, thanks all!

P1--I have a 2007 Camry with stock wheels and Toyota hubcaps. I haven't posted any pics because I'm not done with her yet! LOL Currently she has 3 coats of KSG (looks very nice, but not as deep as I'd like), and last week I was going to put some Souveran paste on her, but then I got caught by the Collinite buzz :p and decided to get some of that for the longevity. I'm applying that today. My trusty, fugly old Buick had such a scabrous paint job when I got her that I vow I will NEVER let that happen to any car that belongs to me if there's any way I can prevent it...and what better way to prevent paint leprosy than to own a car from birth? Hence my anal-retentiveness about long-lasting paint protectants. I'm just waiting for it to cool off a little here before I do the Collinite. It feels like August and is very stuffy/muggy outside. I"ll probably take some pics after I wax today,and again in a couple of weeks when I put some Souveran on her when I get back from my biz trip. So pics will be forthcoming in the not-too-far-off.

:D
Amy
 
Warranty shouldn't even be a concern assuming you're buying the same size (diameter and width) with the appropriate off set. In fact you can take a look at the options that were offered on the vehicle and often times find a larger size wheel tire combination that you can be assured fits the vehicle equally well as well as your steel wheels with hub caps. You can run into problems when you start to make +1, +2 sizing in some instances. Reputable tire dealers can usually help you with safe up sizing also. It's a good thing to remember that when you start moving into up sized combinations the weight of the tire and wheel usually increase. If the car only has only adequate horse power you might feel as if it is under powered in these when changing to larger tire wheel combinations. You can also in most cases improve the speed rating on the tire (over factory tires) and notice substantial improvements in how the car corners, brakes and handles. Many people when making this consideration say I just don't use my car that way, I don't race it or drive it fast. It's surprising how dramatically a cars performance can be improved by changing a set of tires, you don't have to drive fast to receive the benefits offered by a tire with a higher speed rating.

I know that you specifically said that you were looking at wheels but when making a wheel purchase, tires should also be considered. If you purchase a wheel with the sole intention of it fitting the tires that are presently on the vehicle you limit your choices on what might really improve the looks and handling of your car. It's a shame to buy a wheel that fits the cars present tires only to find out that a year down the road you'll have to replace tires anyway and now you're locked into a certain tire size because of the size of wheel that you have purchased. When deciding what type of wheel to buy remember that all things being equal quality chrome wheels typically hold up the best with a minimal amount of care. Painted or coated wheels follow behind these. Polished wheels that aren't coated can be very challenging to maintain. I probably wouldn't recommend these style of wheels for daily drivers that see the weather. These are all considerations that deserve to be looked at when buying tires. Studies have shown that vehicle owners often are willing to spend up to 10% of the cars purchase price on a wheel tire combination. I'm getting a little long with this reply. Is it all too apparent that I managed multiple districts (19 stores) of tire and auto repair centers earlier in my career? Discount Tire and Tire Rack are two of the better sites to research your purchase.
 
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Thanks, Gearhead...I actually have been doing a little prelim research (the actual purchase is, of financial necessity, a little ways off) and have just begun to realize these are all factors when purchasing wheels. I never knew there could be so much to changing wheels, but it makes it even more fun to think I can improve my little Camry's handling and performance by changing the wheels and tires. A few years back I bought my first-ever completely new set of really, really good tires on top of new struts and (of course) an alignment for for my old Buick, and driving the car out of the shop that day was a revelation. It was like having a brand new car. I liked that feeling so much I may never buy fewer than 4 tires at a pop ever again. One thing I loved about that old car was she looked like such a sled and then when people got in her and heard how she ran and felt how she rode, they always went "Wow". I had to choose between the internals and the aesthetics since I didn't have money for both, so of course it all went to the internals. It's nice now, however, to be able to pay some attention to the aesthetics.

Anyways, what I want for my Camry is a little bit bigger wheel (18" as opposed to 16"), which is within the car's specs as per the owner's manual. My original idea behind getting bigger rims was a better look, but with what I'm learning now I think I'm shopping more for performance than looks since I can get both. :righton:
All advice will always be appreciated. I'd like to get my head wrapped around what I need as soon as possible so I can start saving for the big purchase. :D

Well, it's now Collinite time...back later! Thanks again, ya'll!

:D
Amy
 
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Remember one thing.......Your tires are the only thing keeping the car on a wet/snowy road. I learned my lesson the hard way, I went cheap years ago (I was i high school) and ended up fish tailing out of control (U.S 1 in south Fl) facing oncoming traffic. Granted this was in a 1972 Plymouth Duster with drum brakes all around, but I wasn't speeding (uncommon for me lol) and slowing down to a red light. Read reveiw on tirerack.com and tires.com and see what people have experienced.
Edit: There is aways an exception too the rule, some "cheaper" tires can work great too you just have to find out which ones do.
 
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wytstang said:
Remember one thing.......Your tires are the only thing keeping the car on a wet/snowy road. I learned my lesson the hard way, I went cheap years ago (I was i high school) and ended up fish tailing out of control (U.S 1 in south Fl) facing oncoming traffic. Granted this was in a 1972 Plymouth Duster with drum brakes all around, but I wasn't speeding (uncommon for me lol) and slowing down to a red light. Read reveiw on tirerack.com and tires.com and see what people have experienced.
Edit: There is aways an exception too the rule, some "cheaper" tires can work great too you just have to find out which ones do.
Click to expand...

Very true. That's why on tires.com tires you pick should be described as "best" (check good, better, and best). I personally trust Michelin.
IMO don't even look at other tires. Some uncle "Dweng" chinese tires will let you down. Just my $0.02.
 
www.goodroads.net (Florida)

Both every set of wheels (minus the Iforged) from them, and they always install/maintain my tires/wheels.
 
wytstang--I know what you mean about cheaper tires. I never had anything dangerous like that happen to me, but right before my Buick's trannie started with the weird and creepy I finally got my first flat from the set I referenced earilier in this thread. Five years they lasted, and still had some tread to go. But since this tire couldn't be fixed and I was so close to needing new ones (and I didn't know I was so close to getting a new car) I opted for four new rather than two. But I didn't have quite the bucks to spend as I did last time so I went cheaper. Boy was I disappointed riding out of the shop! I expected the "riding on a cloud" thing again, and it didn't happen. There was an improvement over the old worn tires, but nothing to write home about. So that's my last dalliance with cheap tires. LOL

So, thanks for all the feedback and links, guys...keep 'em coming! I'm going to look, and learn, and I'll post questions as they occur! :)
 
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