Wheels vs. Rims

jakonrad

jakonrad

New member
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Hi all–

I wanted to start a discussion about the recent(ish) trend with people referring to wheels as rims. Whenever I hear someone call wheels rims I cringe. Is it a problem where slang is replacing the actual word?

What does everyone think?

Arguments for or against?
 
To me they are just synonyms and can be used interchangeably. It makes no difference to me. Now when people confuse the words wheels and tires it bothers me.
 
Improper terminology also makes me cringe

Tire = rubber
Rim = metal face, lip, spokes, barrel, hub
Wheel = tire and rim
 
jakonrad said:
Hi all–

I wanted to start a discussion about the recent(ish) trend with people referring to wheels as rims. Whenever I hear someone call wheels rims I cringe. Is it a problem where slang is replacing the actual word?

What does everyone think?

Arguments for or against?
Click to expand...

I agree with you 100%. The rim is just one part of the entire wheel. Too me the person loses some credibility when they call them rims. I feel the same about shocks and struts. They are just not the same thing.
 
Dr_Pain said:
Improper terminology also makes me cringe

Tire = rubber
Rim = metal face, lip, spokes, barrel, hub
Wheel = tire and rim
Click to expand...

See, I think this is where a lot of people are confused.

Tire = Tire
Rim = Outer part of the wheel where the tire is mounted.
Wheel = All of the various parts including the rim

Now whether a tire + wheel can also be called a wheel or should be referred to as a "tire and wheel assembly" is beyond me. I'd go with "tire and wheel assembly", but that's because I'm nitpicky...clearly.


Coopers ST said:
I agree with you 100%. The rim is just one part of the entire wheel. Too me the person loses some credibility when they call them rims. I feel the same about shocks and struts. They are just not the same thing.
Click to expand...

Exactly. :iagree:


It's one of those arguments that will never come to a close I think, like engine/motor.
 
I guess it all depends on where you are located and how old you are as to what you refer to them as.

Same concept goes with whether you refer to the thing you speed on as a freeway, highway, interstate, or whatever other name you may have for it.
 
I don't think it's such a big deal actually. At body shops they still say color sanding opposed to wet sanding. Yet they can build you an entire car. Body/mechanically and even have it painted for you.

So to just nit pick little things like that, I find the time can be being used to try and teach them the proper wording a waste of time IMO. The time can be used to either teach them something new or even better for oneself to learn something new.

Just my opinion :)
 
Rims .... used down here in Florida all the time to offer a set of wheels outside of the OEM. I have Iforged Rims on my Vette. Doesn't really bother me ....
 
It really doesn't matter if you call it a rim or wheel, it's all the same, don't sweat the small things buddy.
 
I can sympathise with the OP. The following terms REALLY annoy me when used interchangably:

Concrete / cement :mad:
Roof / ceiling
Floor / ground

But for some reason wheels / rims doesn't really bother me (for the record, I say "wheels").
 
I say wheels, but don't really care when someone says rims. As long as I know what they're talking about, it's all the same to me
 
At work I actually asked the painter's assistant a question about the wheels.

He then said "you mean the rims?" I said, "no the wheels" it went back and fourth in a humorous way. In the end he still insisted on "the rims..." :D
 
Sicoupe said:
It really doesn't matter if you call it a rim or wheel, it's all the same, don't sweat the small things buddy.
Click to expand...

Is the rim of a glass the same thing as the whole glass? If a glass only had a rim then it would hold nothing (that would suck), so if a wheel only had a rim it would have a hard time holding a tire. :cheers:

I set up a $150,000 packaging line for a new "wheel" manufacturer last year in my area. If you call them rims to the people who make "wheels" they look at you like you don't know what your talking about. It's no biggie, call them what you want, but they are wheels and the rim is part of the wheel. You'd have a hard time mounting a tire on a rim.
 
I'm with most here. I call them wheels but when people use "rims" it doesn't bother me at all.

A little off topic but still within reason is when people say "VIN number" or "ATM machine", that kind of bothers me.
 
wikipedia:
The rim is the "outer edge of a wheel, holding the tire".[1] It makes up the outer circular design of the wheel on which the inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles such as automobiles

Meaning[edit]

The terms "wheel" and "rim" are often used synonymously, as in decorative wheels being called rims. Some authors are careful to use "rim" for only the outer portion of a wheel, where the tire mounts,[7] just as the rim of a coffee cup or a meteor crater does not refer to the entire object. Others use "rim" to mean the entire metal part to which the tire mounts,[8] because the rim and the wheel are often cast or stamped from a single piece of metal instead of being distinct as with wire wheels. At the same time, "wheel" may refer to the entire rotating assembly, including the tire
 
theblob640 said:
I'm with most here. I call them wheels but when people use "rims" it doesn't bother me at all.

A little off topic but still within reason is when people say "VIN number" or "ATM machine", that kind of bothers me.
Click to expand...

Hey bro, where can I find "MSDS Sheets"?

Also, I'm a Bears fan and I love going to Soldiers Field.

I enjoy eating Potbellys.

Thank goodness I remembered my PIN number.


:D
 
custmsprty said:
wikipedia:
The rim is the "outer edge of a wheel, holding the tire".[1] It makes up the outer circular design of the wheel on which the inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles such as automobiles

Meaning[edit]

The terms "wheel" and "rim" are often used synonymously, as in decorative wheels being called rims. Some authors are careful to use "rim" for only the outer portion of a wheel, where the tire mounts,[7] just as the rim of a coffee cup or a meteor crater does not refer to the entire object. Others use "rim" to mean the entire metal part to which the tire mounts,[8] because the rim and the wheel are often cast or stamped from a single piece of metal instead of being distinct as with wire wheels. At the same time, "wheel" may refer to the entire rotating assembly, including the tire
Click to expand...

Just to stir the pot:
You do realize Wikipedia is unreliable and I can go on there right now to change the definition of that if I wanted to?
 
valleyrider said:
Just to stir the pot:
You do realize Wikipedia is unreliable and I can go on there right now to change the definition of that if I wanted to?
Click to expand...

Ofcourse I do, but that is not the case when it comes to the defintion of a wheel and a rim, atleast not this time.

maybe you'll trust websters dictionary:

rim
noun \ˈrim\

: the outer edge of a usually round object

: the part of a wheel that the tire is put on

Part 2

rim (rm)
n.
1. The usually curved or circular border or edge of an object. See Synonyms at border.

2. The circular outer part of a wheel, furthest from the axle.

Tire Rack:
What Is a Wheel and What Is a Rim? Are They the Same Thing?

It may seem obvious, but a wheel is comprised of a hub, spokes and rim. Sometimes these components will be one piece, sometimes two or three. The hub is the center portion of the wheel and is what attaches the wheel to the suspension. The spokes radiate out from the hub and attach to the rim. The rim is the outer part of the wheel that holds the tire. While many people refer to wheels as "rims," this is technically incorrect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top