Alloy rims are one of the hottest vehicle accessories going. They not only look great, but they can also improve performance, handling and safety. When a set of rims is purchased, the first thing most motorists want to do is get them installed right away.
If paying installation fees or waiting for garage time does not fit in the cards, it is possible to handle installation at home. The task will take some serious elbow grease and a little bit of time, but it can offer rewards down the road.
To get started with installing alloy wheels, it is necessary to not only have the new rims, but also some basic tools. The list of tools includes a jack, preferably hydraulic, a crowbar, air compressor and socket wrenches. When everything is in place, these steps will get the job done:
Jack up the car - If a hydraulic lift is available, lift the entire car off the ground to a safe level. If one is not, then jack up one tire at a time.
Let the air out - Deflating the air in the tires can make it a whole lot easier to remove the old rim and put on a new one. Full deflation is probably not necessary, but partial can make the job move much more quickly.
Loosen bolts - Before trying to remove the old rims, loosen the connecting bolts with a socket wrench and remove them completely. Set this aside because they will be needed later.
Out with the old - Take off the old rims using the crowbar.
Place the new rims - Put the new rims into place and secure them properly with the bolts. It is best to use bolts provided with the new rims if they are present. Otherwise, grab the bolts that were set aside from the old rims and make sure they are properly reinstalled.
Fill the tires - Make sure to use the air compressor to properly inflate the tires to manufacturer specifications. Use a tire gauge to be certain the right amount of pressure has been added.
Rinse and repeat - Go around the car and repeat the process on the other three tires.
Test drive - It is a good idea to test out the rims in a safe location before settling that the job has been done right. Drive around for a while and then test the rims to make sure they are still securely in place and the bolts are tight.
If alloy rims get damaged down the road, it is sometimes possible to repair them instead of having to replace them. Should the problem be a minor ding or dent, try reshaping the metal. Scratches can sometimes be worked out through cleaning. If the problem runs deeper, there are garages that specialize in rehabbing alloy rims.
Alloy rims not only make cars look great, they can improve handling and performance. Installing new rims at home is possible with the right tools and a little bit of time. Just take care to do the job right to avoid damage to the new rims.