Five Tips for Purchasing the Right OEM Wheels

Purchasing the correct set of wheels for your Nissan, or any automobile for that matter, can have a lot to do with your personal safety and for that of your passengers. A carefully maintained vehicle can improve your fuel economy, the handling of your car or truck and the comfort of your ride. Every one of these factors can be directly influenced by the type of wheels and tires with which you’ve equipped your vehicle. Before you head into the tire shop, consider some of the following tips for purchasing the best Nissan OEM wheels for your vehicle.

One: Identify What You Need to Replace

If you’ve noticed that your comfort while driving is being impacted by some wobbling or uneven wear, you may want to do a quick visual inspection. In most cases, tires will show a lot of wear on the treads or some kind of bulging. However, if the wheels have been damaged, you may not need to replace the tires. Instead, you might be in the market for a set of Nissan OEM wheels.

Two: Have Your Vehicle Inspected for Alignment or Suspension Trouble

If you’ve invested in a nice set of Nissan OEM rims, but your alignment is out of whack, you could be throwing away a good chunk of money. Bad shocks could also have a pretty disastrous impact on the quality of your purchase. One sign of this type of trouble might involve more wear on the inside or outside of the tire. Before you invest in new tires or any of their components, it can be worthwhile to have a mechanic take a closer look at the overall condition of your car. You may find that the tire center is also willing to offer this service for you, but an impartial expert could save you from paying for services you don’t need.

Three: Understand Why OEMs Matter

This acronym stands for "original equipment manufacturer" and refers to products that meet the specific equipment standards established by the company that designed the automobile. Nissan OEM rims, for example, are those that were first produced for the car line. They are consistent in fit and appearance. The alternative is aftermarket parts that may or may not be an appropriate fit for your automobile.

Four: Know What You’re Buying

In many situations, the terms "wheels" and "rims" are used to refer to the same thing: the metal center inside the tire. It can be helpful to understand the difference between the two, however. You wouldn’t want to pay for fancy rims, only to discover that this didn’t include the entire structure within the tire.

Five: Care for Your New Tires

Nissan OEM wheels will affect the tires, but the opposite can also be true. If you neglect to maintain the proper amount of air pressure in your tires, you could end up affecting the quality of the rims and wheels. Of course, you’ll also notice that you’re spending more for gas and replacing your tires more often. Before you spend a lot of money on new tires, make sure you understand the relationships between all of the components on your vehicle for smart purchasing decisions.

John Trinh has been writing for 10+ years. He first delved into the world of writing when he wrote his first article for his university's paper. Since then, John has enjoyed writing about technology, and anything that he thinks he should write about.