It's dumb to ask this, but I have to admit I have limited knowledge about it, so how else will I learn?

I have a 03 civic DX and am looking to buy new rims. First off, what do I need to know about rims? I've been looking at them and the information that comes along (the dimensions, charasteristics, size(s), etc) and need help to know what's what, what to know, what fits, etc.

So, what will fit my civic? What are all those numbers that come with the rims info? What's offset? etc. Any help would be appreciated...Thanks.

 

Those are excellent questions! No need to be afraid to ask.

The first step is to take a look at your car's stock rims and tires. Your car came from the factory with 185/70-14 tires mounted on 14x5.5 wheels (I don't know the stock offset). Note this means that 185 mm is the width of the tread, the height of the sidewall is 70 percent of 185, the wheel diameter is 14 inches, and the wheel is 5.5 inches wide; the wheel measurements are taken at the bead where the tire mounts, not at the outer edge.

The next step is to decide what diameter wheels you want. In general, a lot of people like the look of bigger wheels, but the downsides are a choppier ride quality and, when they get really big (like 17" and especially 18"), a susceptibility to damage from potholes. I think 16" wheels would look great on your car. But this is a matter for your own personal preference.

The next step after deciding on the diameter of the wheels is to determine the size of the tires. The goal in doing so is to keep the outer diameter of the tires as close to stock as possible. And, generally, you don't want tires that are more than 20 mm wider than stock, so they don't rub on the wheel well liners. The best matching tire sizes for your car are 195/60-15 for 15" wheels, 205/50-16 for 16" wheels, and 205/45-17 for 17" wheels.

The next step is to determine the best width wheels for the tire size. Each tire is approved for a range of rim widths, and this is shown on the tire manufacturer's website as well as the websites of tire dealers such as the Tire Rack. At the lowest end of that range, the tires may look like they bulge a lot; at the upper end, they may look stretched onto the rim. Most specs include a "measuring rim width" which is the width they use for determining the other measurements in the specs. The best width is usually either in the middle of the approved range, or this measuring rim width. For your car, I would recommend the following widths for the above tire sizes: 15x6 or 15x6.5, 16x6.5 or 16x7, and 17x7.

The next step is to determine the proper offset (how much the wheels/tires will stick out from the car). This is where you might want to talk with your wheel/tire dealer to use his expertise. You can do a calculation starting with the stock offset, and adjusting for the difference in rim width, to come up with the offset that will position the wheel/tire with the same centerline as the stock one. That is usually best. But occasionally there are differences in clearance between the inside and outside of the wheel well that might make it better to bring it in or out a bit more than that calculation would indicate.

Your wheel/tire dealer should also be able to provide wheels with the proper center bore (that's the diameter of the big hole in the center of the wheel) to match the hubs on your car. I believe it's 56.1 mm.

 

Thanks a lot. That was a lot of necessary information. I have a better idea of what to look for/what will fit. I will keep you updated! I want to go with 16' because I've seen 17's on civics and heard stories about them...apparently they might be a little too big for the civic. Thanks again.

 

Don't forget budget. In general the bigger the rim the more expensive it will be as well as the tires that match that size.

Also once you have the size of tire that you want you will then have to decide on a make and model of tire. I recommend you come back here for further advice on what tire will best suit your needs.

Cheers.