Large Manufacturers such as Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, Infiniti, BMW, Mercedes, Tesla and other large name brand manufacturers have a high quality control standard while aftermarket wheels do not have to meet these same requirements.
Buyer Beware! We have found that OEM rims are superior in over all finish quality, casting process or machining process, hardening process and conversion treatment process, aluminum alloy make up as well as design durability tests to be superior compared to 90% percent of aftermarket wheels available in the consumer market.
It is important to do your research before purchasing rims for your vehicle. When in doubt, stay with your original OEM rims!
OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer which means it was designed, produced by the original manufacturer of your vehicle which is designed specifically to maximize ride comfort, safety and durability for your rims. Car manufacturers invest a large amount of time and research designing and testing your OEM rims to meet and/or exceed DOT standards for your vehicle. It is one of the most important parts of your car! OEM wheels are subject to all classic hardness test methods such as Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers, Knoop, and ball indentation hardness tests.
Wheel Testing Which OEM Wheel Factories undergo are:
OEM factories are required to have ASTM and ISO standard testings which many aftermarket wheel factories do not perform.
An OEM wheel is a wheel that was installed on a car by the original manufacturer. Other terms used interchangeably for OEM wheels are stock rims, factory wheel, and more loosely, take-off wheel. OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer." OEM wheel manufacturers produce specific stock rims for every vehicle model and almost always there is more than one option. Aftermarket wheels, on the other hand, are produced by various other companies that either build custom rims or sometimes replica wheels that look like original wheels. Note that when considering the purchase of OEM replacement wheels, replica wheels can be a cost-effective option especially when a used wheel or reconditioned wheel cannot be located.
Many times you can identify a factory OEM rim by checking for the vehicle maker logo on the backside (Think Ford logo, Chevy logo, etc), and also there will almost always be OEM type numbers on the back of the wheel which sometimes includes the actual part number. Volvo wheels, Audi wheels, Volkswagen rims, and BMW genuine wheels almost always have the OEM wheel part number stamped on the back. BMW begins its numbers with 11, 66, 67, and 68 plus more!
If the wheel that is being sought after does not have the carmaker logo on the center cap/hub cap, chances are this is not a stock wheel. Genuine wheels can usually be identified by the center cap logo; however, even this can be deceiving as some aftermarket companies produce wheels that fit the original equipment caps.
One thing to be careful about is that many times factory original wheels have an aftermarket finish (different finish) on them than when they came with new on the vehicle. For instance, the rims could have been chromed, polished, or have a PVD chrome finish on them. The aforementioned wheels which now have custom finishes on them would be considered to have an “aftermarket finish” on a factory original rim.
Best place to buy wheels:
At 1-800EveryRim, we specialize in OEM steel and alloy wheels making us one of the best wheel companies on the west coast. Take advantage of our stock rim knowledge, we're happy to help you find the correct replacement wheel whether it's a used rim, a reconditioned wheel, or even a new take-off wheel. We will not allow you to make a mistake, we'll even ask if you need a center/hub cap!