When you’re upgrading your car or just looking for a new look, modifying your wheels can make a whole lot of difference. Wheels are responsible for keeping your car rolling on the road. But they also impact how your car looks overall. If you’re purchasing mag wheels online, there are five things you should unavoidably check before placing the order.
Brand and Model
The first thing you should look at is the brand and the mag wheel’s model on offer since not every wheel will fit into your car. The wheels vary in size from 10″ to 30″. If there’s incompatibility, you’d have no option but to return the ordered items (that too if the website accepts replacements).
But even worse is the time it’s going to take to order a new one that fits your car’s make and model. Depending on how fast the dealer operates, the return and shipment of a new mag wheel can take weeks. But, when you want your car to look different, you want it to look different right now.
When selecting the right wheel for your car, look at the PCD or Pitch Circle Diameter of your car. It measures the distance between two bolt holes. The PCD of the alloy should match with your car.
All modern websites that offer car parts online have a filtering option to input your car make and model. It will return results specifically meant for your vehicle. This way, you can avoid shopping for wheels that are irrelevant to you.
In case you’re viewing all the options, check for the “Fit Guarantee” section. This section lists the car models with which the spare parts will fit perfectly. Otherwise, the onus is on the e-commerce seller to replace it for free.
Advanced Measurements
Checking the Fit Guarantee section and the wheel size and width section is more than enough to ensure the wheel will fit your car. But there’s no reason why you cannot look at the advanced measurements. These are technical, mainly used among car geeks.
Go over your tire, and you’ll find number-alphabet lettering which would look like this: P245/38 R15 99 V. From a wheel buying standpoint, you need to focus on numbers. Look at the number after the first letter (which can be P, C, LT), and the number after R. The number after P denotes the tire’s section width, and the number after R denotes the diameter of the wheel rims.
Though there’s already a mention of PCD, you can also look at BCD or Bolt Circle Diameter. Then you can check whether you need a hub-centric or lug-centric wheel for your car.
These things are not compulsory, and you can still get a right-fit wheel by overlooking these.
Replacement and Warranty
Not every website offers a replacement for items you’ve ordered. Once bought, the mag wheels cannot be returned. But some online stores offer replacement and refunds if you return within a certain period after receiving the wheels.
The website does not cover the warranty, but the brand that manufactures the product does. But the website can also play a role. If the website and the manufacturer are the same, the website should cover the warranty. So, please check for it with the e-commerce platform and review the policy.
Mag Wheels vs. Steel Wheels
Many people get confused with mag and steel wheels online and end up ordering the other one. This might be because, in images, it can get hard to discern between the two, especially when both have the same color. Therefore, always look for the labels when selecting the wheels. It should explicitly mention “Mag Wheels” if that is what you’re after.
Another tactic you can use is to look for glossiness. Mags have a sleek and glossy finish, which makes them appear shiny. Steel wheels, on the other hand, have less luster. But it’s best to stick with the first principle and look for the labels rather than going by the eye.
Discount Codes and Coupons
With discount codes, you can avail of discounts on the price you’d have to pay for the mags. The codes are sometimes displayed on the website itself if running an offer or on any third-party websites. Before placing an order, you should research and see if there are coupons available to apply when ordering your mag wheels.
Once you order, check it at the earliest. Otherwise, you may pass the return day time period, after which the wheels cannot be returned back. With new wheels on, you can flaunt it around the city.
