Wheels VS Rims: What's the Difference?

What is the difference between a rim and a wheel? We take a look at why some wheels are called rims and some rims are called wheels.
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[@JonathanPalenik]

i call them roundy bois

[@JonathanPalenik]

not really, i call them wheels like a normal person

[@SpaceMissile]

thanks; now i'm calling them roundy bois.

[@seangolden7879]

I call them circle things

[@tankcommandert110]

sean golden the round part that does a spin along the ground.

[@novaprospekt1739]

That is, after all, the proper scientific term...

[@Morningstar620]

I didn't know this was a debate. I've always just called a wheel a wheel and tires are tires.

[@Iconoclast1919]

Then why do I hear about people buying rims? When I look up the problem I'm having, it says bent rim and to buy a new rim? I can't buy just a rim, I have to buy the wheel since the rim is part of it. Yet other people claim to buy "rims". Are they just buying wheel covers?

[@andrewstevens7205]

I like the subtlety of stating that an engineer or someone detail oriented would call it a wheel... How about we just say that morons and complete idiots will call a wheel a rim? That's what it really is and it makes me nauseous every time someone that calls themselves a car person does it.. I used to be on a mission to eradicate it from everyone's vocabulary that said it but I've since given up because I've been completely exhausted by my efforts. I must say thank you for making this video. It gives one more battle won for the the wheel guy side in the endless war we are fighting

[@QS-si3cq]

Well, the narrator was also wrong by making an excuse for it by way of geography. Also, I hear it/see it all over the place, so not regional. Just ignorant slang. A rim is a part of an entire wheel. Do you say also say steering rim? Because you should be, if you aren't, based on your "regional" logic.

[@Sunflowrrunner]

I appreciate the acknowledging the validity of the different use of language by different groups, but the importance of knowing the official terminology. Very Paulo Freire.

[@1951split]

In Dutch we have "wiel" for a wheel, which means the entire assembly. We have the word "velg" for the wheel without a tyre. (similar to the old english word "felloe" or "felg" for rim) and we have "band" for tyre. (because before the existence of tyres they just used a rubber (or steel) band around the rim)

[@trykozmaksym]

I tried both wheels and rims - my car still crashes itself.

[@realkilju]

Is it a mustang

[@absboodoo]

@@realkilju Not a Mustang, they crash into the crowd, not to itself.

[@Iconoclast1919]

🤣 I recall a snowstorm in Ohio, stuck in traffic for 5 hours to get home in what should have been a 20 minute drive. There were at least 10 mustangs that had slid off the road and were in ditches. I'll never forget that. LOLOL

[@timgiles9413]

The Rim is the part of the Wheel that the tire mounts to that seats the bead of the tire on to the Wheel. The Wheel is the entire thing, minus the tire. A Tire that is mounted on a Wheel is called a Tire and Wheel Assembly.

[@1062venturesfan]

Correct!!! A rim and a wheel are not the same thing!!! A rim is the part that the tire mounts and seats to wereas a rim with a center disc (for mounting on a hub) welded or riveted to it is a wheel. I'm a former employee of a steel rim & wheel manufacturer.

[@Iconoclast1919]

@@1062venturesfan This doesn't make sense to me though. There is no rim that is separate from the wheel on my vehicle and most other vehicles. I can't just purchase a rim, I have to purchase a wheel. Are the rims that people buy alone actually just wheel covers?

[@urambotauro938]

I keep going back and forth over this in my head. Either way makes its own kind of sense. Right now, I'm leaning towards "wheel" as being the whole package (which includes the tire). Mainly because the word "wheel" existed long before we ever started mounting "tires" on "rims". But I don't like referring to the center piece as a rim, because the rim is really just the outer bit that meets the tire. So if that center piece is only part of the "wheel", and the rim is only part of that center piece, then we need another word for that center piece, and I'm drawing a blank on what to call it. A "rim/spokes/hub assembly"? I dunno, that's a bit long-winded...

[@Teamoneilrally]

If a rim is just the outer part of a wheel... and a wheel goes inside the tire... I'm not sure what to call the wheel and tire combination either! If you buy a wheel, you just get the wheel not a tire on it. What's in your trunk, a spare wheel or spare tire? A spare "wheel and tire" is most accurate but then they could be separate. "Wheel and tire assembly" is probably most accurate but doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Chicken and the egg stuff for sure.

[@urambotauro938]

Yeah that's a mouthful for sure. I want to say that maybe the "wheel" really IS the whole package. I mean, it's such a basic English word that means little more than "a revolving circle". So I feel like breaking it down beyond its fully-assembled form requires different terminology. We know that the outer part (what contacts the ground) is the "tire". That's easy. I just can't think of a concise, satisfactory term for the one-piece assembly that includes the hub, spokes, and rim. Hm, maybe I'll just start referring to that as the "inner wheel"...

[@jeebusk]

Err, most agree the hub holds the bearing and there are hub caps. If someone has a bent rim we all know that's a correct use of the term, both the terms wheel and tire often imply an assembly of the two. Spokes are typically on bicycle wheels, i don't see any issues here. The terms for spokes and rims were separate parts in the days of carriges, now they're molded as one piece like a steering wheel.

[@Iconoclast1919]

@@jeebusk I am a newb when it comes to cars (expert at technology though!) and so this has been very confusing. Most wheels, you can't remove the rim, so when I look up my issue and it says a bent rim and the rim needs replaced, that is confusing considering that at least on my car, the rim is fused to the wheel, they are not separate. So, I guess I need a new wheel. Then there is the whole hub cap versus wheel cover issue I had to sort out as well, and initially, I was thinking the tire cover was a rim. I really wish the terminology was a lot more clear. I am accustomed to precise language in technology, so it's just really frustrating sorting through all this. I am thankful that in the video, he explained that on some wheels, the rims can be removed and others they cannot. Then by process of elimination I was able to figure out that the tire cover is not the rim. 😵‍💫

[@jeebusk]

@@Iconoclast1919 I think the only ambiguous term here is "wheel", which may be avoided. The other terms are pretty specific if you look at a diagram. if you work in industry everything has a part number, some parts (PN) are an assembly of other parts (spokes and rims for example). These descriptive terms are somewhat generic. I'm not sure what makes you think you're an expert at technology?

[@koidotjpeg9944]

This was super helpful, I'm buying my first pair of tires My tire pressure was all messed up and I didn't know. Had on tire that was 5 PSI, one that was 23 PSI, one that was 27 PSI, and one that popped probably because the pressure was so low

[@DuckiezFilmz]

never knew this, thanks!

[@timwintersoncntr]

Interesting bit of wheel history: The iron/steel hoop shrunk onto a wooden wagon wheel was called its tire and was, in fact, the first run-flat tire.

[@IntegraDIY]

I thought it was hub/spoke/Barrel

[@sinewave999]

Integra DIY that’s correct

[@gms03sbd3]

I've hear that too

[@jameshoonigan]

@@gms03sbd3 Barrel = Rim

[@balendu9432]

U explain things nicely

[@thi1swill]

He trying real hard not to say "if you're from the hood or listen to rap u might call a wheel a rim" lol

[@mysterydude1]

I hate rap and I've always called them rims. So does everyone I know. When talking about a real car or bicycle or motorcycle, I call them rims. When talking about a toy car or skateboard or roller skates etc, I call them wheels. Basically if it doesn't have a tire it's a wheel and if it does have a tire then it's a rim.

[@BeastMortThe]

A wheel to me is like shown in the video, but a rim to me are the kind that take a hubcap.

[@jeebusk]

the hub typically refers to the part behind the wheel

[@ZsomborZsombibi]

Strange, this is the case in other languages, too. In Hungary, we have this confusion, even in "expert" context.

[@fearofchicke]

Thank you.

[@rivanych]

Could you talk a bit about rim diameter, width and proper tire width, height? Weight, circum - performance impacts... Gravel, snow, ice, tarmac... Thanks!

[@joezze-bear]

Bobby have his man the best rim job, not wheel job

[@jorgenlannock]

"i smoked my rims last night" . so now i'm driving on my discbrakes 😁

[@evildarren1]

Aren't you afraid of ruining your hubcaps?

[@jameshoonigan]

I feel like a wheel is a wheel and a wheel and tire is also a wheel since the assembly of both still forms a circular object that can be used for rolling. Definition of wheel: a circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground. This definition actually almost applies more to a wheel and tire than just a wheel, as the two combined are much more effective for moving easily over the ground.

[@jeebusk]

Your feelings don't affect the definition, in common use it may be short for wheel assembly to include a tire as well as other items like tire pressure sensor etc.

[@freakydude92]

Thank you

[@ThomasTT87]

I call them roundie go rounds

[@BarretKruse]

That was fantastic! I feel just a *lil bit* less dumberer now!

[@akmaverick8808]

Very bright rim 😂 I say rim because I stutter alot when in long conversations but searching online it's a wheel.

[@gms03sbd3]

in spain is: Hub, spokes, ring and the rim is the complete piece and the wheel is the rim+tire...

[@Jin_Kai]

Thats what i was taught here in America

[@mroy2443]

Well that's incorrect. Think of it like this. Where is the rim of a cup? The rim of the cup is only a piece of the cup. You would not call the entire cup a rim, right?

[@foodforthought6960]

@@mroy2443 do you really call the entire wheel a "wheel and tire assembly" in real life????

[@mroy2443]

Food for Thought just wheel and tire. Not wheel and tire assembly. Why? Because that’s what it is

[@jameshoonigan]

Same in France

[@iu___ra6540]

This guy told the same story like a tutor from the university where I learned)

[@CharlietoKind]

i really like that hoodie. you guys have a store?

[@Teamoneilrally]

For Sure! teamoneil.com/product-category/merchandise/

[@TheLeoojedap]

Thanks for improving the audio

[@sflenterprises]

Thanks.

[@stevet7695]

If it's not one piece (ie. classic sports cars and older motorcycles) then there is a difference. A wheel is a complete assembly; a rim is the outer circular component without the spokes or hub.

[@jeebusk]

So that black rubber outer circular component is a rim, duely noted :)

[@kolatt1409]

Thanks, I now know what is rims. what is spoke and what is hub

[@jbw9999]

The general public calls a lot of things by wrong words. I don't get it.

[@ThePalmTwins]

The hub is what the wheel mounts to haha! Centerbore - spokes - rim - barrel = wheel :)

[@user-fi1xu1pp7p]

Simple if it has a tire that mounts and un-mounts, it is called *RIM* . If it was something that no tire can be mounted at all then it is called a *wheel* . Think about it, no one says steering rim, they say steering wheel due to it not having a mounting edge for tires ... Which that edge is called the rim.

[@Iconoclast1919]

I can't buy a rim though, I have to buy a wheel since the rim is a part of the wheel. My problem is a bent rim and the advice is the buy a new rim, but the rim is part of the wheel so I have to buy a new wheel. That's where the confusion happens.

[@CoyoteBoyUK]

A rim is a part of a wheel. A steering wheel has a rim, it's the outer diameter. It doesn't need tyres.

[@brienmiralles6460]

What is the barrel then ?

[@rohanofelvenpower5566]

So you never actually buy a rim? You can't buy a rim without the wheel right?

[@cashv3668]

I have a friend who swears on God that they're called rims I bet he'll love this video Proving him wrong

[@MrSticks9999]

Well technically, you are wrong. Just because some ignorant people call a wheel a rim, doesn't make it so. A rim is part of a wheel.

[@MattLitkeRacing]

I can’t stand people who say rim when talking about a wheel

[@Flyingdutchy33]

You poor snowflake :(

[@warthog104]

It’s almost as painful as when people say “clips” when they should say “magazine”.

[@jamesbutler606]

i've never heard anyone say going to get a clip when they are on their way to the newsagents to get this months issue of cats unlimited.

[@PsYchotic666Joker]

Came here to say this as well

[@sushisashimi9113]

@@warthog104 lol, a KZbinr called his magazine a clip so I used the wheel and rim as an analogy for the annoyance.

[@joshualarson6297]

Rim is the round part the tire seals against. seperare from the hub - (center part where the lugs bolt too). Disagree? Ask and we will discuss it to come up with an answer.

[@blas787]

that's literally what he said.

[@future_phonk]

Genre of car culture. We all know which one calls it a rim...😅

[@realkilju]

I call them "vanteet"

[@jakegingrich7214]

So what's a rim lol, thanks for sharing your opinion.

[@WhiteDwarfVR4]

My buddy Romeo used to call aftermarket wheels "feet" 🤣😊

[@jameshoonigan]

Not shoes?

[@mazdaweeb3]

@@jameshoonigan The tires are the shoes

[@witchcraftauto]

haha awesome! it's no different from people pointing at monitors and calling it computer!

[@CS-hy6es]

Show us Pictures of typical "bent" wheels...thanks

[@petergrant9667]

And I thought a wheel was the rim and the tire!

[@humanehuman1026]

So basically Wheel=Rims It's just a synonym?

[@Teamoneilrally]

Yes sir

[@QS-si3cq]

No. A rim is a part of a wheel, not the whole wheel.

[@htejjke2228]

those method wheels look sexy

[@andrewstevens7205]

How about the guys who call any type of wheel "mags" regardless of what type of alloy it is made of? I think it's even worse than being a rim guy.. I think they are trying to sound smart or appear that they in fact know more about cars than we do by spitting out this nonsense. I suppose we will never know the psyche of a rim/mag guy. Science just can't seem to quantify stupid. It's like a singularity of being dumb where the stupidity is infinite and at the Nexus point is rim/mag talk

[@andrewstevens7205]

Actually I do watch Rick and Morty!! Wubbadubbalubbub!!! Hahahaha why do you feel the need to castigate me? We clearly just have some dissenting opinions buddy.. relax! BTW, do you really postulate that it is part of a regional vernacular to say rim? My brother says rim and is like you on this dissention. You know what is really quite awesome? When I started typing wubbadubbalubbub it actually is in my phone's library! One of the programmers purposefully included that! Brilliant!

[@andrewstevens7205]

@rainyseas0n perhaps I was being a bit harsh to bring intellectual capabilities into this. That much I shouldn't have done.. but you don't need to go ahead and associate me with a group responsible for the most worldwide unnatural deaths in a conflict. Sheesh.. chill out guy! Lol

[@billwinch7043]

funny, it didn't answer my question: what do you call a tire on a rim? Seems he wasn't sure either what you call that. Funny to call it a wheel and tire assembly.

[@Toasty_Woasty]

He did answer it... Its a wheel and tire

[@kbryanolan]

What about "Mags"? 😅

[@canwegetsubswithfewvideos]

wheels=mags. and rim stays rim. mags is what they call insted of rim here in ph

[@jbstepchild]

I can't believe that's a thing

[@DawGGG85]

I call them car shoes

[@matthewscarpetta]

people call alloy wheels mags? they arent made of magnesium but they still call them mags. go figure...

[@joezze-bear]

Ovals!

[@fearofchicke]

Lmao this got a dislike?!

[@ZsomborZsombibi]

fearofchicken that must be a robot, pressing random buttons on KZbin.

[@nicksGLI]

fearofchicken it was the one moron emailing them everyday asking them if they sell sick ass lightweight rally rims for their 2004 focus svt

[@Phos9]

I think the rim is the part that retains the bead.

[@BC-tn5ss]

You hit it on the nail

[@TrojanHorse1959]

To me, a "wheel" consists of the tire and rim, and a "rim" is just that a rim with no tire. Therefore a "rimjob"... is just getting rims only...

[@nicksGLI]

Robert G I'm gonna go Google this job for more detail..

[@TrojanHorse1959]

LOL! Be prepared for anything if you do...

[@NoWr2Run]

SO IF YOU PUT A CONDOM ON IT'S A WHEEL JOB ?

[@QS-si3cq]

No

[@CoyoteBoyUK]

A wheel assembly contains a wheel, tyre and probably a valve. You buy new wheels. You buy new tyres. You assemble them into a wheel assembly. People just shorten everything and those of us who care just ignore it and twitch internally.

[@highspeedenthusiast6628]

It's a shame you have to explain something so obvious... unfortunately it's also necessary

[@djrighthand]

Still Available kinda ironic you're watching the video

[@highspeedenthusiast6628]

D O'Neill is a reputable outfit why wouldn't I?

[@OnzoCODM]

I call it crack

[@SixtyAte]

I don’t this was necessary, but hey all good

[@Flyingdutchy33]

Well, it's funny to see how many people in the comment section are upset with the term "rims". Personally, if I say "rim" and everybody knows I mean "a wheel" , then I think communication was succesful.

[@frenkvortice3858]

we call them, disks/without a tyre. and wheels / with tyre... cos you cant drive without tyres. thats why separate names.

[@alphamech9283]

there is no steering rims in car but steering wheels steering wheels = wheels that steer those wheels you shown should be call rolling wheels :) but i refer them as sport rims because everyone know this term.

[@ChirsSmedely]

Never heard the term sport rims before

[@nightmisterio]

Wheel=Tire+Rim

[@dirtrider88]

using the word rim is such an uneducated thing to say.

[@mikes3060]

Wheels rims who cares they both mean the same thing

[@toddferreira13ify]

So wrong lol. Rim is a rim. Tire is a tire and a wheel is the rim and tire together. Nice try thow

[@Teamoneilrally]

Cool then you should have no trouble buying some rims: www.tirerack.com/content/tirerack/desktop/en/homepage.html