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Joined: May 2001
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I often see people refer to "rims" and at other times refer to "wheels." Are the two terms interchangeable? Or is there a important distinction?
My first inclination is to think that (rim + tire) = wheel, and that (wheel - tire) = rim. Or am I missing something important?
Thanks for answering this most basic of questions, but I want to be accurate when I'm both posting and talking.
1998 E1 SVT - Toreador Red
Production #4794 of 6535
Build date: 2/25/1998
Mods completed:
- Pre '97 sail panels
Mods planned:
- K & N Air Filter
- Side marker lights
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,585
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I think most people refer to rims and wheels the same. Tirerack's own site has classifies them as wheels and tires separately. I don't think there is a term for a tire mounted on a wheel.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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You're right, that is a silly question. :rolleyes: 
1999 SVT Contour, #2140 of 2760, Tropic Green - Medium Prairie Tan
Koni Sport struts; TSW Blade wheels; Nakamichi, a/d/s/, Boston Acoustics, Infinity I.C.E.
1989 Saleen Mustang, #89-0408, too many mods to list here
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Joined: May 2000
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rim = rim
wheels = rims
if you are talking about tires...then its tires, or rubbers...no pun intended
1996 Contour GL
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when talking to non-gearheads... refer to them as wheels, as most don't understand the word "rims"
96 Mystique "Spree" Duratec ATX
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"They have the Internet on computers, now?"
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Joined: Mar 2001
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And if you're really dumb (or car illiterate), they're 'hubcaps'. 
Dan Parmelee
1999 Acura Integra SiR-G coupe
"I heard Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms"
"Word, bitch! Phantoms like a muhfuka"
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Joined: Apr 2001
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This is not a silly question as no one else has answered it correctly. There used to be a difference between rims and wheels on cars, but no longer, There are still seperate rims and wheels on large trucks.
A wheel is the rotating part which bolts to the axle. The rim, if seperate, is the part which holds the rubber tire. On wooden wheeels the rim was metal, the wheel was wooden spokes. A spare tire would be mounted on a rim, filled with air. But the car only had four wheels. The rim and wheel bolted together in a circle about where the valve stem is today.
Bill D.
Ps Locomotives use seperate wheels and tires even today. But the tires are steel.
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