Quick Answer:
Cleaning and maintaining your current set of wheels and tires or purchasing a new set can make any vehicle look spiffy (and safe) again.
CAN WHEELS AND TIRES REALLY MAKE A CAR LOOK NEWER?
Yes! New, or properly maintained and cleaned wheels and tires can make even older models look newer. Wheels and tires are prominent visual elements of virtually every exterior view of a vehicle and refreshing them in any way can do wonders for the overall look. If you love your older vehicle or just can’t afford a new one right now, you can improve its appearance with a few simple budget friendly steps:
- Clean
- Maintain
- Upgrade
Note: you shouldn’t replace a serviceable tire for aesthetic reasons alone. Tire replacement should be based on tire condition, tread, and age.
10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CAR LOOK NEWER (WITH WHEELS AND TIRES)
Taking good care of your tires and wheels will not only keep them looking and performing well. If your wheels and tires are at the end of their service life, you can coordinate a wheel and tire package to maximize savings, safety, and performance.
Here’s a quick list of how to make your car look newer with wheels and tires:
- Regularly clean your wheels thoroughly
- Clean and routinely inspect your tires
- Use tire dressing
- Quickly address tire browning
- Regularly inspect wheels for damage
- Upgrade to a different wheel style or finish
- Choose wheels and tires with proper fitment
- Replace tires when worn, too old, or unsafe
- Coordinate wheels and tires
- Preview wheels before purchasing
Regularly clean your wheels (thoroughly)
The simplest way to make existing wheels look new is to clean them. Built-up brake dust, dirt, and road grime can really age a wheel’s look and physical body–even if the rest of the vehicle is clean.
This is for several reasons:
- Road contaminants (like chemicals, water, and road salt) can lead to corrosion
- Road dust can stain or damage your wheels permanently
- Dull finishes look old and unkempt
Dust can settle into the tiniest nook and crannies, especially in your lug bolts, creases of your spokes, and lug bolt holes.
We teach you how to clean your wheels here.
Routinely inspect and clean your tires
Clean sidewalls create a sharper contrast against your wheels. Regular cleaning and inspection also gives you the opportunity to look for signs that the tire needs professional attention.
Just like with wheels, brake dust, road contaminants, and other road hazards can both damage and age your tires.
We teach you how to clean your tires here.
Discount Tire offers FREE tire inspections! Get an expert opinion from one of our experienced tire techs.
FREE TIRE INSPECTIONUse tire dressing
Tire dressing is a product applied to your tire’s sidewalls to restore the deep, dark black color and leave a particular finish (either glossy, satin, or matte).
Tire dressing accomplishes several goals:
- Boosts appearance
- Protects rubber from fading, drying, and cracking from UV rays
- Repels water and dirt (when properly dried)
However: be careful when applying the tire dressing. Only apply it to the sidewalls because your tread or the road will become slick. This is especially dangerous for motorcycles whose tires have a much smaller contact patch to grab a driving surface.
Tire dressing can also “sling” or spin onto your vehicle’s paint if it has not properly dried. Some types of tire dressing will also attract dust if they stay greasy.
Address tire browning
Tire browning (also called blooming) is when protective chemical compounds called antiozonants seep out from inside the rubber to the tire’s surface to prevent cracking and dry rot. This natural process can react with oxygen, heat, and UV light to oxidize and turn a dull brown.
Things that can cause or aggravate tire browning are:
- Natural migration process of compounds
- Oxidation due to sun and atmosphere
- Old tire dressing
Old, low quality, heavy silicone, or solvent-based dressing can amplify the browning effect. - Road grime and brake dust
- Mold release agents
These leftover manufacturing lubricants can hold onto contaminants and amplify the browning effect
This browning isn’t dangerous but it looks unsightly and visually ages your vehicle greatly. However, if tire browning is accompanied by cracking, damage, or other unusual conditions then get a professional tire inspection.
How to clean and prevent tire browning:
- Use dedicated cleaners (such as specialized rubber cleaner or strong degreaser)
- Thoroughly scrub with a stiff bristle brush and rinse
- Apply water-based protection
Regularly inspect wheels for damage
Scratches, dents, and curb rash can visually age wheels but wheel damage may not only be cosmetic. Structural damage may require repair or a total replacement.
Curb rash is scratching, scuffing, or gouging of a wheel from road hazards, often from curbs and other road hazards. It is primarily a cosmetic issue but deep impacts can cause wheel imbalances, cracking, or air leaks.
However, not all damage can be refinished. Can a bent or broken rim be fixed?
Discount Tire offers rim refinishing and repair services if it is safe to do so. A wheel expert will examine your wheels and explain next steps, whether that includes repair or a recommendation to replace them.
RIM REPAIR & REFINISHINGUpgrade to a new wheel style or finish
Changing your wheel’s design or finish can dramatically alter a vehicle’s appearance without changing the vehicle itself. They offer a great customized look and feel to any ride.
There are many wheel styles to choose from, including:
Mesh-style wheels: sporty, modern
Deep dish/lip wheels: dramatic, aggressive
Split-spoke wheels: Intricate, balanced
Multi-spoke wheels: Common/standard but versatile
Vintage wheels: eye catching, retro
Here’s some great options: Klassik Rader Wheels, BG Rod Works, Cragar WheelsModular wheels: robust, masculine
Learn more about wheel styles here.
Modern wheel finish options are an exciting aspect to wheel shopping. We talk about wheel finish methods here but popular wheel finish colors include:
- Black wheels (matte or glossy)
- Bronze wheels
- Machine faced wheels
- Silver wheels
Compared to purchasing a new vehicle, replacing your wheels is a more affordable upgrade option.
Choose wheels and tires with proper fitment
To look and perform best, your wheel and tire upgrade needs to have the proper fitment. This makes sure the wheels and tires work smoothly with your vehicle instead of rubbing (this can lead to unsightly damage) or causing safety and performance issues.
We go into great detail in our wheel fitment guide and tire fitment guide but here’s a quick list of things you need to verify before purchasing a wheel and tire package:
| Wheel and Tire Fitment Checklist | |
|---|---|
| Wheels | Tires |
| ✓ Bolt pattern ✓ Wheel diameter ✓ Wheel width ✓ Offset & backspacing ✓ Center bore ✓ Brake clearance ✓ Tire compatibility* | ✓ Tire size ✓ Load index ✓ Speed rating |
*the tire must fit on the wheel
Replace tires when worn, old, or unsafe
New tires can improve a vehicle’s appearance and performance. However, tires should only be replaced based on condition–not just because they look old. Faded tires may still be perfectly serviceable and safe; they simply need a little TLC (such as cleaning and adding tire shine).
We cover when you should replace your tires here.
If it is time to replace your tires, the clean sidewalls and crisp tread can really perk up your older or less-than-perfect vehicle.
Don’t know what tires are best for you? Use Treadwell, our smart tire buying tool, to find the best tires for you, your vehicle, and your drive. Backed by miles of strenuous testing data, Treadwell will recommend tires that fit your vehicle and your needs in just a few simple steps. It’s the same tool our tire experts use in-store!
TIRE SHOP WITH TREADWELLCoordinate a wheel and tire package
For the biggest visual transformation to make your car look newer, you can’t go wrong with a wheel and tire package. This can create a cohesive, updated look.
SHOP WHEEL & TIRE PACKAGESKeep in mind when shopping:
- Coordinating wheel and tire sizes
- Overall vehicle proportions
Don’t try to put 35s on your Miata! - Sidewall profile
Sidewalls are excellent opportunities for extra flair, such as white letters, white walls, or other designs - How wheel size can affect tire size
If you change your wheel size, this can affect the fit of your tires. Depending on the size you choose, you may have to replace your current tire or make adjustments so it maintains the proper clearance. - Maintain appropriate fitment
This ensures harmony, performance, and safety between wheels, tires, and other driving components. - Benefits of professional guidance
We’re experts who can help you balance appearance, fitment, function, and cost.
Preview your wheels before buying
Seeing the total picture can be difficult, and so can comparing different wheel styles and finishes.
You can choose the upgrade that creates the look you want with our wheel visualizer. Preview your chosen wheels on your exact vehicle model and paint color!
WHEEL VISUALIZERHOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR WHEELS AND TIRES?
You should clean your wheels and tires regularly, every 1- 2 or so weeks, or whenever you wash your vehicle (you should regularly clean that, too).
Regular cleaning removes corrosive substances such as brake dust, road salt, and grime from baking onto your wheels or staining the tire’s rubber. It’s also the time to add protective coatings and treatments to keep them as healthy and clean as possible.
Here’s a quick schedule breakdown:
- Routine wash: 1-2 weeks
- Deep clean/treatment: 2-3 months
- Special conditions: ASAP after driving through heavy mud, dirt, significant road salt, or other hazards
FAQ
Clean wheels and tires can immediately sharpen a vehicle’s appearance while upgrading wheels and tires with properly fitted options can create a more dramatic transformation. However, tire replacement should be based on condition rather than appearance alone.
Yes, new tires can make a vehicle look cleaner and more finished, especially when paired with clean or upgraded wheels. But appearance should not be the primary reason for replacement on otherwise serviceable tires.
They can! Wheels are a prominent styling element and changing their design, finish, or proportions can significantly alter a vehicle’s appearance. The best wheel isn’t just about design, however; it also needs to meet the vehicle’s fitment requirements.
Possibly. Some petroleum- or solvent-based formulas can damage rubber over time because they strip protective chemicals that are meant to stop tire cracking. Water- based tire shines are safer and help condition the rubber.
Tires can develop a brown discoloration commonly called browning, or blooming. It can be removed by cleaning. It is a natural process that does not affect the safety of the vehicle unless it is accompanied by cracking, damage, and other unusual conditions.
Minor curb rash may be cosmetic but cracks, bends, or other significant wheel damage may require professional evaluation. Don’t assume damaged wheels can simply be refinished. Get a wheel inspection to find out whether repair, refinishing, or replacement is the best option for you.
Ready to roll?
If you have any questions or are unsure what tires work best for you, drop in or give us a ring. We’ll get you taken care of. Buy and book online and save time in-store!
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