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THE SCO WHEELS/TIRE BUYER'S GUIDE
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Rims are one of the most popular performance and style modifications installed by automotive enthusiasts. It's no surprise that the sheer number of different options is enormous! There are thousands of different sizes and styles available from hundreds of rim manufacturers. Each style is typically offered in several different finishes including chrome, brushed or polished aluminum, powdercoated, painted, etc. In addition, they are produced using different materials of varying weights including steel, aluminum, magnesium, etc. The predominant factors when selecting your rims are their appearance, and their performance. Large heavy wheels can decrease your rides handling ability, but look amazing rolling down the street. A moderate increase in size while maintaining a lightweight design will far outperform the factory set-up however they might lack the "bling" factor just a bit. It's all comes down to your opinion, and your expectations.
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Being the only part on the vehicle that actually touches the ground, tires tie with brakes for the most important component on your ride! Tires are constructed from different rubber compounds that are designed for different levels of performance, tire life, durability, and drivability. The US Government developed UTQGS (The Uniform Tire Quality Grading System) is used to rate tires for treadwear (tire life), traction (stopping ability), and temperature (resistance to heat). This helps a great deal when making your decision. As with most things you'll pay a bit more for higher rated tires. However considering the alterative, it is money well spent. There are two things you never skimp on: tires and brakes!
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Simple and stylish, valve stem covers are designed to replace that black nub with an anodized aluminum sleeve. They are a 100% improvement over the standard black valve stem and are perfect for going that extra little step. Valve stem caps are also a vast enhancement over the standard, boring black nub. There a low cost way to make a noticeable improvement!
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Sure, factory lugs hold the wheel to the hub, but that's it! When you slap down your hard earned cash on a sweet set of rollers, the last thing you want to see is those old stock lugs. In addition to being much better looking, aftermarket lugs are much stronger and typically half the weight of the factory lugs. They're great for the track when you're swapping out wheels often, and their open ended design is often required to pass the tracks tech inspection.
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Wheel spacers are designed to give your ride a wider, more stable stance, as easily as removing and re-installing your wheels! They are sandwiched between the hub and the mounting surface of the rim spacing them towards the outside wheel well. Your ride not only takes on a more aggressive look, but also provides improved handling performance and optimized roll characteristics by widening the vehicles stance. Be careful to measure the gaps correctly. Go too wide and the tires will rub badly.
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So your stock wheels are off, you're ready to install your sweet new rollers. You look in the wheel well and staring back at you is an ugly, dull brake caliper. More than likely you'll see even more of them with your new rim design. Don't let this happen to you! Pick up some brake caliper/drum paint with your new rollers. Half of the work is done already since the wheel is off anyway! Easy, inexpensive, and well worth the time!
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They look amazing out of the box, but they don't stay that way for long! Even with driving in normal conditions a clean set of rollers can get covered with dirt, mud, brake dust, and who knows what else. Keep your new investments shining like the day you got them by cleaning them as often as needed. There are dozens of products available to make it quick and easy!
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