Let’s talk offroading- y’know, that incredible feeling when you’re out there, conquering washed-out trails, rough terrain, steep grades, and whatever else Mother Nature can throw at you. In order to have the best experience, though, you have to ensure your setup is secure, and a big part of that is your rim choice.
It’s no exaggeration to say it can make or break your time spent outdoors, which is why the pros at Canada Custom Autoworks have such a fantastic selection of off-road rim options to make sure you get the best fit for your whip. Let’s dive into it and break down what makes a killer offroad truck rim.
1. Durability is King Of The Offroad Experience
One of the core aspects of a good rim choice for your off-road vehicle is durability; you want rims that can take a beatdown but keep on truckin’. Material matters here, so you have to pick your fighter carefully.
Steel rims are the heavyweight champs of off-road rims, tough and reliable, with an excellent reputation. They can bear some serious impact without breaking a sweat, but that’s thanks to their dense cast construction- they sure can take a punch, but they’re not known for their speed, so these might slow you down.
In the other corner, you’ve got your lightweight contenders, cast and forged aluminum. They’re a much lighter rim, which allows you to move at speed while also helping your truck’s performance and handling, and as an added bonus, they’ve got a little more style and flair than steel. There’s always a trade-off, though, and aluminum rims aren’t as strong as steel, which makes them prone to cracks or structural issues under extreme conditions… especially the forged ones, since they have a loose grain structure compared to their cast counterparts.
Sounds like cast aluminum’s the reigning champion, then, right? Not so fast. While they’re the perfect balance of durability and weight, they often come with a heft price tag, making every dent and scratch accrued off-road a little painful to accept.
2. Don’t Weigh Yourself Down Unnecessarily
Speaking of weight and balance, let’s talk unsprung weight, which is the weight of every part of your rig that isn’t supported by your suspension- including your rims. Lighter rims translate to less sprung weight, which gives you better handling and performance, especially when navigating rocky terrain or making quick turns.
It’s all about finding the right balance, though. Too light a rim can sacrifice durability and longevity… too heavy, and your performance (and gas mileage!) will suffer. It really depends on your driving style and what you want to get out of your rims, so ask yourself if you need to prioritize a heavier rim in order to handle the really rough stuff off-road or if you’d rather keep your truck nimble as a deer in the woods.
3. Size (and Fitment) Matters
The size and fitment of your rims are also important because they’re borderline unique to each truck set-up- like Cinderella’s hiking boot. The diameter and width of your rims will determine your ride’s performance and handling, and in this case, bigger isn’t always better. Giant rims might look tough, but they can make your ride rough by reducing the tire’s sidewall, which is hardly ideal for a good offroading experience.
You can’t forget about the offset or backspacing either since these play a key role in how your suspension and brakes perform. Offset refers to the distance from the centerline of the rim to the mounting surface, and backspacing measures the distance between the mounting surface to the rear edge of the rim. These measurements have a huge impact on how your rims sit on your truck and how much clearance you have for the aforementioned suspension and brakes. Over- or under-compensating here can really mess with your truck’s stability and safety, so it’s best to ask a professional to calculate this rather than just guesstimating.
4. Look Good… Even Covered In Mud
Okay, okay, okay… now that we’ve covered the safety, stability, and sturdiness of your rims, let’s talk style. You want your off-road rig to look as good as it feels, right? Right. Rims come in a staggering variety of styles and finishes, from the darkest of matte blacks to mirror-polished chrome, meaning you’re sure to find something that compliments the rest of your ride.
Don’t make aesthetics the star of the show, though, because functionality should always come first. Your rims need to not only look good but perform well, and it’s easier to find a rim that’ll suit your off-road needs in the right finish than it is to make a flashy but wimpy rim work on your ride. After all, what’s the point of having a badass-looking rim if it can’t even clear the trailhead?
5. To Beadlock, or Not To Beadlock
Not every off-road enthusiast knows what a beadlock rim is, and that’s totally okay. For those not in the know, it’s a feature that keeps your tire firmly attached to your rims, even under low air pressure conditions—which is crucial for serious off-roading in the Canadian wilderness.
While they can enhance your deep backwoods trekking experience and prevent dangerous tire slippage in extreme conditions, it’s worth noting that they have some downsides as well. They’re heavy, expensive, and not exactly street-legal, so if you’re a weekend off-road warrior rather than a hardcore deep-woods driving fanatic, you might not need them for your truck outfit. Like the material choice and weight, whether or not you need beadlock rims really depends on how you off-road and what you want that experience to feel like.
6. The Dollars and Sense of Offroad Rims
Last but not least, let’s talk money. High-quality off-road rims aren’t cheap, but they’re definitely worth the investment if you spend more time in the Rockies than the Rotary Club. Like any other aspect of your truck and SUV modifications, you get what you pay for, and what you’re paying for with off-road rims is their durability, performance, and safety… not things you want to skimp out on, right? Canada Custom Autoworks carries off-road rims to fit any budget, so prioritize your performance metrics rather than trying to find the cheapest rim possible. It’s better to make an investment now than to deal with busted rims in the middle of nowhere later.
Let Canada Custom Autoworks Fit Your Rims Today!
Now that you’ve got a better idea of how your rim choice will affect your off-road experience, it’s time to contact the experts at Canada Custom Autoworks. They offer 1-on-1 consultation to ensure find that sweet spot of durability, weight, size, style, and budget to outfit your ride, and their passion for mods means you’re in good hands when it comes to fit and installation.
Once you’ve found your perfect match, you can also take advantage of their killer in-house financing for your rims, so you can focus on enjoying the great outdoors rather than worrying about a payment schedule. With the right rims, you’ll be able to tackle any trail with confidence and comfort- all you have to do is pick where you’re going first!