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Learn about custom wheels and tires

Custom wheels and tires can make a car or truck stand out. Specialty shops and car enthusiasts seek just the right 'look' for their vehicles. Your company might consider offering custom wheel and tire packages. Take some time to check what's available in car and truck wheels and tires as you plan your business strategy.

I recommend: Check the inventory of custom wheels and rims at CB Wheels. You can find the types of wheels used on wide variety of vehicles. Encourage your company to visit the Accuride website to learn about truck wheels and tires. The company has been a leading supplier of wheel parts for more than 100 years.

Gather information about wheels and tires online

Hundreds of companies offer wheels and tires for sale. Many of them sell the wheels and tires wholesale. Other companies sell used wheels and tires. Most tire and wheel stores have their inventories and pricing available online. Collect business intelligence by checking online sources for the best-selling products, pricing information and new trends.

I recommend: Your company can find information and pricing on wholesale auto tires from online supplier Roadway Tire. It supplies various types and brands of tires. Look to Edge Racing for a huge inventory of tires and the wheels to go with them.

Find out about wheel and tire accessories

By themselves, wheels and tires are boringly functional. For that reason, there are dozens of firms that provide wheel and tire accessories, from specialized tire gauges to inflators to preservatives. If that market interests you, have staff study catalogs of automotive wheel and tire providers to discover the many accessory gadgets and instruments.

I recommend: Trust WheelMax and to stock or customize wheel and tire packages. Acme Automotive specializes in accessories for wheel and tire businesses. If your shop needs special gauges, tire repair products or wheel hardware, check its catalog. 4 Wheel Parts has a large inventory of functional and cosmetic accessories, including wheel trim rings in several colors to match your company's color scheme.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your firm is considering the tire end of the wheels and tires business, remember that tires are virtually indestructible. You'll need to make special, environment-friendly arrangements to dispose of useless tires.

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Choose a distributor of wholesale auto tires that offers online access

The Internet is an easy way to order wheels and tires wholesale for your business needs. Choose a distributor with an easy-to-use website for a streamlined ordering process.

I recommend: America's Best Tires offers potential buyers of wheel and tire packages an easy-to-view website that makes the online ordering process simple and efficient. Customers can place an order for wheels and tires for free, track purchases securely and expect fast shipping on any size order.

Use a wholesaler of custom wheels and tires that offers extra services

Find a distributor of wheels and tires that offers extra services to clients to get the most for your money. Services such as free consultations can make your business more profitable in the long run.

I recommend: American Tire Distributors not only carries a large stock of top-brand wholesale auto tires, they also offer clients free consulting services to increase profits and gauge the competition and the use of special software. Wheel Wizard software--used in your store--allows your customers to see how specific wheels and tires will look on the make and model of their vehicle before they purchase them.

Get a free quote for wholesale car tires and car wheels

Make cost-effective purchases by getting a reliable quote for your custom wheels and tires.

I recommend: Get a free quote on wheel and tire packages, wholesale car wheels or rims and tires for sale from American Omni Trading Company. The wheel and tire professionals not only give free quotes on any size order, but offer a fine selection of name-brand wheels and tires in a variety of types to fit your business needs.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always check the return policies of the distributors of wheels and tires before you commit to a large purchase. Handling fees and restocking fees are often charged to custom wheels and tires that are returned.

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Learn how to find and maintain wheels and tires

Your business can find a great deal of information about tires online, from size ranges to vehicle recommendations to prices. If you're planning a large purchase or anticipating frequent ones, collect information to make the most of your purchase decision. It's important to remember that tire recommendations for vehicles are based on hours of testing.

I recommend: Begin your firm's quest to make the most of wheels and tires at the Firestone website. You'll find information about tires, help selecting them and tips on maintenance. For the right fit for truck wheels and tires, use the Michelin tire finder. It will provide information about original equipment and recommended replacements.

Compare prices for truck wheels and tires

Selling wheels and tires is a very competitive business. It's possible to find quite a range in prices for the most popular tire sizes. Usually you'll find the best prices, often advertised as discount, at outlets that wholesale tires. If your business focuses on price, make sure to note that not all tires are equal so performance guarantees and warranties are important considerations.

I recommend: Review the selection of commercial tires for heavy duty vehicles made by National Tire. It also offers wholesale auto tires in several categories. If you're planning a large wheel and tire purchase, check with American Tire Distributors. It supplies wholesale car tires to retailers and sell directly to large accounts.

Order custom wheels and tires for your specialized vehicles

If you business sells or services motorcycles, ATVs and racing cars and trucks, you'll need special tires to get the most out of your high-performance vehicles. Shop around for suppliers that inventory the tires your need and establish a valued-customer account.

I recommend: Trust tire maker Pirelli for supplies in a variety of vehicle categories, including motorcycle and motor sports. Touch base with Discounted Wheel Warehouse for custom wheels and tires. Use the Wheel Visualizer feature at its website to see how different wheel models will look on your vehicle.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  One way to make the most of wheels and tires is to avoid extended downtime by replacing flat tires quickly. First, create a list of tires sizes and ask your supplier to keep some on hand. Second, for the most common tire in the fleet, buy and store a couple of replacements in your shop.

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Spare tire

This term refers to an extra tire held in a vehicle for emergency situations. Some models use a spare tire called a donut, which is a tire made for short distances, while other models use full-size tires as spares. Some models have special mounts on the base of the frame to store spare tires, and others hold spare tires in the trunk space.

I recommend: Edmunds shows how to find the spare tire in your vehicle and how to use it to replace a damaged tire.

High performance

The term high performance generally refers to tires that have an S-speed rating or higher. Their aspect ratios are 70 or under 70.

I recommend: Expert Pages explains the use of high-performance tires and discusses their design and mechanics. It also covers some of the history of the high-performance car tire.

All season

This type of tire under performs in extreme conditions compared to other tires built for specific categories. However, the tires work well in a variety of road conditions from snowy roads to dry or wet or even muddy roads.

I recommend: Discount Tire offers a comparison of all season tires compared to winter tires.

All terrain

All terrain tires, also called AT, offer quality performance standards both off road and on the road. The tread pattern handles off road terrain, but since its lugs are tighter than a mud tire's tread, it is not as loud on the street.

I recommend: Sliprock Media offers advice on choosing the perfect tires for your vehicle. It focuses on mud and all terrain tires.

Pneumatic

This term describes tires filled with compressed air, acting as shock absorbers when a vehicle hits a bump or carries a load.

I recommend: CartsandWagaons offers a detailed description of pneumatic tires and wheels and offers benefits for using the tires. It also displays an image of what a pneumatic tire looks like.

Run-flat

This type of tire has a design that resists deflation in a pneumatic tire in case of puncture. It's called run-flat because the design allows an automobile to go a bit further after experiencing problems. However, the punctured tire needs replacement as soon as possible.

I recommend: Tire Rack explains the sealing process behind run-flat tires and explains the benefits of using them on a vehicle.