August 25, 2019
It seems like everywhere you go in the Bloomington area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans - it doesn't matter - are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some Illinois auto owners want smaller tires and wheels - some want larger - and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? At Tuffy Bloomington, we suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you're after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost.
Let's start with something easy - you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your vehicle factory wheels.
Your tire and wheel professional at Tuffy Bloomington in Bloomington can help you find the right size wheel or install adapters to make your new wheels fit. All you have to do is pick from the hundreds of styles available.
So, what about Bloomington drivers who want to upsize? Well, if you want bigger wheels, but you want to keep the same overall tire diameter, that's pretty easy for the team at Tuffy Bloomington. The same offset concerns apply. You need to know that the tires will likely be a little bit wider than the originals and you don't want them to rub when you make sharp turns. Your tire professional at Tuffy Bloomington in Bloomington will help you avoid this.
Heading the other direction, some vehicle owners in the Bloomington area like to run smaller than standard wheels and lower the suspension. All of the same fitment issues still apply as well as calibration issues. Don't think that vehicle suspension modifications are a bad thing. Many systems actually improve ride, function and performance over the stock set-up.
Regardless of your budget, you want your vehicle to continue to do all the things you need it to do. Some of those show cars and trucks you see on TV and Bloomington showrooms look good but have been modified in ways that may not suit your needs. For example, if you put large rims on your SUV with low profile tires, you may be in for busted rims if you go off-roading a lot around the Bloomington area. There just isn't enough sidewall to absorb the impact of thumping over rocks.
Some stuff the largest tires and wheels possible in their vehicles but have to severely restrict suspension travel so that the tires aren't rubbing all day. That can lead to a very harsh ride around Illinois. Again, talk with your Tuffy Bloomington wheel professional about all of these things: how you drive in Bloomington, what look you are going for, your budget and what compromises you are willing to make.
At the end of the day, you're going to be rollin' out of Tuffy Bloomington with one sweet ride.
Tuffy Bloomington
1505 East Vernon Avenue
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
309.662.0537
March 9, 2025
For most drivers, at some point youre going to have a flat tire. Depending on how it was damaged, it may have to be replaced. But sometimes, a repair will do the trick, as long as the puncture isnt on the sidewall and the hole is smaller than inch/6.35mm in diameter. Here are the three common w... More
March 2, 2025
What's the dif? To an automotive technician, it's the differential, a part of your vehicle that helps direct power from the engine to the wheels. The differential is a gearbox that enables the drive wheels to turn at different speeds (they do that when you turn). Inside the differential is a f... More
February 23, 2025
Winter is one of the hardest times to keep your vehicle clean. But did you know neglecting to wash your vehicle in winter could cost you a significant amount of money in the long run? Here's why. Many areas deal with snow and ice in the winter, and the salt and sand that are used to keep the road... More