Functional and Aesthetic Accessories for Your Tires and Wheels
The tires and wheels that your vehicle rides on contain several small but essential parts. While these parts need replacement if they wear out, you can also replace several of them to give your vehicle a different look. Here is a guide to the functional and aesthetic accessories that you can replace on your tires and wheels.
TPMS Sensors
All vehicles now likely have a tire pressure monitoring system. The system was standardized in the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act, and every light vehicle produced in the United States since September 2007 has this system. Today, all new passenger vehicles have it.
The purpose of the monitoring system is to help drivers monitor the air pressure in their tires in order to improve automotive safety. The system works by constantly taking individual tire pressure readings through TPMS sensors, with a sensor in each tire.
Should one of your tire's TPMS sensor fail, it needs replacement with a new, functioning one. You can get a new one that has either a rubber or a metal valve stem.
You do not need to replace TPMS sensors for aesthetic reasons, as only their valve stem is noticeable — and barely noticeable at that. If a tire has a failed TPMS sensor, though, do not delay replacement with a new one. This is one part that its replacement is specifically for safety reasons.
Lug Nuts
Lug nuts properly center the wheel on the axle, and they keep the hubcap and wheel in place. These little parts are essential, and any that corrode or go missing need immediate repair. Function is not the only reason why you might replace these, though.
Sometimes drivers replace lug nuts not because they are missing or corroded, but because the drivers want a different look. They may want a different metal or a different color.
Regarding metal, most lug nuts are steel and chromium. You can also find anodized aluminum and titanium lug nuts, however, if you want a higher-end option. These latter metals are lighter.
As for color, lug nuts come in almost any color you can imagine. Plain metal ones are most common on factory-issued vehicles, but you also have blue, green, white, red, gold, and many other colors available. Depending on the lug nuts you choose, the entire nut might have the color or the color may be only on the cap — the part that is visible after installation.
Colored lug nuts provide a simple way to add some pizzazz to your vehicle if that is what you want. They can match your car's paint, or you can choose a contrasting color for a more standout statement. They are also more affordable than many other customizations. Once installed, they look good when parked and create a colored circle when driving at high speeds.
Lug Bolts
Lug bolts are the bolts that lug nuts attach to, and these too are replaceable. If any break off or corrode, you have to install a new one in its place. You can also change out standard metal-looking bolts with colored ones that complement any colored lug nuts you get.
Center Caps
Center caps go over the middle of a wheel and are aesthetic in nature. These are available in many different designs, including custom designs, and they are large enough to sport a word or emblem. Get ones that match your vehicle's look, and choose whatever phrase you would like on them.
If you need any of these tire and wheel accessories, check out the TPMS sensors, lug nuts, lug bolts, center caps, and other accessories available at Extreme Wheels.