GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

This has always been one of my biggest pet peeves when talking about cars:Wheels vs. RimsIt just always bugged me that people call wheels "rims." It's just ... not right!!Now, if you should have 3 peice wheels, and are just buying the outer circle part, then I can see you using the word "rim" properly, but any other saying of this word just seems utterly wrong!You have the hub, spokes and the rim all part of the wheel itself (sorta like in a bicycle, or motorcycle WHEEL)So, what do you say? Is there any way you can defend your use of the word "rim?" Or, have you seen the error of your ways and will start saying "wheel" properly, and encourage others to do the same? *shudder* everytime I hear the word "rim" I just think of some 17 year old talking about his 19 inch rimz with the bling bling on his honda ... DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! X_x;

I agree with you 100% Geo, but you will sooner change a person's politics and religion before you will make them give up their individual word usages or pronunciations. Instead, brace yourself for the barrage of insults, personal attacks and other invective that is sure to come your way, each in defense of that person's choice of "rim" over "wheel."Doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists and other professionals have very specific terminology they use to communicate very specific meanings and nuances. The great unwashed masses, however, fall back on, "Hey, you knew what I meant, didn't you?" to justify all manner of trampling on the language. (And don't even get me started on spelling errors.......)

i see your point, but i dont see what the big deal is.

esjones: Actually, sometimes people can surprise ya! I used to pronounce Porsche "porsh" and once I realized how you should do it, that being "porsh-a," I never went back to pronouncing it wrong again. To help combat the barrage of personal attacks that I always seem to draw in certain threads, (usually with my anti-religion threads that I have been in) I have this handy flame-proof suit that I tend to wear while surfing the forums, it comes in VERY handy, especially in those religious flamewar threads that I mentioned. ;Dmeathead: That's what's wonderful about calling it a pet peeve, it doesn't have to make sense, or have a real point. It's just something that makes me cringe everytime I see it. ^_^

ahh, i see. good point, i am the same way. i hate having different hangers in my closet. they got to be all white plastic with the same design. yeah, i am ageek, i know.

Same colored hangers, *and* all shirts MUST be facing the same way, and sorted out between winter/fall and spring/summer sections ...and I'm only 20. help me. ;D

It matters to me not enough to even know which term I use. Perhaps the term "rims" is used because the term wheel could also be used to refer to the entire wheel assembly, including the tires. If your wheel falls off at highway speed, you'd probably say "my *)&#$$!!! wheel fell off!" and not say "My, what an inconvenience, my wheel and the tire mounted on it fell off" As long as you know what is meant when you hear the term "rims", then communication is happening.By the way, what are "hangers" used for?

do i sense sarcasim?

There are some very effective drugs available for people like you.

I hear what you are saying. I also agree with saying that people were brought up that way calling cetain things in a certain way, and that's the way they'll always say it, even if it's wrong or changed. For example, I hate it when people call manual tranmissions "a standard". Standard to me means "wasn't optional", or always equipped in this manner. It's called a "manual transmission" OK?

I say both actually but "Rims" is definately a more popular in the black community. I guess it came from when we all use to ride bikes as kids because we called those wheels " rims" too growning up

quote:I hear what you are saying. I also agree with saying that people were brought up that way calling cetain things in a certain way, and that's the way they'll always say it, even if it's wrong or changed. For example, I hate it when people call manual tranmissions "a standard". Standard to me means "wasn't optional", or always equipped in this manner. It's called a "manual transmission" OK? Co-sign on That!

And my wife calls me (removed) retentive

To me calling them rims or wheels does not bother me but i also have some other pet peevs, so i know where you are coming from. I just always refered to the rim and tire together as a wheel and what you call the wheel a rim when it is alone without the tire. But now that I think of it I use the two terms all the time refering to the same thing.

OK I call those things that my tires are wraped around: wheels but aside from that call them what you will.

But they are rims in a way...it's similar to a bicycle rim...A rim is defined as:quote:A circular metal structure around which a wheel tire is fitted.So realistically, you can use either term.

Was that a question? LOL!

Ok, cause I'm not understanding what you're asking me! ROFL!

quote:How about if you go into a tire shop and they come out and say you have a bent rim... Ah, but in that case, perhaps you really did bend the rim of the wheel Kinda like I tweaked my front wheel last year in a bike race: spokes, rim and hub needed adjustment ;DThen there's denting a rim (specific part) vs. denting the wheel (more general) Bending an entire wheel ... wow, that would be some impact ;D

OMGOMGI did use the word "rim" but I did in fact mean the "rim" of the "wheel" (specific part)OMGOMG (removed) (removed) I R 0WNED J00! HAHAHAHAHALOLROORLOLOLOL!!!@@@

I agree. Wheels are wheels. A lot of people do call them rims though. Just grin and bear it I guess. LOL!

"Smile and nod, just smile and nod." Tis what my old Chem/Advanced Chem teacher told me in highschool, I guess it works well in situations like this. (Although he originally told us to do this when we didn't understand what he was talking about ...it works well in this situation.) "Dude yo! I like my blingin' rimz yo!"Uh huh. *smiles* That's right, of course you do! *nods*See? Working well already!

Wow. Looks like some people in here were getting slap-happy. Anyway, I think you guys are on to the idea here. A "rim" is the surface to which the tire attaches. It is primarily the "lip" or edge of the wheel. The rim referrs to an edge. The wheel is the hub, spokes, and rim all together. Therefore, unless I am specifically referring to the edge of the wheel, I use the word "wheel". If you are in a tire shop and are told that you bent a rim, then the edge is bent and will not seal the tire to the wheel. If you bent the wheel, then you probably didn't survive the impact because it would take tremendous force to bend the entire wheel.The transmission reference that was mentioned earlier bothers me as well. It's a manual transmission, not a standard. I agree with the definition and understanding of the word "standard" that was posted earlier.In any case, I try not to worry too much about it.

has anyone heard the term "SHOES" being used in place of wheels?

HAHAHA I live in a ghetto Apartment complex in Ypsilanti..as if there are non ghetto apartments here..and the day I got my new rims-wheels-things between my tires- my nieghbor yelled out to me " hey Webb I feel your new shoes" It was really funny.

*smiles and nods*;-)

quote:HAHAHA I live in a ghetto Apartment complex in Ypsilanti..as if there are non ghetto apartments here..and the day I got my new rims-wheels-things between my tires- my nieghbor yelled out to me " hey Webb I feel your new shoes" It was really funny.Nothing like a pair of new shoes for you and your Vibe I have been out there before. Not bad at all.....

It depends on the time of day and where you are at Yank- Its not too bad- But it is Ghetto

Aye ... Wasn't it James who said "Gonna get a new pair to match the color of your Vibe?"I think that was the funniest moment of the entire day - I still chuckle.Shoes ... hey, whatever works I guess. Always learning something new

Of course if you drive a big truck, it may have separate rims attached to wheel hubs which are bolted to the brake drums...

I was thinking of the wheel construction of the typical 18 wheeler.

Ok, I'm sure someone is gonna hate me for my logic here, and I seriously hope no one has said this already (Didn't have time to read through all the posts). Ok, they are "Wheels" and all wheels have a rim, like a cup or a canyon. So, it should be ok to either say, "my wheels have a 17" rim" or just for short, "my rims are 17"" (or whatever you have). I think it's less appropriate to say "my wheels are 17"" cuz I really feel the wheel measurement should be the width and the rim (of the wheel) would be the diameter. A bit of symantics but either way still makes sense...btw, I use "wheel" instead of "rim" but I think the other way makes sense as well.Dave