OE or Aftermarket Wheels: Which Is the Better Fit for Your Truck?

When customers shop for wheels and tires, one of the most common questions we hear at B&B Enterprises is:

“Will these fit my truck?”

The answer involves a lot more than just matching the bolt pattern.

Wheel diameter, width, offset, tire size, brake clearance, suspension clearance, load capacity, and overall tire diameter can all affect how a wheel and tire package fits your vehicle.

That is one of the reasons we are such big fans of OE — Original Equipment — wheels and tires.

OE Wheels Are Designed for the Vehicle

Factory wheels are engineered specifically for the vehicle they were installed on.

The manufacturer has already accounted for things like:

• Brake caliper clearance

• Suspension clearance

• Fender clearance

• Wheel width

• Offset

• Tire size

• Load requirements

• Hub fitment

• Steering geometry

When you install the correct OE wheel and tire package for your truck, much of the fitment work has already been done for you.

That makes OE wheels one of the easiest ways to upgrade the appearance of your truck while maintaining factory-style fitment.

At B&B Enterprises, many of the wheel and tire packages we sell are factory take-offs — wheels and tires that were removed from a new or nearly new vehicle when the original owner upgraded to a different package.

That can give you the opportunity to purchase genuine factory wheels and tires without paying dealership replacement prices.

Both OE — Original Equipment — wheels and aftermarket wheels can be great choices. The key is understanding how each fits your vehicle and making sure the specifications are correct.

Aftermarket Wheels Can Be a Great Alternative

We also sell aftermarket wheels, and there are plenty of good aftermarket options available.

The important thing is making sure the entire package is properly matched to the vehicle.

Two wheels can have the same diameter and bolt pattern but still fit very differently.

One reason is wheel width.

For example, some OE 20-inch Chevrolet Silverado wheels are approximately 8.5 inches wide, while many aftermarket 20-inch wheels are 9 inches wide.

That extra half-inch may not sound like much, but wheel width affects where the inside and outside edges of the wheel sit in relation to the suspension and fender.

That means the offset may need to change to keep the wheel positioned properly.

Simply matching the factory offset while increasing wheel width does not always produce the same fitment.

What Is Wheel Offset?

Offset is the distance between the wheel's mounting surface and the centerline of the wheel.

Changing offset moves the wheel inward or outward.

A wheel with a different width may require a different offset to maintain the desired position inside the wheel well.

Too much inward movement can create clearance problems with suspension components.

Too much outward movement can cause the tire to extend beyond the fender, change steering characteristics, or create rubbing problems.

It is also important to keep local laws in mind. States such as Massachusetts have rules on the books regarding tires and wheels that project beyond the fenders or body of the vehicle, so an overly aggressive wheel setup can potentially create inspection or enforcement issues in addition to fitment concerns.

That is why we look at wheel width and offset together, rather than treating them as separate numbers.

Bolt Pattern Is Only the Beginning

A common mistake when shopping for wheels online is assuming:

“The bolt pattern matches, so the wheels will fit.”

Unfortunately, that is not always true.

Two trucks can share the same bolt pattern while using very different wheel specifications.

When determining fitment, we may need to consider:

• Bolt pattern

• Wheel diameter

• Wheel width

• Offset

• Center bore

• Brake clearance

• Tire size

• Overall tire diameter

• Load rating

• Suspension clearance

• Fender clearance

This becomes even more important when changing from a factory wheel to a wider aftermarket wheel.

Why We Like OE Take-Off Packages

For many truck owners, OE take-offs offer a great combination of appearance, quality, value, and predictable fitment.

You are getting a wheel designed by the vehicle manufacturer for use on that vehicle platform.

In many cases, you can move from a smaller factory wheel to a larger factory wheel package while maintaining the look and driving characteristics the manufacturer intended.

Factory wheels also tend to look natural on the truck because their size, offset, finish, and styling were designed around the vehicle.

For someone who wants a clean upgrade without dramatically changing how the truck drives or sits, OE is often our first recommendation.

Aftermarket Still Has Its Place

Aftermarket wheels give truck owners far more choices in style, finish, width, and stance.

They can be an excellent option when the customer wants something more aggressive or simply wants a look that was never offered by the factory.

The key is choosing the right specifications, not just the right bolt pattern.

At B&B Enterprises, we sell both OE and aftermarket wheels because there is no single answer that works for every customer.

Our goal is to help you choose a wheel and tire package that looks good and fits correctly.

Before You Buy, Ask Us

If you are looking at a set of wheels or tires and are not sure whether they will fit your truck, contact us before purchasing.

Give us your:

Year, make, model, trim level, current tire size, and the wheel or tire package you are considering.

We can help compare the specifications and determine whether the package is a good match.

Because when it comes to wheels and tires, a good deal is only a good deal if it fits.

B&B EnterprisesOEM Wheels, Tires, Take-Off Packages & Aftermarket Options4TiresAndWheelsPlus.com