Are Toyota brand plain steel wheels better than brand X?

Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace a
slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to buy
a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla? I mean, wheels are pretty simple,
I'm not sure what a generic one would lack that a Toyota brand one would
have?



On an interesting side note, the parts dealer I just called for pricing was
very perplexed because normally, painted steel rims sell for around $125 but
the painted steel rim for the '03 Corolla is coming up as being well over
$300! Yes, that's for just one. He double-checked by looking it up in
Toyota's own database and got the same price. Not being able to believe
that price, he took my name & number and is going to contact Toyota and ask
them what's up with the pricing on this wheel then call me back when he
finds out what the scoop is. That's good service.

Ernie Sty wrote:[color=blue]
> Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace a
> slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to buy
> a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla?[/color]

You can probably get one for $25 from a parts yard.

"Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:C5WdnfSpmq157dvZRVn-uA@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace
> a slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to
> buy a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla? I mean, wheels are pretty
> simple, I'm not sure what a generic one would lack that a Toyota brand one
> would have?
>
>
>
> On an interesting side note, the parts dealer I just called for pricing
> was very perplexed because normally, painted steel rims sell for around
> $125 but the painted steel rim for the '03 Corolla is coming up as being
> well over $300! Yes, that's for just one. He double-checked by looking
> it up in Toyota's own database and got the same price. Not being able to
> believe that price, he took my name & number and is going to contact
> Toyota and ask them what's up with the pricing on this wheel then call me
> back when he finds out what the scoop is. That's good service.
>[/color]

Besides junk yards, some dealerships and tire shops have take-offs that they
may sell for a reasonable price.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

I have been telling you guys for years that Toyota parts are very expensive,
but you don't want to listen LOL


mike hunt



"Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:C5WdnfSpmq157dvZRVn-uA@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace
> a slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to
> buy a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla? I mean, wheels are pretty
> simple, I'm not sure what a generic one would lack that a Toyota brand one
> would have?
>
>
>
> On an interesting side note, the parts dealer I just called for pricing
> was very perplexed because normally, painted steel rims sell for around
> $125 but the painted steel rim for the '03 Corolla is coming up as being
> well over $300! Yes, that's for just one. He double-checked by looking
> it up in Toyota's own database and got the same price. Not being able to
> believe that price, he took my name & number and is going to contact
> Toyota and ask them what's up with the pricing on this wheel then call me
> back when he finds out what the scoop is. That's good service.
>[/color]

On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 12:18:27 -0500, "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace a
>slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to buy
>a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla? I mean, wheels are pretty simple,
>I'm not sure what a generic one would lack that a Toyota brand one would
>have?[/color]

You would need to put them side by side and compare. As long as the
size and profile code match it should fit on the car...

The trick is whether the Toyota hubcaps will fit the generic rim.
The Toyota rim may have a certain diameter center area or other
special features to hold the hubcap on.

Example: My Corvair rims look like a generic steel rim, but on the
61 (and 62 also, I think) they each have four stamped-in little bumps
raised on the wheel edge (in line with the valve stem hole) to hold
the hubcaps on. No bumps, and the factory hubcaps don't stay on.

And if you need the special ones, you either scrounge up used ones,
or you pay what they ask.

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

"Bruce L. Bergman" <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:sb7e42lv01l27hmb7um6qkia46li8lvkeo@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 12:18:27 -0500, "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace
>>a
>>slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to
>>buy
>>a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla? I mean, wheels are pretty
>>simple,
>>I'm not sure what a generic one would lack that a Toyota brand one would
>>have?[/color]
>
> You would need to put them side by side and compare. As long as the
> size and profile code match it should fit on the car...
>
> The trick is whether the Toyota hubcaps will fit the generic rim.
> The Toyota rim may have a certain diameter center area or other
> special features to hold the hubcap on.
>
> Example: My Corvair rims look like a generic steel rim, but on the
> 61 (and 62 also, I think) they each have four stamped-in little bumps
> raised on the wheel edge (in line with the valve stem hole) to hold
> the hubcaps on. No bumps, and the factory hubcaps don't stay on.
>
> And if you need the special ones, you either scrounge up used ones,
> or you pay what they ask.
>
> --<< Bruce >>--
>
> --
> Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
> Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
> 5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
> Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.[/color]

"Bruce L. Bergman" <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:sb7e42lv01l27hmb7um6qkia46li8lvkeo@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 12:18:27 -0500, "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace
>>a
>>slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to
>>buy
>>a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla? I mean, wheels are pretty
>>simple,
>>I'm not sure what a generic one would lack that a Toyota brand one would
>>have?[/color]
>
> You would need to put them side by side and compare. As long as the
> size and profile code match it should fit on the car...
>
> The trick is whether the Toyota hubcaps will fit the generic rim.
> The Toyota rim may have a certain diameter center area or other
> special features to hold the hubcap on.
>
> Example: My Corvair rims look like a generic steel rim, but on the
> 61 (and 62 also, I think) they each have four stamped-in little bumps
> raised on the wheel edge (in line with the valve stem hole) to hold
> the hubcaps on. No bumps, and the factory hubcaps don't stay on.
>
> And if you need the special ones, you either scrounge up used ones,
> or you pay what they ask.
>
> --<< Bruce >>--
>
> --
> Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
> Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
> 5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
> Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.[/color]

Sorry, fat-fingered the keyboard there. Thanks for the info!

Ernie Sty wrote:[color=blue]
>
> On an interesting side note, the parts dealer I just called for pricing was
> very perplexed because normally, painted steel rims sell for around $125 but
> the painted steel rim for the '03 Corolla is coming up as being well over
> $300! Yes, that's for just one.[/color]

Last time I needed steel wheels for a Corolla (more than a few years
ago) my OEM parts guy was so embarrassed by the price he could hardly
bring himself to tell me. My local junk yards were empty ('cause that's
where everyone went for a wheel) so I ordered from The Tire Rack. I
think they charged me something like $27 per wheel. Probably near $35
today.

I think you can buy a set of four alloy wheels from The Tire Rack for
around $500.

I'd check ebay - even with shipping, I've gotten good deals on both
tires and wheel/tire sets (better prices than tire rack and more
selection than local classifieds).
Andy

You can get a very nice stamped steel wheel for $30 at the tire store, that
beats Toyota's best price by $95. I say get your rim at the tire store.



"Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:C5WdnfSpmq157dvZRVn-uA@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> Normally I buy only Toyota brand parts, but I am going to need to replace
> a slightly bent wheel and was wondering if it would make any difference to
> buy a generic one made to fit my '03 Corolla? I mean, wheels are pretty
> simple, I'm not sure what a generic one would lack that a Toyota brand one
> would have?
>
>
>
> On an interesting side note, the parts dealer I just called for pricing
> was very perplexed because normally, painted steel rims sell for around
> $125 but the painted steel rim for the '03 Corolla is coming up as being
> well over $300! Yes, that's for just one. He double-checked by looking
> it up in Toyota's own database and got the same price. Not being able to
> believe that price, he took my name & number and is going to contact
> Toyota and ask them what's up with the pricing on this wheel then call me
> back when he finds out what the scoop is. That's good service.
>[/color]

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:45idncGttoQ3HdTZRVn-gg@ez2.net...[color=blue]
> You can get a very nice stamped steel wheel for $30 at the tire store,
> that beats Toyota's best price by $95. I say get your rim at the tire
> store.
>[/color]

Don't just get the rim at the tire store, buy the entire wheel!

--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@yahoo.com> asked:
[color=blue][color=green]
>> You can get a very nice stamped steel wheel for $30 at the tire store,
>> that beats Toyota's best price by $95. I say get your rim at the tire
>> store.[/color][/color]


Ray O <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> responds:
[color=blue]
> Don't just get the rim at the tire store, buy the entire wheel![/color]


"Rim" is just a figure of speech; he obvious means the entire
wheel.

I suspect that people call car wheels "rims" because that's what
they called bicycle wheels as kids. Like calling tuna "tuna fish,"
it's one of those childish habits of locution that often sticks with
people into adulthood.



Geoff

--
"Support Darwinian evolution -- squash a weakling today."
-- David Wren-Hardin

"Geoff Miller" <geoffm@u1.netgate.net> wrote in message
news:e2gdlr$e02@u1.netgate.net...[color=blue]
>
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@yahoo.com> asked:
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> You can get a very nice stamped steel wheel for $30 at the tire store,
>>> that beats Toyota's best price by $95. I say get your rim at the tire
>>> store.[/color][/color]
>
>
> Ray O <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> responds:
>[color=green]
>> Don't just get the rim at the tire store, buy the entire wheel![/color]
>
>
> "Rim" is just a figure of speech; he obvious means the entire
> wheel.
>[/color]

I am aware that "rim" is just a figure of speech. People in the automaker
side of the automotive business tend to look down on those who mis-use
automotive jargon - in our office, we used to refer to them as "magazine
experts." I know that Jeff Strickland is more knowledgeable about cars than
the average driver and tries to post useful advice here, so I thought I'd
help correct bad jargon. ;-)
[color=blue]
> I suspect that people call car wheels "rims" because that's what
> they called bicycle wheels as kids. Like calling tuna "tuna fish,"
> it's one of those childish habits of locution that often sticks with
> people into adulthood.
>
>[/color]
[color=blue]
> Geoff
>
> --
> "Support Darwinian evolution -- squash a weakling today."
> -- David Wren-Hardin[/color]

Many terms in common use are misnomers. A fender is not intended to fend.
I don't know why a fender is called a wing in England. I don't know why the
rear storage compartment is called a boot in England. A shock absorber does
not absorb shock (springs serve that function), shock absorbers dampen.
What many call "hubcaps" are actually wheel covers.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> writes:
[color=blue]
> Many terms in common use are misnomers. A fender is not intended
> to fend.[/color]

Ah, but could the early ones have been, in order to protect the wheels
from misalignment due to impact?

[color=blue]
> I don't know why a fender is called a wing in England.[/color]

I've always figured it was because that's what the early ones vaguely
resembled, as seen from inside the car.

[color=blue]
> I don't know why the rear storage compartment is called a boot in
> England.[/color]

It makes more sense when you recall that in England, the hood is called
the bonnet. Bonnets and boots are at the opposite ends of people, so I
suppose it makes sense that the terms were adapted to cars. Perhaps
their being alliteratave had something to do with it.

In any case, I'd say that "trunk" is a much more natural name...especially
considering that that's exactly what the original ones were.

(Some more interesting Britishisms are "near side" and "offside," to
denote the driver's and passenger's side of a vehicle, respectively.)

[color=blue]
> A shock absorber does not absorb shock (springs serve that function),
> shock absorbers dampen.[/color]

Which is the same thing as absorbing shock to a layman, most of whom
probably don't care about the distinction 'twixt absorption and damping.

[color=blue]
> What many call "hubcaps" are actually wheel covers.[/color]

The original ones *were* literally hubcaps. My '76 Beetle had small,
black plastic caps that snapped onto the centers of the wheels over
the hubs. (They got stolen when the car was parked outside. Moral:
never own a car that's popular with kids, since it'll only be a matter
of time before parts are pilfered off of it.)

Full wheel covers came later. Back in the '70s and '80s, stripped-
down models like taxis and cop cars had hubcaps instead of wheel
covers. (Maybe they still do. I haven't paid much attention to
more recent ones.)



Geoff

--
"Soon, nearly everyone in the room was announcing that no existing
group adequately reflected their identity, and they needed to be
in a group of one. It was like a capsule history of the American
Left." -- East Bay Express

"Geoff Miller" <geoffm@u1.netgate.net> wrote in message
news:e2iqf1$q91@u1.netgate.net...[color=blue]
>
>
> Ray O <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> writes:
>[color=green]
>> Many terms in common use are misnomers. A fender is not intended
>> to fend.[/color]
>
> Ah, but could the early ones have been, in order to protect the wheels
> from misalignment due to impact?
>[/color]

My recollection of the fenders on early vehicles is that they were more like
the fenders on a bicycle and designed to keep mud and debris from being
thrown up by the wheels. Perhaps they were meant to fend off mud and
debris?
[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>> I don't know why a fender is called a wing in England.[/color]
>
> I've always figured it was because that's what the early ones vaguely
> resembled, as seen from inside the car.
>
>[color=green]
>> I don't know why the rear storage compartment is called a boot in
>> England.[/color]
>
> It makes more sense when you recall that in England, the hood is called
> the bonnet. Bonnets and boots are at the opposite ends of people, so I
> suppose it makes sense that the terms were adapted to cars. Perhaps
> their being alliteratave had something to do with it.
>[/color]

"Bonnet" actually makes sense to me because it is a cover for the engine.

[color=blue]
> In any case, I'd say that "trunk" is a much more natural name...especially
> considering that that's exactly what the original ones were.[/color]

I'm with you on that one!
[color=blue]
>
> (Some more interesting Britishisms are "near side" and "offside," to
> denote the driver's and passenger's side of a vehicle, respectively.)
>
>[color=green]
>> A shock absorber does not absorb shock (springs serve that function),
>> shock absorbers dampen.[/color]
>
> Which is the same thing as absorbing shock to a layman, most of whom
> probably don't care about the distinction 'twixt absorption and damping.[/color]


You may be right, except that I assume that those terms came from someone
with automotive knowledge.[color=blue]
>
>[color=green]
>> What many call "hubcaps" are actually wheel covers.[/color]
>
> The original ones *were* literally hubcaps. My '76 Beetle had small,
> black plastic caps that snapped onto the centers of the wheels over
> the hubs. (They got stolen when the car was parked outside. Moral:
> never own a car that's popular with kids, since it'll only be a matter
> of time before parts are pilfered off of it.)
>
> Full wheel covers came later. Back in the '70s and '80s, stripped-
> down models like taxis and cop cars had hubcaps instead of wheel
> covers. (Maybe they still do. I haven't paid much attention to
> more recent ones.)
>
>
>
> Geoff
>[/color]
I'm aware of the difference between hubcaps and wheel covers ;-)
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)