Tips And Tricks For Getting A Great Deal On Used Rims

A brand new set of rims costs an arm and a leg, so a lot of car owners are hesitant to replace their rims. Luckily, there’s a way to save a hundreds of dollars on a set of rims – just buy used rims.

Don’t knock used rims just yet. There are several ways to find used rims that are still in great shape for pennies on the dollar. You can’t really go wrong with the following four ways:

1. Check Craigslist For Fewer Than 4 Take-Offs

Search online for take offs

One of the easiest ways to get a good deal on a set of used rims is to look for factory wheels that were removed from a newer car and replaced with a set of aftermarket wheels. These are called “take-offs” (more about those here), and the way to get a great deal on them is to buy 1-3 rather than a full set of 4.

Full sets of take-offs are valuable to a lot of people, but a set of 3 take-offs? Not so much. Someone who wants a new set of wheels often won’t bother with a set of 2 or 3 take-offs. However, if you’re patient and willing to wait, odds are good you can complete your own set of take-off wheels with a saved search on Craigslist. This works best for vehicles that:

  • Are sold in high volumes
  • Commonly have their wheels upgraded, such a the Wrangler or Tacoma

2. Buy Curbed Wheels And Then Fix Or Cover Them Up

Refinishing wheels

Most people don’t want to pay good money for a set of used rims that have some curb damage. That means you can usually get a good price on wheels that have curb rash. You can either fix the curb rash or cover it up with a set of RimSavers. RimSavers are an inexpensive way to get damaged rims looking good again.

3. Consider Wheel Hub Adapters

wheel hub Adapter

Image Credit: SQUARESPOKES

If your vehicle has an uncommon or unusual lug pattern, or if you’re looking for a way to make a cheap set of wheels fit your vehicle, consider a wheel hub adapter. As long as the number of lugs is the same on your vehicle and the wheels you’re considering, you can probably buy a high quality hub adapter for $75 or so. Granted, a hub adapters can change the way wheels fit and also cause some backspacing issues, but it can also open up a whole world of possibilities when it comes to finding used wheels.

Start by checking out your OEM wheel specs at Wheel-Size.com, and then you can start searching for hub adapters from there.

4. Visit The Local Salvage Yard

wheels in Junkyard

Last, but not least, you might be able to find a decent set of wheels at your local salvage yard. While you won’t find perfection, or even a complete set, you might be able to find a set of wheels that fit your vehicle (with tires already on them) for $50. Just be sure to inspect each wheel carefully, and bring all the tools you’re going to need with you.

With just a little bit of time and patience, you can end up with a great used (or even new) set of rims for a fraction of the price of a brand new set of rims.