iCan Marketing

It’s that season again, so if you want to get on your teenager’s good side, take this quick car-accessory tutorial. All you need is to know the lingo and to pay attention when they talk, you should be able to figure out what to slide under the Christmas tree this year.

Lately, it’s all about the wheels - what showcases the tyres and car the best. Some like to select brilliantly hued, bulge acorn lug nuts or a cool center cap for rims of chrome, gun metal or customized color. Others slap on a set of stylish spinners, adopting the fashion of hip-hoppers like 50 Cent, Nelly and Redman. Another hot option is under carriage LEDs. Let’s just say it is eye catching.

Just a Few Terms to Get You Started:

• Spinners can be one piece rims or added onto you current rims and have roller bearings to allow them to move, that gives your wheels an entertaining perception of movement. Since they move independent of the rims spinners spin even when the wheel is stopped, the law of momentum kicks in and they continue to spin due to the low resistance of the roller bearings.

• A factory center cap is what is in place in the center of the wheel when you buy the car from a dealer. To make your rims more appealing, there are numerous wheel center cap you can buy to set your rims apart.

• Center caps can be snapped into place when upgrading your tires with aftermarket rims. The caps cover the center of the rim and can have all manner of designs - domestic or foreign logos, even a concept design. An inexpensive way to find center caps for rims is through the salvage yard industry. Check out the Web; there’s a huge network of suppliers ready, willing and happy to help.

• Rims purchased from a manufacturer other than the car maker are called aftermarket rims and are used to personalize your car. These are usually paired with center caps for rims that either come as a set or can be purchased separately from a dealer.

• Hub caps cover the whole rim to protect and add style to the stock steel rims they normally cover.

• Small LEDs can also be placed on your rims. Powered by long-life batteries the LEDs emit a glow around your rims.

• With wheel spacers you can add additional width to the wheels, positioning them a little closer to the fenders. There is an improvement in handling as well as a more agressive look to your machine.