Buying wheels online can save you money, and most orders go on without a problem. The ones that don't usually go wrong in one of five places. Here's what to check before you order, and again when the box shows up.
1. Bolt Pattern
The bolt pattern is the number of lug holes and the diameter of the circle they sit on. 5x114.3 means 5 lugs on a 114.3 mm circle. It has to match your hub exactly. "Close" doesn't work: a 5x114.3 wheel won't safely fit a 5x115 hub, even though the numbers look nearly the same.
Some wheels are drilled for two patterns, which lets one wheel fit more cars. Check that one of the listed patterns is exactly yours. You can find your bolt pattern in your owner's manual or by searching your year, make, and model.
2. Offset and Width
Offset is how far the wheel's mounting face sits from its centerline, in millimeters. It decides where the wheel sits in the fender.
- Too much positive offset pulls the wheel inward, toward the strut and brake caliper.
- Too little offset pushes it outward, where the tire can rub the fender on bumps and turns.
Width works with offset. A wider wheel with the same offset sticks out further on both sides. If you're changing width by more than half an inch or offset by more than a few millimeters from stock, check the fit first. Our wheel fitment guide explains offset, backspacing, and tire sizing in detail.
3. Center Bore and Hub-Centric Rings
The center bore is the big hole in the middle of the wheel. Factory wheels are made to fit snugly over your hub, which centers the wheel. Most aftermarket wheels have a larger bore so one wheel fits many cars.
If the bore is larger than your hub, you need hub-centric rings to fill the gap. They're cheap, and skipping them is one of the most common causes of a highway-speed vibration after a wheel change. Many online sellers include rings, so check what came in the box and make sure they match your hub size.
4. Lug Nuts and Seat Type
Where the lug nut meets the wheel, it has a shaped "seat," and it has to match the wheel's lug holes:
- Conical (60 degrees): used by most aftermarket wheels.
- Ball (rounded): used on many factory wheels, including many Hondas.
- Flat seat with a washer: used on many factory Toyota and Lexus wheels.
Your factory lug nuts often won't match aftermarket wheels. The wrong seat only touches the wheel in a small ring, so the nuts can loosen as you drive. Also check the thread size and that the nuts fit inside the lug holes. Some wheels need tuner-style nuts, which are narrower.
Wrong lug nuts are a safety problem, not a cosmetic one. Lug nuts that don't seat correctly can loosen, and a wheel can come off. We check seat type on every install and won't mount a wheel on lug nuts that don't match. If yours don't, we sell the right lug nuts, or we can get the correct type for your wheels.
5. TPMS Sensors
Most cars since 2008 have tire pressure sensors inside each wheel. New wheels mean you have two choices:
- Move your current sensors: if they work, we move them to the new wheels with new valve stem hardware. Many cars relearn them on their own.
- Buy new sensors: $99 each, with installation, programming, and relearn included.
If your car needs a tool to reprogram and relearn the sensors, that's a flat $50 for the whole vehicle, not per sensor. The relearn is free if you buy your tires from us.
A warning about sensors bought online: they have to arrive programmed for your car. Many sensors can only be programmed with their maker's own software, and we often can't program them at all. If your sensors get damaged or you're not sure what you have, read what TPMS sensor replacement involves.
When the Wheels Arrive
Open every box right away, before any tire is mounted:
- Look for bent lips, curb rash, cracks, and finish damage. Shipping damage is much easier to claim before the tires go on.
- Check that the size, bolt pattern, and offset stamped on the wheels match your order.
- Count the pieces: wheels, hub rings, lug nuts, center caps, and the lock key if you ordered locks.
You can ship wheels straight to either shop. Come in first and leave a copy of your order confirmation so we know what's coming. We're not responsible for deliveries that arrive damaged, incomplete, or not at all. Those claims go to the seller and the carrier.
Installing Online Wheels at Ochoa's
Before we mount anything, we check the bolt pattern, center bore, lug seat, and clearance on your car. If something doesn't fit, we tell you before any work begins. Mounting and balancing is $29.75 per wheel, including computerized balancing, a new valve stem, and disposal. We torque every lug nut to spec with a calibrated torque wrench. Our workmanship is covered for 24 months or 24,000 miles. The wheels themselves are covered by the seller's warranty, not ours.
Haven't ordered yet? Send us the wheel specs and your vehicle first, and we'll tell you if they'll fit. Or skip the guesswork with a wheel and tire package from us, mounted, balanced, and sized for your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you install wheels I bought online?
Yes. Bring them in or ship them to either shop. If you ship them, come in first and leave a copy of the order confirmation so we know what's coming. We check that the wheels fit your vehicle before we mount anything, and we tell you if something's wrong.
Can I use my old lug nuts on new wheels?
Only if the seat type matches. Many factory wheels use ball-seat or flat-seat lug nuts, while most aftermarket wheels need a 60-degree conical seat. The wrong seat only touches the wheel in a small area and can work loose. We check the seat type before we install anything, and if your lug nuts don't match, we sell the right ones or can get them for you.
Do I need new TPMS sensors for new wheels?
Not always. If your current sensors work, we can usually move them to the new wheels with new valve stem hardware. If the car needs its sensors reprogrammed and relearned, that's a flat $50 for the whole vehicle. New sensors are $99 each, with installation, programming, and relearn included.
What are hub-centric rings, and do I need them?
Most aftermarket wheels have a center hole larger than your car's hub, so one wheel can fit many vehicles. A hub-centric ring fills that gap so the wheel centers on the hub. Without rings, the lug nuts do the centering, which often causes a vibration at highway speed.
What if the wheels arrive damaged?
Check every wheel when it arrives, before it's mounted. Claims for shipping damage go to the seller and the carrier, and they're much easier to make before tires are mounted. We're not responsible for deliveries that arrive damaged, incomplete, or not at all.
Have this problem right now? Our Cherry Ave shop is open 7 days a week and Paramount is open Monday through Saturday — no appointment needed for most services.