Rollin’ on Dubs.

It’s interesting the culture that has been built up around accessorizing your vehicle.  There have been numerous catch phrases created around “rims” or wheels.  Needless to say, when society takes such an interest in something the way it has in customizing and personalizing one’s car, it is always interesting to explore it a bit.  Here you will find a few of the most popular phrases and slang used when referencing rims and wheels.

“Rollin’ on Dubs”-owning/driving a car with rims that are 20+ inches, preferably chrome, spinners optional./Driving in an SUV that has 20 inch or higher wheels, usually with chrome or other fancy look.

“Fo-Fo’s”-”Fours” is the name used to refer to a certain type of rim (hubcap), made of wire, in 1984 (where the “four” comes from). They have a fairly distinctive shape, sticking out from the wheel. The rims are now extremely expensive and rare, having been discontinued. This type of rim is especially popular in Houston. The term fo’ fo’s was popularized in the song Still Tippin by Mike Jones Feat. Slim Thug and Paul Wall.

“Tippin”- means to cruise from side to side in your car, so if you’re tippin on fo’ fo’s, you’re cruising around on your really expensive, rare wire rims.

“Rims”- The visible part of a car wheel. These parts are often highly customized by people who want to show off their car. They can be various colors. The most common colors are usually chrome or silver. Some of these have special spinners in them so they spin even when the car is not in motion. Rims are one feature that set a car apart from being a stock model. Like jewelry for a car. Many people desire rims and will go to great lengths to acquire them.  They are often used as a status symbol.

Wheel Buyer’s Guide.

When choosing a wheel, make sure it fits your car’s bolt pattern. That pattern is expressed as an equation of two numbers: the number of wheel lugs or bolts on the hub times the diameter of an imaginary circle drawn through the center of those lugs. So a 4x100mm bolt pattern means you have four lugs that span a distance of 100 mm.

Offset describes the relationship of the wheel’s centerline to the location of the mount pad, which is where the wheel bolts to the hub. This is typically expressed in millimeters. Front-wheel-drive (and newer rear-wheel-drive) cars generally have wheels with positive offset, which means the mount pad is towards the outside of the wheel. A wheel with negative offset means the mount pad is positioned inboard from the centerline.

At Mint Wheels we understand that proper offset is critical when fitting a new set of wheels, as it affects everything from your vehicle’s handling to wheel and tire clearance of fenders, brake calipers, and chassis components.  We specialize in handcrafting and custom fitting our wheels to perfectly fit your vehicle- no hassles, no spacers, just the perfect combination of function and form.  Our exclusive line of wheels can be made to order for any application.

http://www.mintwheels.com

You Are What You Drive.

You claim to be manly, but driving a pink mini-car or a soccer-mom van tells another story.  Actions speak louder than words, and what you drive says more about you than apparel ever could. What’s more, certain types of rides frequently appeal to certain demographics — to the extent that you could classify the drivers and their rides of choice after giving either the once over.

At MINT Wheels we want to make sure that what your car is saying about you is the case.  See how we can help you project the image you’d like at http://www.mintwheels.com.

Customize Your Ride||Part Two.

MINT Wheels wants to provide you with an easy guide to Customizing Your Ride. Last week we covered Part One and this week we reveal Part Two:

5- Incorporate your personality

In your efforts to set your car apart, your best weapon is yourself. Infuse the unique elements of your personality into your customization.  Like we said before, we can personalize yours with company logos, monograms or color preferences, so that they’re MINTed exactly to your liking.

6- Accommodate luxury

Few of us have the budgets of a Shaq or a Rickey Henderson. But that doesn’t mean that we should deprive ourselves of small luxuries entirely. If you’re a music fanatic, make that extra investment for a good sound system — the pleasure that it adds to your drives will prove worthwhile.

7- Don’t be scared to be subtle

Flash isn’t everyone’s style; some prefer a smoother approach. Many people equate customization with excess, and let themselves get lured into luxurious accessories that they may not really want. If subtlety is your thing, embrace it.

8- Keep it functional

Your ideal custom job will be unique, comfortable, accommodating, and reflective of your personality and lifestyle. But don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees: Your car is there to get you from one place to another safely.   At MINT Wheels, we as committed to safety and quality as we are to style.  Translation:  You will be safe and look good all at once!

http://www.mintwheels.com

Customize your Ride Guide|| Part One.

Between those tips offered by Pimp My Ride, Overhaulin’, Monster Garage, and a slew of other similar programs, there’s a lot of car customization information out there. From an entertainment perspective, this is a good thing. But for the guy or gal who’s serious about beefing up his or her own ride, this glut of often contradictory resources can be a bit bewildering. So where does one go for straight, solid advice on modifying their ride? We know exactly who to turn to:  Alex Palanjian at MINT Wheels.

Here is Part One of MINT’S Guide to Customizing your vehicle.

1- Employ contrast

You don’t need multiple exterior colors to make your ride stand out. In fact, multiple colors often make a car look tacky. Instead, go for the simplicity of a two-tone contrasting. Two contrasting colors can look elegant and make the entire car pop at the same time.

2- Create unique wheels

Wheels are usually the first investment that a beginning customizer will make. The result is that everyone and his brother has a set of shiny wheels — so you’re going to have to try that much harder to make yours stick out.  We can customize your wheels with your own monogram or company logo.  The options are endless!

3- Don’t shy away from color

Simplicity is always good, but if you have a favorite color, there’s no reason to shy away from it. Remember that your car is first and foremost your car. Make your wishes a top priority as you approach your custom work.  We can customize your wheels with a varitey of color and finish options.  Here is a list of some of the options we offer:  http://www.mintwheels.com/collection_finishes.html

4- Customize for your lifestyle

Your car is an integral part of your life; accordingly, it should suit your lifestyle. This might mean not sacrificing the practicality that comes with lots of trunk space (by filling it with a sound system, for example), or easing off on the power if you’ll be sharing it with a younger driver.

Customizing your vehicle is a form of expression.

Putting new wheels on your car has become one of the largest ways that people today are sprucing up their vehicles. These wheels give your car a style and an attitude that standard or stock rims simply can’t offer. They allow you to portray the type of person you are, through your car and will many times turn heads as you roll down the street.

At MINT Wheels, we’re committed to artistry and style without compromising performance or functionality. We stay at the forefront of the industry, not only mastering the trends, but also shaping the designs that you see in the marketplace. Our high-end product line is handcrafted from only the finest materials available today.

The MINT Wheels Collection.

MINT Wheels are works of art custom tailored to your luxury vehicle and your personal style- all without compromising your vehicle’s performance. We showcase a variety of one, two and three-piece wheels with an endless array of color and finish options. Our master craftsmen are dedicated to both the technical and aesthetic details for a caliber of style, excellence, and performance that will always impress. From personalized monograms and corporate logos to custom caps, our exclusive line of wheels and accessories can be made to order for any application.