When did wheels become rims?

[itguy61]

I notice a lot of people refer to wheels as rims. The rim is a part of the wheel not the whole item. When did this term replace the technically correct term wheel? Just curious.

 

[Kamauxx]

If I remember correctly it happened April 17th 1974.

 

[StingerLover]

If I remember correctly it happened April 17th 1974.

Must have been a particularly "foggy" day!

 

[Manaz]

I notice a lot of people refer to wheels as rims. The rim is a part of the wheel not the whole item. When did this term replace the technically correct term wheel? Just curious.

I believe this is to differentiate from steel wheels which were much more common back in the day - "wheel" became the generic term, rims became used to describe alloy/mag wheels.

 

[SKStinger]

I notice a lot of people refer to wheels as rims. The rim is a part of the wheel not the whole item. When did this term replace the technically correct term wheel? Just curious.

You got it all wrong though. It’s rimz.

 

[MisterMac]

It's a conspiracy! Just part of the effort to dumb-down the population

 

[BertBert2019GT]

I thought the ‘rim’ was that specific part of a two/three multi-piece wheel. single piece wheels are just wheels?

 

[SteveCo]

I thought the ‘rim’ was that specific part ...

It is. Calling a wheel (alloy or otherwise) a 'rim' is incorrect, but in some areas it has become common usage. Like other mutations to the language, after enough time has passed it may become an officially accepted alternative.

 

[itguy61]

Basically just slang!

 

[Kamauxx]

Basically just slang!

Similar to people referring to magazines as "clips."

Is there a correct time to refer to a cartridge holder as a "clip?" Yes. But 99% of the time the word is used it's done so incorrectly.

 

[Aarvix]

I thought they were called dubs?

 

[Stinger GT SS]

I believe this is to differentiate from steel wheels which were much more common back in the day - "wheel" became the generic term, rims became used to describe alloy/mag wheels.

In the 70’s to differentiate between steel wheels which was the norm back then, if you had alloy wheels we called them “mags” which was short for magnesium.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I use both interchangeably. So I am corrupted. It's all you guys' fault. I came here as "not a car guy" and anything I pick up is from all you all.