The look

Most often seen on luxury SUVs and big luxury sedans, the hip-hop set has a

seemingly relentless appetite for rim diameters that have little practical value

other than to make an impression . . . not that there’s anything wrong with that.

If the wheel makes the car, then giant chromed wheels make the statement

that you are, indeed, living larger. The spinning integrated hub sections are

mesmerizing the first few times you see them at a traffic light, and they can

make a run-of-the-mill Navigator, Escalade, or Hummer H2 stand out from

every other SUV.

To further round out the look, oversized dubs are installed to minimize the

wheel gap between the outside edge of the tire and the fender, so the car

looks like it’s just floating on these huge gleaming discs without any tires.

The look is certainly not for everyone. You need a car with appropriate road

presence to not look ridiculous (don’t try this with a Yugo). But if you have

the SUV or luxury car and the inclination, big wheels can make a big hit.

If you install dubs, don’t be surprised when your car is slower to accelerate,

harder to stop, and burns more fuel. If these things helped performance,

Michael Schumacher’s grand prix car would be sponsored by Vogue Tyres.

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