1992 Honda Civic Aftermarket Wheels [COMPLETE GUIDE]

You have enjoyed your 1992 Honda Civic for its practicality of space and fuel economy, daily usability, reliability and of course its VTEC engine performance. As an enthusiast, the question naturally comes to mind of how best you can customise and make your Civic distinct from the rest while also showcasing your personality.

For most, an excellent place to start is with custom aftermarket wheels. Depending on the application, aftermarket wheels almost instantly add aesthetic appeal to your car, and in many cases can also be purpose-oriented. Now, you probably ask yourself, “What rims should I put on my Honda Civic?”. To help answer this, we have considered various elements to help you choose the correct rim set for your 1992 Honda Civic. 

1992 Honda Civic Aftermarket Wheels Recommendations

Seemingly Volk-like, are these beautiful 17-inch Enkei EV5 Matte Bronze with Machined Lip Wheel Rim. 

Tires and Wheels combination 

For many of the regular Civic owners, the OEM(Factory fitted) rims normally suffice. Particularly, given many Honda Civic cars in 1992 did in fact use aluminium alloy wheels, making them lightweight and helping improve fuel economy. More specifically they used 13/14 inches x 5 inches – 4-lug, 100 mm bolt patterns. Naturally, they were sold with different spoke patterns to try and cater to a wider audience. These standard OEM wheel options, however, weren’t enough and hence many aftermarket wheel companies offered a wide range of rims for Civic enthusiasts like you.  

If you are a JDM fan, you should check out this post on JDM Rims

When considering custom aftermarket wheels, the first element to look at is where your Civic will be driven consistently. This then determines the wheel size and the appropriate tire to match. When looking at regular daily usage, you need to consider sufficient clearance so the rubber from the tire doesn’t rub up against the wheel well, and at the same time remains comfortable for your daily commute. In the case of enhanced performance, you likely will choose a larger diameter wheel with a wider profile for added grip, and this is fine assuming you have the correct suspension setup to match and minimize any potential damage that can occur from oversized custom aftermarket wheels.

Think Safety!

We understand that good looks will be the number one priority when choosing your custom rims. That’s fine! But we need to remind you that the only contact patch taking the weight of your car is the 4 tires that are supported by your rims and suspension. Hence, you need to consider the safety aspect of choosing the right rim, thus ensuring your own safety and the safety of others on the roads. Some of the factors to consider include: 

1. Overall Diameter

The overall diameter of the rim ensures sufficient clearance is provided for the brakes, suspension and the body of the car. 

2. Offset and Backspace

How well the wheel sits within the wheel well affects your ride quality and ability to steer easily. These can have a positive or negative effect when it comes to safety as too much friction may occur between the tire and the body and premature wear and tear of critical steering and suspension components.  

3. Proper Mounting

Wheels and tires are all about balance and remaining balanced in sync with your steering wheel and suspension components. Ensuring a hub-centric fit allows for a proper mount and final fit of the rim to your car. 

Think Quality!

As you continue to search through the many styles and brands companies offer to find your perfect set of custom wheels, don’t be tempted simply because the price is right. Most OEM wheels are designed and built to standards well in excess of the parameters set by the company for the initial weight and characteristics needed for a specific model. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case with aftermarket custom wheels.

Many companies produce a duplicate and/or inferior products and it is best to look for reputed brands, check the reviews, pay a premium and be relaxed in knowing you have a set of good quality rims that won’t compromise your safety. Telling a good quality rim from a bad one isn’t easy, but in many cases, the fit might be an issue as well as premature cracking can also occur with inferior rims.

Summary

As you will have seen by now, there is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to choosing the perfect set of 1992 Honda Civic Aftermarket Wheels. Many factors need to be taken into consideration in addition to the obvious aesthetic appeal. These include rims that fit properly, are of good quality and result in a safe and enjoyable commute.