Sometimes, it seems confusing for one to correctly count the number of wheels a truck contains. If you’re among those who want to skip that confusing process and just get a response online — then you’re at the right place. In this article, we’ll tell you the number of wheels a truck [semi truck] has, which is an answer to the question — How Many Wheels Does A Truck Have?

How Many Wheels Does A Truck Have?

A typical semi-truck has eighteen wheels, but a heavy hauler might have, for instance, one-hundred and fourteen wheels, including pulling and pushing tractors. Feel free to count the wheels on this rig: There are four wheels per axle.

Benefits Of Truck Wheels

• Improve the look of your truck: While it’s quite clear that the look of your truck can be labeled “great,” no one can deny that a new set of custom rims will go a long way in helping to enhance your vehicle’s appearance.

• Boost performance: OEM wheels have the potential — the potential needed to ensure the job is done, as long as the job does not request for way too much. There are wheels out there called the “aftermarket wheels:” these wheels provide you with better load capacities, and a few more options to be a good fit for your specific needs.

• Better protection for offroading: Do you know what the stocks rim of your truck was made for? If that’s your question, then here’s the answer: they weren’t made for the trails, they were likely made for pavement. You can find a set of wheels that’d suit your truck, that’s designed in such a way that handling the toughest terrain isn’t a big deal — so you have no reason to worry.

Types Of Truck Wheels

• Aluminum

As regards off-road wheels, their construction and material are essential factors to put into consideration. Among the other type of wheels, the Aluminum wheels come with the benefit of being lightweight, which is just why most sport car owners always choose them. In terms of speed, there’s no usefulness concerning the weight reduction for truck wheels — but the reduction helps with loading capacity and also, it’s beneficial in the area of helping you stay within legal loading limits. If you want to know how you can stay protected against corrosion, then aluminum wheels should be your pick.

• Steel

While we know that aluminum wheels have a good number of benefits over steel rims, we must let you know that it is not a clear-cut choice. In terms of durability and strength, steel is known as an excellent material. This is the reason why it’s an excellent choice for people who regularly haul heavier loads. You can get steel rims for a price less expensive than the cost of that of aluminum. While steels are not good at resisting corrosion, there are numerous pre-treatments with which you can use to bridge this gap.

Top Brands

Wheel Pros

Wheel Pros is a company that has been in the business of designing, marketing, and distributing rims for a period of over 20 years. With its headquarters in Denver, Colo., Wheel Pros has more than 30 distribution sites that spread across Canada and the United States. The popularity the company has gathered, over the years, has allowed it to rapidly grow. That’s not all; its popularity has also helped the company to acquire a few of the most popular rim brands. To mention the brands owned by Wheel Pros, some of them include Moto Metal (created in 2002), KMC (created in 1995), and American Racing (created in 1956).

Pro Comp USA

Founded in the year 1985, Pro Comp USA took its first step by manufacturing lighting products for vehicles. Seven years into its existence, it began to manufacture suspension systems, which got the company ready for the task of creating high-performance, off-road products, such as lightbars, wheels, and shocks. Today, it’s one of those leading companies that make a few of the most popular rims for SUVs, Jeeps, and truck drivers.

Mickey Thompson

This particular company was founded by someone named Mickey Thompson, in 1963. This tire and wheel brand is known for its long history of manufacturing high-performance products. The company has shown dedication in the area of producing record-breaking, remarkable products that are made available to the entire public. Aside from the racing products, it offers a colossal selection of truck tires and rims.

Fuel Off-Road

Mostly referred to as Fuel forged rims, Fuel Off-Road is a truck rim brand that has over the years gained popularity because of its dedication to making quality products. It’s known for producing the largest wheels you can find. The brand came into existence in 2008 by MHT Luxury Alloys, which people have known for manufacturing racing wheels — high-end racing wheels — for an expansive list of vehicles. You can purchase the Fuel wheels from 20 x 10 up to a diameter of 30 inches. You can get Fuel forged off-roading rims in various color and style options.

Truck Wheels Pricing

• Under $100: Some aftermarket wheels and the average stock rims start at below $100 each. The cost lower than that is, most of the time, paired with a less-flashy design and easier production process. They are still great in terms of performance. And, they can stand as a reliable option.

• $100 to $250: You can get some of the best and most reliable aftermarket truck wheels that go within this very price range. Designed to improve your truck’s look and made for off-roading, these products are long-lasting and popular. Under this price range, you’re assured of having a product that would last for a long period of time.

• Over $250: Some aftermarket wheels out there that are meant for your SUV, Jeep, or truck can be quite pricey. The options that are most expensive include bigger sizes (20-inches and over), eight-lug rims, and deep-dish truck wheels.

Key Features

Finish

Aside from wheels being your vehicle’s functional part, they also do great in making a style statement. One thing that can make your truck look as though you just bought it is “updating from OEM rims to beautifully finished aftermarket rims.” It gives you several options when it comes to choosing colors, styles, and finishes to ensure that they’re just right. There are rims called “painted rims;” these rims come in any color, but those popular options out there can be seen in colors like either chrome or matte black.

Load Rating

Your rims’ load rating is quite crucial. The maximum load capacity solely depends on what exactly every one of your tires is rated for, and you need to have the rims present so they can withstand what you are likely to throw at them. In terms of load rating, that of steel rims is higher than that of cast aluminum, but as observed in most cases, forged rims — overall — get the highest rating. Now, there are attributes that can affect the load rating: they include the size and the number of lug nuts.

Other Considerations

• Diameter: Your rims’ diameter is quite imperative for both fit and style. Larger wheels are popular — increasingly popular — although the average size reaches up to 17 inches. For you to go too big, you might need to lift your truck or customize the wheel well, and going too small might gives you the required room (enough room) for your breaks.

• Width: Tires are produced in a variety of diameters as well as widths. If you have plans on maintaining the same tires for that your brand new rims, then it’d be a necessity that you buy rims that are of the same size. In case you don’t know, a rim is typically 2-3 inches narrower — narrower than each one of the tires. A good thing is, manufacturers out there specify those sizes that are ideal for their products.

• Bolt Pattern: The wheels that your truck comes with are affixed by a particular amount of lug nuts — usually, it’s five, six, or even eight. Manufacturers of rims had it in mind to accommodate specific sizes, before beginning that production process, so always ensure that you check the sizes and patterns of your bolt before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Many Wheels Does A Big Truck Have?

Usually, the semi-truck comes with up to 18 wheels and they’re known as 18-wheeler, big rig, tractor trailers, semi-trailers, semi tractor-trailers, or just semis. A semi trailer is attached to the fifth wheel coupling (also known as the hitch) on the tractor.

Does An 18 Wheeler Have 18 Wheels?

Yes, they do. Most semis have 3 axles. The front steering axle and the two axles on the rear of the truck to support the weight of the trailer.