987 rims on a 986?

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

sorry unrelated, but I'm really fascinated by the genesis of the term "rim".
I don't think I've ever in all my years of watching auto races heard someone refer to wheels as rims, never hear car dealers discuss "sport rims" and car magazines have never referred to the "new Corvette rims".
This has always baffled me...

That's right, I'm always looking for Wide 5 style wheels when someone says they're changing rims. They have removable rim sections with the 5 spoke hub remaining in place, but, I'm sorry "Bro," they are wheels.
I guess with two piece or three piece bolt together wheels, you could technically just change your rims.

[Perfectlap]

The OP is from Utah which really made me take notice. If he were from NY, CA, Miami or something I wouldn't be so surprised because "rim" seems to be the norm there and not the exception. This use of the word rim is not generational either because I've heard many guys well into their 30's use the term as well as high school teenagers at my local Pep boys. The only explanation I can come up with is that at some point as rap music was growing in the late 80's and the rim became permanent. I'm just fascinated that the term hasn't gone away since you never hear sports car or racing experts, which presumably is how an auto enthusiast most often hears about the topic, on TV or print ever use anything other than the word wheel.