No, wheels and rims are not the same, even though people sometimes use the terms interchangeably. A wheel is a circular part that spins on the axle and holds a vehicle's tires. It has a hub, spokes, and a rim. On the other hand, the rim is the outermost part of the wheel. It's made of metal and attaches to the wheel's hub using bolts or studs. So, while rims are part of wheels, the words are not the same.