As i see this heated debate...I have done some further research on this serious matter..... this "ghetto" term must only be furthered referenced in the urban dictionary....
rims-
"The visible part of a car wheel. These parts are often highly customized by people who want to show off their car. They can be various colors. The most common colors are usually gold or silver. Some of these have special spinners in them so they spin even when the car is not in motion. Rims are one feature that set a car apart from being a stock model. Like jewelry for a car. Many people desire rims and will go to great lengths to acquire them. Some people may steal them off cars, car jack a person to get them, or kill somebody over them. They are often used as a status symbol."
"Man check out those pimped out rims!"
"Those are the sickest rims I've ever seen!"
or
"The wrong word used for a car's wheel. Used by rappers and morons who do not realize that a rim is not a wheel."
Fool: "Yo dawg check dem rims biatch!" (hand)
Enthusiast: "Those are wheels"
wheel-
"A term referring to a motor vehicle or general means of transport."
"That guy sure has a nice set of wheels!
or
"To have a way with women, usually involving some sort of charm and/or game plan. Very similar to charisma. Derived from "wheelin' and dealin'".
"Did you see the blonde he went home with? That guy's got some serious wheels." (no)
urbandictionary.com has presented many different terms on this rim vs. wheel debate. some definitions are quite eye opening....you be the judge i suppose!(wink)
personally I believe wheels "ex. the wheels on the bus go round and round" are the rubber and the metal. rims "ex. not the rims on the bus go round and round" are the metal alone. You can not have a wheel without and rim.
Just saying!