The holiday time of year is just around the corner, and if you’re thinking of a gift to get on your teenager’s good side, check this quick car-accessory tutorial. Once you know the jargon and you listen well, you should be able to figure out what to slide under the Christmas tree this year.

Lately, it’s all about the wheels - the all important connection between the car and the tires. Some rock big honkin’ shiney chrome lug nuts while others go for custom aftermarket center caps for rims. Alternatively they can go for spinners and act that they are a rap star like 50 Cent. LED lights are being seen more and more on the streets after dark. It will surely get you noticed.

Just a Few Terms to Get You Started:

• Spinners are wheel accessories that move on roller bearings, your wheels get a nice affect of movement that is totally unexpected. Since they move independent of the rims spinners spin around even when the wheel is stopped, energized by the law of momentum, sliding along on their bearings with little resistance from the wheel itself.

• A factory center cap is what is in place in the center of the wheel when you purchase the car from a dealer. To jazz up your ride, you can buy high-style chrome center caps that will set your car apart.

• The new center caps can be put in place when you upgrade your rims and tires. The caps cover the center of the rim and can have all manner of patterns - domestic or foreign logos, even a concept design. If you want to save some cash on a set of center caps for rims then swing by a salvage yard and take a look around. Don’t forget the web; there are plenty of suppliers who would be happy to help you find the perfect set of caps.

• Rims bought from a manufacturer other than the car maker are called aftermarket rims and are used to personalize your car. Aftermarket rims come with center caps but you can get a set of unique center caps to really make them stand out.

• Hub caps are wheel covers that protect the lug nuts and rim by mounting to and covering the whole rim.

• LED lights can be added to your car wheels. The diodes emit a glowing light and are powered by small long-life batteries.

• With wheel spacers you can add additional width to the wheels, shifting them out towards the fenders. This improves handling and visually adds a more aggressive presence.