Once you have straight rims yes it is less expensive...keeping the rims straight is the problem Also remember since the existing tires are CA glued on you won't be able to soak the old worn tires off, you'll need to true them down to the rim. So for your first set it may be easier to start with new rims and remount after that. CRC rims will melt in lacquer thinner so if you plan to use the contact cement method you won't want to use those rims. Prisms don't stay straight long enough to remount. And most of the other rims out there are still the older, smaller diameter rim. I thought about using the RC4Less rims with the Gecko donuts but I heard from someone that used them that they were not 38mm.