| Offset means what?Offset is normally stamped | | | | wheel/tire package heavier. Reducing the |
| or engraved into the wheel and is measured in | | | | profile of your tires will also decrease your |
| millimeters of ET: ET is the short form of | | | | car's damping deflection under compression |
| the German word Einpresstiefe which | | | | the ride quality will get worse. Other |
| translates as insertion depth.Offset is the | | | | disadvantages can include the need for more |
| distance between the hub mounting face at the | | | | expensive tires, your brakes looking |
| back of the wheel and the wheel's | | | | undersized and people's grannies laughing and |
| centerline.Negative Offset wheels have their | | | | calling your car a buggy.You got the Alloy |
| mounting face toward the rear of the wheel - | | | | Wheels and then what?Before you do anything, |
| powerful rear-wheel drive cars often have | | | | ensure to see that you have the right sort of |
| wheels with negative offset.Zero Offset | | | | bolts - Bolts and studs have various |
| wheels have their mounting face even with the | | | | diameters, threads and settings, your wheel |
| centerline of the wheel and are by definition | | | | supplier should be able to advice on this. |
| ET0.Positive Offset wheels have their | | | | Also check to see that you the 4 plastic |
| mounting face toward the front face of the | | | | spigot rings which help the interface between |
| wheel. Front wheel drive vehicles usually | | | | the wheel and the hub.Next you need to jack |
| have positive ET wheels. Eighties & Nineties | | | | your car up; do this in a secure way, and be |
| Volkswagen wheels are generally ET38.PCD | | | | sure to use axle stands, chock wheels still |
| means what?PCD stands for pitch circle | | | | in contact with the ground and apply the |
| diameter and is the diameter of a circle | | | | parking brake. Offer a wheel up to the car |
| drawn through the centre of your wheel's bolt | | | | and check that the bolt holes line up, that |
| holes. P.C.D. is measured in millimeters and | | | | the wheel locates on the hub properly and |
| also indicate the number of studs or bolts | | | | that there is wheel arch, suspension strut |
| the wheel will have. Volkswagen Alloy Wheels | | | | and brake caliper clearance. If you have |
| are usually either 4x100: i.e. 4 bolt holes | | | | upgraded your brakes be SURE to seek advice |
| drilled through the centre of an imaginary | | | | and measure everything thoroughly before you |
| 100mm circle, or 5x100: for VR6s, GTis and | | | | order.The wheel bolts or nuts must be |
| MK4s.Center bore means what?The center bore | | | | tightened to the manufacturer's precise |
| of an alloy wheel is the size of the hole at | | | | torque. Be sure to re-torque after a 100 |
| the back of the wheel which the hub fits | | | | miles or so as they will compress slightly; |
| into. To help the wheels to seat properly | | | | tighten them increasingly till they're 3/4 |
| this hole needs to be an exact match to the | | | | tight then lower the car and complete the |
| size of the hub.Most modern wheels are what's | | | | process.Take care of your Alloy WheelsAs |
| called hub-centric. This means that the hub | | | | anybody who's stepped into a motor factor in |
| which protrudes from your car, and mates with | | | | the last 10 years will tell you, there's a |
| the equivalent sized hole at the back of your | | | | huge variety of specialist wheel cleaners on |
| wheel, is load bearing. All that the studs or | | | | the market, all designed to help make the job |
| bolts do is holding the wheel onto the hub.If | | | | of cleaning your new rims that little bit |
| you have lug-centric wheels, the state of | | | | easier, unfortunately the real key to a great |
| your studs or bolts is obviously more | | | | finish is hard work.Before you fit your |
| important - be sure to replace these from | | | | wheels, give them several coats of good |
| time to time and always 3/4 tighten the | | | | quality car polish back and front. This will |
| wheels off the car to make sure they're | | | | help prevent the road salt, brake dust and |
| centered.Plus-Sizing and Up-Stepping means | | | | dirt keying to the surface on first use. Be |
| what?Plus-Sizing or Up-Stepping are two terms | | | | sure to treat the surface of your alloys as |
| given to the practice of rising the diameter | | | | well, if not better, than you would your |
| of your wheels whilst at the same time | | | | paintwork. Remember, you have spent a small |
| reducing the profile of your tires to keep | | | | fortune of your alloys and they're going to |
| the overall rolling radius the same.Benefits | | | | be subject to the harshest conditions of just |
| | | | about any part of the car!Frequent washing |
| Plus-Sizing will develop the handling of | | | | with mildly soapy warm water; and remember to |
| your car! Each step will decrease the | | | | hose all the loose abrasive grit off first. |
| proportion of flexible tire sidewall to rigid | | | | This is the best way to keep wheels clean. Do |
| alloy. This will improve response, will help | | | | not use abrasive cleansers, electric buffers |
| keep the tire tread square to the road and | | | | or wire wool pads on your wheels. Where it is |
| will improve your car's feedback. If done | | | | possible let your wheels cool before cleaning |
| correctly speed and odometer accuracy will | | | | them and keep away from car-wash |
| retain and the car look better.Disadvantages | | | | wheel-cleaners at all times.Huge amount of |
| | | | information about Alloy Wheels on this site - |
| Often, tire inches are lighter than wheel | | | | go check out. |
| inches. Plus-sizing can make your overall | | | | |