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