Please explain..et, offset, 5x112??

[BrettD]

I keep hearing (reading )about wheels and offsets, et's, spacers, etc

Can someone please explain what all this means, I'm looking at a set of second hand wheels for my ssat and have been told they are 5x112.

I have an '02, these are off an '07, does it make a difference?

Thanks

[noone]

PCD: Distance the wheel sits in / out from hub.
Lower numbers are further out, higher numbers are closer to centre of vehicle.

5 x 112 is a 5 stud, 112 is the distance between centre of the bolts (or distance from hub centre to bolts).

Put simply, if you are running stock suspension, find out what widths work and stick and stick to the stock PCD. I'm sure you will find a thread if your car's section with some offset details.

Generally newer VW sedans seem to be about 30-45 offset.

[Jarred]

PCD: Distance the wheel sits in / out from hub.
Lower numbers are further out, higher numbers are closer to centre of vehicle.

5 x 112 is a 5 stud, 112 is the distance between centre of the bolts (or distance from hub centre to bolts).

Put simply, if you are running stock suspension, find out what widths work and stick and stick to the stock PCD. I'm sure you will find a thread if your car's section with some offset details.

Generally newer VW sedans seem to be about 30-45 offset.

Sorry, bit of misinformation there.

PCD is the bolt pattern. ie 5 bolts, 4 bolts. the second measurement is the distance the bolt holes are apart, ie 112mm, 100mm, etc etc. PCD is also called stud pattern

The 'et' dictates how far in or out on the vehicle. The higher the et the closer in the wheel will sit, the lower the number the further out the wheel will sit. This changes for each different width of wheel though. (without getting into the maths to explain it fully that is) et is also called offset.

http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

that's a handy site to work out the offsets that'll work etc.

Hope this helps.

I dont know what the PCD of your car is cause I have no idea what an '02 and '07 are.

[BrettD]

Please explain..et, offset, 5x112??

Sorry my '2002' is a B5.5 1.8T Passat

So a 'spacer' merely moves the wheel out to change the 'et'... Correct??

Thanks

[noone]

Sorry my '2002' is a B5.5 1.8T Passat

So a 'spacer' merely moves the wheel out to change the 'et'... Correct??

Thanks

yeah, but there are complications. Spacers can attach to the hub, or sit between. they can be hubcentric (line up with the hub) or loose. If you use spacers (which are illegal in NSW, not sure about the rest of Aus) you will likely need longer bolts too.

[gareth_oau]

another website for a good read:

http://autospeed.com/A_110822/cms/article.html

also note, if you do choose to use spacers, and they are deemed illegal in your state, then if you have an accident, your insurance company won't pay up!

[zach]

sorry to hijack....is there a website that lists by make/model offset, etc? I did find an old version but did not include Octavia II.

Alternatively, which VAG OEM wheels will fit?

[Jarred]

A spacer will lower the offset of a wheel.

say your wheel is currently ET45. adding a 10mm spacer will make it ET35, and will push the wheels 10mm out towards the outer gaurd