Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Wheels for your Car
With a wide range of designs, colours, brands and widths available, it's essential to research before deciding what wheels you would like to purchase.
Fortunately, this guide will provide all the information you need to select the perfect set of wheels for your vehicle.
What is PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter) or Stud Pattern?
The Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD) or Stud Pattern is essential for fitting wheels onto a vehicle.
This value refers to the circle size that passes through the centre of all the bolt holes on a wheel. Typically measured in millimetres, the PCD provides crucial information for ensuring a wheel fits appropriately onto a vehicle's hub.
For example, 5x112 would indicate that the wheel in question has five bolt holes and that the circle's diameter that passes through the centre of each bolt hole is precisely 112mm.
You can find your vehicle's PCD written in your owner's manual, or found online by searching your year, make and model along with the term 'PCD'.
Understanding the PCD of a given wheel makes it possible to ensure that it is compatible with a particular vehicle and will provide the desired performance and handling characteristics.
Diameter and Width
When it comes to purchasing wheels, it's crucial to have a solid understanding of the various measurements that are involved.
Typically, the two most commonly used measurements are the diameter and width of the wheel. These measurements are usually provided in inches and represent a pair of numbers, such as 16x8.
In this example, the 16 refers to the diameter of the wheel, while the 8 refers to its width.
You can find your vehicles wheel diameter and width on the sidewall of the tires on your original wheels or the inside frame of the driver's door.
By taking the time to understand these measurements and what they represent, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decisions about purchasing new wheels.
What is Offset (ET)?
The offset of a wheel is the distance, in millimetres, between the centre of its cross-section and the mounting surface as its back.
It is an essential factor when selecting the right wheels for your car. Every vehicle model has a specific ideal offset and a range within which the offset should be to ensure proper wheel fitment.
A positive offset means that the wheel's mounting surface is closer to the front of the rim than the centreline.
To determine your car's wheel offset, check the back of your wheels, where it's typically stamped or cast into the mounting surface or a spoke, often with the letters "ET" preceding or following the number.
In contrast, a negative offset means that the mounting surface is closer to the back of the rim than the centreline. A negative offset can lead to a more concave appearance at the front of the wheel.
Selecting the correct offset is crucial to prevent any adverse effects on the steering and suspension components. Failing to do so may cause the wheels to stick out of the wheel arches too much or be sucked in too far.
This could lead to contact with carious suspension struts, brake callipers, or other components, affecting the car's performance and safety.
Therefore, choosing the correct offset for your vehicle is imperative to ensure its optimal performance and safety on the road.
Using Wheel Spacers
If your car's wheel offset exceeds its maximum capacity, Wheel Spacers can provide a solution. However, it is essential to note that if the offset is already too low, spacers may not be necessary.
Essentially, wheel spacers are designed to move the wheel outwards until it is proper alignment with the bodywork and arches of the vehicle.
This can allow for installing wheels not specifically made to fit your car. It is also worth noting there are wheel spacers on the market that can alter your PCD while simultaneously spacing out your wheels.
For example, if your hub is 4x100 and you want to install 5x112 wheels, there are spacers specifically designed for this purpose, making switching to new wheels of a different PCD a breeze.
If you're installing wheel spacers that are not hub centric (without studs), always check you have enough thread on the wheel nuts; if not, you can always opt for Extended Wheel Studs to ensure you don't encounter problems.
What are Wheel Centre Bore and Spigot Rings?
The wheel centre bore is a crucial component of any alloy wheel, and it is the hole located at the back of the wheel that fits onto the flange of the car's hub.
Most wheels have a larger centre bore than the hub lip, which allows them to work with a spigot ring locating system.
This system enables the wheels to fit a broader range of cars and ensures the wheel is correctly positioned on the hub.
However, some wheels are manufactured with a centre bore precisely designed to fit a specific vehicle, eliminating the need for a spigot ring.
It is important to note that using a wheel with a centre bore that is too large for the hub can lead to issues such as vibrating steering wheel. This can lead to wear on the tyres and bearings, which can be dangerous and costly.
To avoid such issues, it is essential to ensure the wheel is correctly positioned on the hub. This can be achieved by using spigot rings when necessary.
Using a spigot ring, the wheel is securely placed on the hub, preventing vibration or movement.
You can identify your vehicle's centre bore by looking up the information for your specific car model online.
Therefore, customers should always use the correct spigot ring for their wheel and hub combination to avoid any potential problems.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on selecting the perfect alloy wheels. We hope our guide has been instrumental in assisting you in finding the right wheel for your car.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us through our Contact Form or give us a call on 0115 777 0775 (9am - 5pm) (Monday - Friday)