The Ultimate Guide to Alloy Wheels Fitment
Posted by Matthew Marks on 1st Aug 2024
Do you want to enhance your car's performance and appearance, upgrading from your stock wheels to alloy wheels is the best way to do this.
With a wide range of designs, colours, brands and widths available, it's essential to research before deciding. Fortunately, our guide will provide all the information you need to select the perfect set of wheels for your vehicle.
Not only do alloy wheels add a stylish touch to your car, but they also reduce the unsprung weight compared to OEM wheels.
This, in turn, results in improved steering and better fuel efficiency. Also, switching to alloy wheels can help fill the space perfectly if you've added extra width or a wide arch kit to your car.
Another benefit of alloy wheels is their ability to dissipate heat from your brakes, which reduces the risk of brake failure during extreme driving conditions.
Additionally, they enhance steering response and grip, particularly when taking corners.
These advantages make alloy wheels an excellent choice for those who want to improve their driving experience while maintaining the overall look of their car.
What Is PCD 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, 5x114.3 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 114.3mm.
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.
Find Your 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. However, you may occasionally come across a letter after the width measurement.
This letter signifies the wheel's shape where the rim connects to the tire. The most common profile is 'J', which you might see as 8J.
This letter is often stamped directly onto the wheel, making it easy to identify.
By taking the time to understand these measurements and what they represent, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decision 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 at 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 centerline.
In contrast, a negative offset means that the mounting surface is closer to the back of the rim than the centerline. 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 various 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 in 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 a 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.
Therefore, customers should always use the correct spigot ring for their wheel and hub combination to avoid any potential problems.
Luckily, wheel manufacturers such as Rota commonly offer spigot rings as part of their products when you indicate your vehicle's specific make and model.
This relieves you from determining the appropriate size and searching for spigot rings, enabling you to quickly and easily install them onto your car.
How Do I Choose The Correct Tyre?
Ensuring safe driving is of utmost importance, and one of the critical factors in achieving this is ensuring that your tyres fit correctly with your vehicle's wheel size.
This is crucial for maintaining safe driving conditions, as it directly affects the vehicle's stability and control on the road.
To be able to choose a tyre, there are two things to consider.
Firstly what you are using the car for, as you will be using different tyres for racing and road use. Secondly, you need to check the tyres match the width of the wheel and if you are going for a flat or stretched profile.
For example, if your vehicle has a wheel rim that is 7 inches wide and a 15-inch diameter, you could use tyres of 195/55 R15 or 205/55 R15.
This is because these alternative tyre sizes will fit and will not affect the vehicle's stability or control on the road, although the 205 would be slightly wider on the wheel, giving you 10mm more of the tyre surface area on the road.
To understand a tyre's size, you need to look at two numbers on the tyre. The first number, usually in the format "255/35", is the tyre's width in millimetres.
The second number represents the tyre's height as a percentage of the width, so a tyre marked 255/35 has a height that is 35% of 255mm.
In addition, using alternative tyres may affect the car's driving characteristics because the contact patch between the tyre and the road will be different.
This can impact the vehicle's handling, stability, and overall performance.
In conclusion, ensuring your tyres fit correctly with your vehicle's wheel size is crucial for safe and optimal driving conditions. Message us on our contact form, or comment below if you have any questions.
How To Take Care Of Your Wheels
To maintain your wheels' cleanliness, avoiding household or other detergents such as washing up liquid is essential.
These types of solutions can be too harsh and potentially damage the surface of your wheels. Instead, opt for a gentle cleaning solution specifically designed for wheels, such as the Soft99 Iron Terminator.
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When cleaning your wheels, it is essential to rinse off any cleaning solutions thoroughly before moving on to the next wheel, as this will help prevent any streaks or residue from being left behind.
Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth such as the Soft99 Kamitore wheel cleaning brush to avoid scratching the surface when cleaning your wheels.
When choosing a cleaning solution, it is essential to avoid using steam cleaners as they can cause peeling of the powder coat or surface.
Before beginning the cleaning process, ensuring your wheels are cold is important, and this will help prevent any damage to the surface of the wheels.
If you want to protect the surface of your wheels and make future cleaning more manageable, consider waxing them after cleaning.
This will help repel dirt and grime, making it easier to keep your wheels looking their best. Another good product to look at here is the Soft99 Qjustu wheel coat specifically designed for this.
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Remember only to use cleaners specific to your type of wheel and avoid acid-based cleaners at all costs. By following these simple tips, you can maintain the cleanliness and integrity of your wheels for years to come.
Wheel Nut Seating And Materials
When it comes to ensuring the safety and longevity of your vehicle's wheels, paying attention to the type of seating and wheel nuts you use is crucial.
Using the wrong seating style can damage your vehicle and experience unpleasant vibrations and loosening of the nuts.
That's why it's essential to understand the three common types of lug nut seating styles: cone or tapered seat, mag or shank seat, and radius or ball seat.
If you're looking to upgrade your wheels with aftermarket options, they will often have a 60-degree wheel taper. Therefore, it's best to opt for wheel nuts that come in a 60-degree taper.
Many wheel nut manufacturers have various materials, threads and colours to give you the most significant amount of options to choose from.
The two main types of wheel nut materials are aluminium or steel, with steel as the option for racing due to most rules and regulations and aluminium as the lightweight option and the longest-lasting colour.
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Ensuring the correct taper is the only way to fasten your wheels securely.
Investing in high-quality wheel nuts is a small price to pay for peace of mind when it comes to your vehicle's safety and performance.
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. We also have a vast collection of wheels, including exquisite brands such as:
We understand that you may want to explore different options, and we are here to help you find the perfect fit.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us through our contact form or leave a comment below.
Our team is always ready to assist you in finding the ideal wheel or accessory that meets your needs.