can someone explain what wheel specifications mean?

[flyfishing]

this is a stupid question, but can someone clarify this for me?

so say someone writes wheel is 19x8.5 et32, i know it means 19'' wheel. does 8.5 refer to diameter? i believe et32 means offset. is that a positive offset or a negative offset? is a larger number mean a wheel sticks out further (meaning less likely to need spacers to be flush with wheel well)? how do you know if it is a negative offset (meaning more concave wheel?)? i read tire rack explanation, but still am a little bit confused.

thanks!

[crisp74]

this is a stupid question, but can someone clarify this for me?

so say someone writes wheel is 19x8.5 et32, i know it means 19'' wheel. does 8.5 refer to diameter? i believe et32 means offset. is that a positive offset or a negative offset? is a larger number mean a wheel sticks out further (meaning less likely to need spacers to be flush with wheel well)? how do you know if it is a negative offset (meaning more concave wheel?)? i read tire rack explanation, but still am a little bit confused. thanks!

19 is the diameter, 8.5 is the width, et is the offset. offset just means how far the mounting surface is from the centerline of the wheel. negative offsets mean the mounting surface is closer to the inside of the wheel and those numbers have a - sign in front. those wheels will have a bigger lip and the higher the -#, the more lip. neutral offset means the mounting surface is dead center in the middle of the wheel. positive offset means the mounting surface is closer to the outside of the wheel. the higher the number, the farther in the wheel is. btw, i have concave wheels and offset is positive on these wheels also, a low #, but still positive. do not recall ever seeing neg offset wheels for the s5.

[Huey52]

^ Negative offset wheels are pretty much relagated to the past, as in the deep dish wheels of the 60's musclecars (quintessential "turbine" wheels especially). Exceptions of course, but these days it's more about positive offset and having the rims flush with the exterior of the fenders (as you well cited, a lower numbered positive offset being more flush, with a higher number being more "tucked in").

[mr shickadance]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...nt-With-Wheels


read up....this will answer most if not all of your wheel questions

[flyfishing]

thanks for the explanation and links! makes sense now!

[mr shickadance]

yea i apologize for the lengthy read, but honestly wheels can be very tricky if you dont know the terms, and how the terms relate to why and wheel will or will not work