(Another) Alloy Wheel Offset Question

ballooba

I am looking at a set of original Alloys from a Mk5 Golf.

The offset on the Golf is 42 to 50.

Offset on my 02 Passat is 35 to 45.

Are the original alloys usually at the centre of the offest range?

i.e. is the original offset 46 for the Golf but they give you 4 mm/cm of play either side.

If this is the case then the original Golf wheels would be Offset 46 and thus outside the range acceptable for my Passat.

Abelloid

The offset is the distance of the mounting face from the centre of the rim in mm, so is relative to the size (width) of the wheel.

So a 6" wheel with an offset of 34 will look the same as a 7" with an offset of 46, because the extra inch will be towards the centre of the car.

Does this make any sense?

ballooba

Jaysus this wheel & tyre business is complicated.

If you look at the fitment guide on http://www.rochfordtyres.co.uk it has the same offset value listed against each of the wheels 15" to 19". I also read (can't remember where) that there is 5mm or so play either side in what ET you can use.

Abelloid

You need to compare the wheels with the width taken into consideration, offsets on their own mean nothing I'm afraid,
if the widths are the same then try to stay within the original range, an ET42 wheel would fit well.