How to Choose the Right Wheels for Your Car: Complete Guide

Always refer to your car manufacturer’s specifications.  The most important  parameters when choosing wheels are: diameter, bolt pattern,  width, and ET (offset). You can find this information in your car’s owner’s manual, from your car dealer, or online. Useful websites that provide wheel and tire data:
http://www.wheel-size.com/
 

Diameter
The wheel diameter can be found on the tire sidewall. For example, if the tire size reads 195/65R15, this means the car uses 15” diameter rims. Choose Diameter R15 in the filter when searching for compatible wheels.
 
Bolt pattern (also called Pitch Circle Diameter or PCD)  
Most cars have wheel hubs with either 4 or 5 bolt holes. The bolt pattern is specified in the owner’s manual and is shown as two numbers, for example 4x100, where the first number (4) indicates the number of bolt holes and the second number (100) indicates the distance between them in millimeters.
 
Offset or ET (wheel offset)
The offset value shows how far the wheel’s mounting surface is positioned from its centerline. A 0 offset means the mounting surface is exactly in the middle of the rim width. Usually, the mounting surface is shifted toward the outer edge of the wheel (so the wheel sits deeper in the arch). Standard offset values are typically between 35 and 45 mm, while BMW 5- and 7-series models often use 15–35 mm. Changing the offset alters the track width, which affects suspension and steering geometry. This can increase stress on bearings and suspension parts, leading to faster wear and reduced handling stability. It’s generally not recommended to widen a wheel by more than ½–1 inch, and the original offset should be maintained.
 
 TIRE WIDTH COMPATIBILITY WITH RIM WIDTH
 
The tire width must match the rim width to ensure optimal performance and safety. The table below shows recommended tire width ranges for each rim width.
 
For example, a 6” rim is suitable for tires between 185 and 195 mm wide.
 

Rim width (inches)	Minimum tire width	Maximum tire width	Recommended tire width
5.0 "	155 mm	185 mm	165 - 175 mm
5.5 "	165 mm	195 mm	175 - 185 mm
6.0 "	175 mm	205 mm	185 - 195 mm
6.5 "	185 mm	215 mm	195 - 205 mm
7.0 "	195 mm	225 mm	205 - 215 mm
7.5 "	205 mm	235 mm	215 - 225 mm
8.0 "	215 mm	245 mm	225 - 235 mm
8.5 "	225 mm	255 mm	235 - 245 mm
9.0 "	235 mm	265 mm	245 - 255 mm
9.5 "	245 mm	275 mm	255 - 265 mm
10.0 "	255 mm	285 mm	265 - 275 mm
10.5 "	265 mm	295 mm	275 - 285 mm
11.0 "	275 mm	305 mm	285 - 295 mm
11.5 "	285 mm	315 mm	295 - 305 mm
12.0 "	295 mm	325 mm	305 - 315 mm
12.5 "	305 mm	335 mm	315 - 325 mm