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This article is from the VW Performance FAQ, by with numerous contributions by Jan Vandenbrande others.

44 What is rim offset? [D="EinpressTiefe" or "ET" Value]

A:The distance between the rim's center line and its
mounting surface. From the picture below it should be
obvious why it's important to retain proper offset when
you change rims: tire not centered properly affecting
drivability (negative roll radius changes), bearing load,
rubbing on the struts or wheel arches, etc.

Cross sectional view of a rim:

                    Center Plane
               |\____+____/|
               |_____.____ |  Street Side of Rim
                     .   //
                     .  //
                     .  ||   Mounting Face
                     .  ||
                     >--< Rim Offset

NOTE: Apparently a deviation of a 5-8 mm does not seem to
be too critical according to [Nick Cremelie].

 

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• prev: 43 What is the largest rim/tire sizes that will fit on my VW?
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• next: 45 What are the "standard" VW wheel offsets (the amount the rim is offset from the hub)?

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