Engineering Calculator

Wheel Offset Calculator (ET) & Fitment Tool

Calculate wheel poke, inner clearance, track-width change and suspension fitment instantly. Compare wheel width and ET offset side-by-side with a premium engineering diagram.

FlushPokeTuckedAggressiveOEM-safeDaily safe

Current wheel

New wheel

Inner change

-8.7 mm

More inner clearance

Outer change (poke)

+21.3 mm

Pokes outward

Track width change

+42.7 mm

Total across axle

ET delta

-15 mm

Fitment warnings

  • Wheel pokes outward — check fender clearance and local fender-cover laws.

Visual fitment diagram

Side profile of both wheels viewed from above the axle. The dashed vertical line is the wheel centerline; the orange marker is the hub mounting face. Suspension is on the left, fender on the right.

centerlinehub axis← INBOARDsuspensionOUTBOARD →fenderinner 147mmouter 57mmface · ET45CURRENT8″ × 203mminner 138mmouter 78mmface · ET30NEW8.5″ × 216mm-100-50+0+50+100

Suspension clearance preview

Head-on view

The tire shifts laterally as you change ET and width. The colored zones flag where the tire starts encroaching on the strut (inside) or the fender lip (outside). Always verify at full lock and full bump before driving.

STRUTFENDER97px67px
Inner: Healthy clearanceOuter: Rubbing risk

Inner clearance

Healthy gap between the inner tire edge and the strut tube.

Outer / fender

Aggressive stance with higher rubbing probability — may require fender rolling or camber.

Fitment position examples

Side-profile illustrations of how the same hub looks at four common stance positions. The orange line is the hub mounting face; the dashed line is the wheel centerline.

Tucked

OEM

Wheel sits inboard of the fender — OEM clearance-first.

Flush

Daily

Outer tire edge level with the fender lip.

Poke

Stance

Tire crowns past the fender — aggressive stance.

Aggressive

Show

Wide wheel, low ET — often needs camber or fender rolling.

Inner clearance

Safe

Healthy gap between the inner tire edge and the strut tube.

Rubbing

Warn

Inner tire edge contacts the strut at full compression — re-spec ET or width.

What is wheel offset?

Positive ET: mounting face sits outboard of centerline — wheel tucks inward. Most modern European cars (ET35–ET45).

Zero ET: mounting face is exactly on centerline. The wheel is symmetric around the hub.

Negative ET: mounting face sits inboard of centerline — wheel pushes outward. Trucks, classic muscle and aggressive fitments.

Read the full ET engineering guide →

What is wheel poke?

Flush: outer tire edge level with fender. The visual benchmark.

Aggressive stance: tire pokes past the fender by a few millimetres or more. Often needs fender rolling or camber.

Tucked: wheel sits inboard of the fender — OEM economy and clearance-first builds.

Guide: Flush vs aggressive fitment →

Backspacing vs offset

Same wheel, two reference points. Offset (ET) measures from mounting face to centerline. Backspacing measures from mounting face to inner edge.

backspacing (in) = (width / 2) + (offset mm / 25.4) + 0.5

Wider wheels gain backspacing without changing ET — which is why aggressive widths often hit the strut before the fender.

Guide: Backspacing vs offset conversion →

How offset affects suspension

Offset shifts the contact patch sideways relative to the steering axis, changing scrub radius, steering effort and bump-steer.

Lower offset increases the lever arm on wheel bearings — beyond ±15 mm ET, bearing life typically halves.

Always check rubbing at full lock and full bump. Static parked clearance hides the worst case.

Guide: How offset affects handling →

Common offset ranges

Typical vehicle types and stance character for popular ET values. Use as a starting reference — exact fitment varies by car.

ETTypical vehicle typeStancePoke tendency
ET45Compact / FWD sedanOEM tuckedNone
ET40European sedan / hatchOEMMinimal
ET35Sport sedan / coupeOEM / mild flushSlight
ET25Performance / wider aftermarketFlushVisible
ET20Stance / aggressive fitmentAggressiveNoticeable
ET0Trucks, classic muscle, motorsportWide / centeredSignificant
ET-12Off-road / heavily aggressiveHellaflush territoryExtreme

Popular wheel width & offset combos

Documented combinations seen on flush, OEM and aggressive builds.

ComboCommon useNotesStatus
17×8 ET45European OEM sedanConservative — tucks under fenderOEM-safe
18×8.5 ET35Most popular flush sedan setupDaily-drivable, mild aggressiveOEM-safe
18×9.5 ET22Wider rear / staggered sportFlush with fender rollMild aggressive
19×8.5 ET35Plus-two upgradeCommon BMW / Audi fitmentOEM-safe
19×9.5 ET22Aggressive fitment buildStretched tire commonAggressive
20×9 ET28Modern luxury / SUVWide OEM-styleMild aggressive
17×9 ET-6Truck / classic muscleNegative ET, deep dishAggressive

Popular wheel offset comparisons

Tap a comparison to load it instantly into the calculator above.

Popular vehicle offset setups

Documented OEM and aftermarket fitment patterns. Always confirm against your door-jamb placard before ordering.

BMW flush offsets

  • F30 3 Series (square)18×8.5 ET35
  • F30 3 Series (staggered)18×8.5 ET35 / 18×9.5 ET22
  • E90 M3 OEM18×8.5 ET29 / 18×9.5 ET23

Audi OEM offsets

  • B8 A4 / S418×8 ET43
  • B9 RS520×9 ET26
  • C7 A6 sport19×8.5 ET32

Subaru fitment offsets

  • WRX STI hatch18×8.5 ET38
  • Forester XT18×8 ET45
  • BRZ / GR86 OEM17×7 ET48

Mustang aggressive fitment

  • S550 GT square flush19×9.5 ET35
  • S550 staggered aggressive19×9.5 ET20 / 19×10.5 ET10
  • Foxbody classic17×9 ET0 (deep dish)

Related fitment calculators

Wheel offset engineering guides

Frequently asked questions