Does a Larger ET Value Make the Wheels More Protruding?
2 Answers
With a larger ET value of the vehicle wheels, the wheels will appear recessed inward, and the distance between the two wheels of the vehicle will decrease. The meaning of wheel ET value: It represents the offset value of the wheel center, indicating the deviation distance from the wheel centerline to the mounting surface of the wheel. ET comes from the German term Einpress-Tiefe, which literally translates to "pressing depth." ET value size: If the ET value is a larger negative number, the wheel will be more offset to the outside when mounted on the vehicle. ET refers to the distance between the mounting surface of the wheel and the centerline in the width direction of the wheel. Generally, the smaller the value, the more the wheel protrudes outward from the wheel arch. There are even wheels with negative ET values, typically used for modifications on off-road vehicles.
Last time I changed my wheels, I specifically researched the ET value. This thing is actually the wheel offset, measured in millimeters. Simply put, the larger the ET number, the farther the mounting surface of the wheel is from the centerline, causing the entire wheel to retract toward the inside of the car body. My old Civic had a factory ET45, and after switching to ET35 wheels, it visibly protruded 1 cm outward, looking particularly full. However, I must remind you that the ET value can't be arbitrarily reduced—protruding too much may cause the tires to rub against the wheel arches, and the 'clunk' sound over speed bumps can break your heart. You also need to pair it with wheels of the appropriate J value.
