[Two Mikes]

Hey, I have a question, I can only use 4x100 wheels? any easy way to double check this? this is on a 1996 passat...

 

[tokendog]

You can only use 4x100 since your whel is 4x100.

 

[chittychittybangbang]

The 4 is the number of bolt holes, the 100 is the spacing between them. Only 4x100 will fit but also watch out for the hub centerbore - the hole in the middle of the wheel. It must be 57.1 mm or larger. If it's larger you must then use a spacer ring called hubcentric rings to make the hub centerbore smaller to 57.1 mm. Most aftermarket wheels need a hub ring to fit because they manufacture them with larger hub bores so that they can fit many different cars.

In short, you can only use 4x100 wheels unless you have an adapter plate or switch the hub, which I do not recommend for just wheel compatibility.

 

[Two Mikes]

Why can't I run an adapter?

 

[chittychittybangbang]

You can but I don't recommend it. An adapter generally moves the wheel hub outward, changing the offset of the wheel. In other words, the wheel gets pushed out. Even if you get a wheel that fits, this changes the suspension geometry. The brake rotor won't work either, you have to drill holes in it.

 

[bigshow]

Don't forget to check the offset, this is how far the wheel is pushed out in relation to the hub. About 35-45 will work, 40 is perfect.

 

[Byrd]

spacing?

So, I'm looking at some new wheels, whose spacing is 37mm, and I can't find how to identify my current spacing to see if they match. I'm going from steel wheel to aluminum rim.

I read that there's a serial# stamped somewhere that identifies it, but I can't find that.

Short of buying metric calipers, or calling the manufacturer, how can I identify this?

 

[chittychittybangbang]

There should be something that says "ET##" where ## is a 2 digit number in millimeters.