ALLOY WHEELS

1. What does ET value represent in alloy wheels?

In additionto all the data relevant for alloy wheels – such as width and size of thewheel, pitch circle diameter, and centre bore – the ET value is a veryimportant information for the wheel. When choosing wheels for a specificvehicle, it is necessary to check the suitable ET value. The ET valuerepresents the distance from the centre of the wheel to the face of the boltingplate (where the hub and wheel connect). The smaller the ET number, the furtheroutward the wheel sits, and vice versa: the higher the ET number, the furtherinside under the wheel arch the wheel sits.

Warning: Ifthe wheel sticks out beyond the wheel arch, the ET value is too low, which isillegal under the Slovenian legislation. This means that the ET value doesn’tmatch the vehicle. If the wheel makes contact with the brake shoes or the tyregrinds against the inner vehicle arch, the ET value is too high. Incorrect ETvalue can cause your vehicle to perform poorly on the road.

2. Why is an alloy wheel more suitable for driving in winter conditions?

A fewseasons ago, alloy wheel manufacturers began manufacturing alloys with anadditional protective coating for winter conditions. Considering that thepublic still predominantly believes that regular steel wheels are better forwinter, we will here attempt to convince you otherwise, as we claim exactly theopposite. For winter conditions, we recommend alloy wheels, specifically due tothe following:

•             Steel wheels have less openingsthan alloy wheels, therefore reducing the cooling on brakes, primarily whendirt collects on the wheels. Cleaning steel wheels is also much harder,especially on the inner side (primarily due to small openings, and ornamentalcovers on the outer side make access harder).

•             When dirt collects on the inner sideof the wheel (sand, solidified salt, frozen snow, etc.), it causes the steeringwheel to start shaking (as if the wheel is not properly balanced), since thedirt collected on the wheel offsets the balance by a few grams. Furthermore,this dirt deteriorates the condition of the wheel.

•             In most cases, alloy wheels havebigger openings, which makes removal of dirt much easier, and alsosignificantly improves brake cooling.

3. How to determine the pitch circle diameter for a wheel?

Whenpurchasing wheel, you need to know the pitch circle diameter of the wheel.Nowadays, this is easy to determine, since you can input the basic informationon the vehicle (manufacturer, model, year, engine, etc.) into a wheelmanufacturer’s configurator to determine the pitch circle diameter for yourvehicle. However, if this information is not listed anywhere, you can used theabove table. Measure the distance between two adjacent bolts and then use theformula in the above table to calculate the pitch circle diameter.

4. How to maintain alloy wheels

We prepareda few recommendations for maintaining alloy wheels:

•             When cleaning the wheel, werecommend you clean the entire wheel, specifically by taking it off thevehicle.

•             Once you take it off, clean thewheel with a high-pressure cleaner. If dirt cannot be removed by water alone,try a cleaning agent for alloy wheels. In this case, wash the wheel with waterand wipe it thoroughly.

•             Washing wheels multiple times perweek is not recommended, as excessive use of cleaning agents affects thelacquer finish. One wash per week is sufficient.

•             Regular cleaning of wheels isrecommended primarily during winter, as dirt (salt, small stones, etc.)eventually clump together and are hard to remove later. They may also causelacquer damage or act as an additional weight on the wheel, quickly causing thesteering wheel to shake.

Warning: Aswe have already mentioned, excessive cleaning of wheels with cleaning andprotective agents can damage the lacquer, and we therefore advise against excessiveuse.

5. TÜV documents – certificates

Everyvehicle with alloy wheels must use wheels of dimensions that are type-approvedfor the specific vehicle. If type-approval was not performed, we can perform iton the basis of the wheel manufacturer’s TÜV document. If you do not receivethis document and have to perform the type-approval for the wheels, ourSuperguma online shop can help you out. We have a very large database of thesedocuments for various wheel manufacturers. If you need such a document, send usan e-mail with detailed information on the wheel (wheel manufacturer and model,dimensions, ET), as well as accurate information on the vehicle on which thesewheels are installed (brand, model, engine, kW, and vehicle type-approvalnumber listed in the vehicle type-certificate). We also recommend that youinclude the dimensions of tyres installed on these wheels. Once we receive allnecessary data, we will send the appropriate certificate free of charge to youre-mail address as soon as possible.

Warning:TÜV certificates cannot be transferred to other vehicles, even if the wheel canbe installed on other vehicles, based on technical specifications.

6. Alloy wheel installation kits

Whenpurchasing new alloy wheels intended for your vehicle, you will receive a freegift for installation of the alloy wheels onto your vehicle. If the wheels arestandard (Series), they match your vehicle, and the installation kit is notrequired and will therefore not be enclosed with your purchase order.

In thetable below, you can check what various installation kits include. We must alsowarn you that errors can occur with specific sets due to suppliers. If thathappens, notify us and we will help you resolve your complaint.