Hi All,
I need a little help. Time has come to buy my dream wheels but I'm not sure about ET. The wheels I'm going to buy are Enkei RPF1 15x7. I will run front 195/50R15 and rear 205/50R15 plus Eibach springs. As we all know the stock ET is +45. RPF1 are available in ET41 and ET35.The wise choice would be ET41 to stay as close as possible to the stock. But what about ET35? Will I get some rubbing? How will the 10 mm lower ET change the steering feel?
@Petrus fitted Enkel wheels to his 2, unfortunately I cannot get "Search" to help out.
The thread southern belle may help.
Always liked the enki's just wish they came in stock sizes. Min 7" width. At least when I last looked.
The web site "will they fit" may also help with your quest.
@miko Hello and welcome btw.
Just down the road in Leicester
Thanks Ardent. I'll check the thread and website.
Quote from: Ardent on August 6, 2026, 20:45The web site "will they fit" may also help with your quest.
It doesn't seem to take into account the front wheels possibly fouling in the wheel arch though.
From reading posts on f'book some people have 17 x 8" rims & tyres over 205.
On my car I have 15 x 7 (ET41 I think) & 195/50 X 15. An ET35 will protrude 6mm further out. It'll fit no problem.
Whether it'll handle better or worse.....no idea.
Quote from: fawtytoo on August 7, 2026, 16:12It doesn't seem to take into account the front wheels possibly fouling in the wheel arch though.
Looks plenty of room to me.
Screenshot_20260807_201441_OneDrive.jpg
Speaking of Petrus - what did I miss? I haven't seen him here in a while.
Life took him a different direction, he also liked his two wheel modes of transport.
Quote from: Ardent on August 7, 2026, 20:12Looks plenty of room to me.
Re: willtheyfit.com
I meant the web site doesn't seem to describe wheel arch clearance.
I know.
But I'm thinking how could it possibly know.
Some places suggest the 41 offset for the front to maintain a close to OEM scrub radius and the 35 offset for the rear.
We are running the Enkei RPF1 in 16X7 with 43 offset and 195/45-16 tires and have no clearance issues with moderate lowering. We did get some rare front inner fender rub hitting a big bump in a very hard turn when lowered more (over 1 1/2").
Thank you all for help. I'll go for ET41.
BTW is anyone using extended wheel studs with aftermarket wheels? Because of the strange stock wheel nut design I will loose approx 10 mm of thread when fitting the enkei's with tapered nuts.
Anyone experienced wheel nuts coming loose?
@miko You will need replacement wheel studs and nuts.
The OE studs will need to be pressed out and new longer studs pressed in.
You won't. The o/e nuts are really long. I assume the Enkei use tapered seats, so that's what you need. I've been using aluminium nuts for years without issue. The o/e torque figure is low...76-ish lb/ft.
@ Gaz mr-s
Yes Enkei has 60° tapered seats.
I've got Spoon tapered nuts M12x1.5.
No need for different studs with the proper lug nuts.
I run 15x7 Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 with an offset of ET35.
205/50 rear
195/50 front
Zero issues and look much better than ET41 IMHO.
@ Alex Knight.
That's brilliant info.
Hmm now really thinking about to go for ET35.
Just a quick question. Are you using extended wheel studs?
Sighs.... google 'how many turns needed for m12 x 1.5 pitch'
@ Gaz mr-s
AI says 7-8 full turns which is approx 12 mm of thread to ensure safe clamping force.
I'll test it once I have the wheels.
After checking many websites looks like the golden rule is diameter of the stud equals the length of the thread needed to ensure safe clamping force.
So for M12x1.5 stud is 12 mm of thread needed.
Having 1.5 pitch one full turn is 1.5 mm so that means to achieve the 12 mm I need 8 turns.
I should study engineering. It will be much easier 😎
The point being that there is loads of stud length as intimated earlier.
There are a number of calculators to show the effect of different wheel sizes. HERE (https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wheel1=185-55-15X6ET45&wheel2=195-50-15X7ET35&fcl=50mm&wcl=30mm&scl=50mm&sr=0mm) is one comparing OEM front to 15x7 with a 35 offset. The big concern would be the change in scrub radius, which is significant. That will change the steering feel. Some people don't really notice and others will find it uncomfortable. The 41 offset in the front would not make a big change.
@miko Just as a reference point. The stock wheel nut torque is 103nm.
Flat vs tapered =IDK
But here for your info.
Quote from: miko on August 10, 2026, 08:43Alex Knight.
That's brilliant info.
Hmm now really thinking about to go for ET35.
Just a quick question. Are you using extended wheel studs?
Nope, stock studs. Zero issues.
You'll be fine.
@ Alex Knight
Thank you Alex 👍