Wheel Offset

[albion man]

Can anyone tell me what the offsets are on the following 6Jx15H2 steel wheels which I bought as a package with winter tyres from a SAAB indie last year. I have just noticed that they are from two different manufacturers. I think that the "ET49" markings on the Fergat wheels indicate a 49mm offset, although I don't know if the different suffixes, T43 and W38 are significant. I can't find out anything about the GM SK 0700's, but have taken rough measurements from the wheel rim, and reckon that there is a difference of 5mm from the Fergat wheels.

2-off:  GM SK 0700 2150150 HL2
1-off:  SAAB Fergat 1010313 4688156 ET49T43
1-off:  SAAB Fergat 1010313 4688156 ET49W38

I have a 2007MY Vector Sport Sportwagon TiD (120) which should have a 41mm offset. My view is that a 49mm will put a greater load on the wheel bearings, and that having two different offsets on the same axle could have safety issues. Any advice would be welcome before I challenge the SAAB indie.

[sgould]

The ET figure of 49 shows a 49mm offset. That is the standard offset on the 9-5 and the early 9-3 3dr/5dr from 1998 to 2002.

The current 9-3 uses ET41 with a 41mm offset.  The wheels sit 8mm further from the centre line of the car.

I bought some new steel wheels today.  They are Saab branded for the 9-3 sport saloon and are stamped ET41.  The full description is 6 1/2J x 16H2 ET41. 

If you put ET49 wheels onto a 9-3SS it's likely that the tyres will rub on the inner wheel arch unless you fit very narrow tyres.

We had one make of standard 225/45 17 tyres that rubbed.  If you fit ET49, then the widest tyre that should miss the body should be 205 wide and no bigger in diameter.  It might still be too close to the suspension members.

Here's the details from my new wheels:

[sgould]

Lots more here:

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

I forgot to mention the codes you quoted.  The 7 digit numbers look like Saab part numbers.  I'll check them with the parts list.

[sgould]

My parts list shows that 4688156 is the standard 15 inch diameter x 6 inch wide steel wheel fitted to the 900 3dr/5dr 1986-1998; the 9-3 3dr/5dr 1998-2002 and the 9-5 1998-2006.  It was used on base models and as the full size spare in markets where the skinny spare is illegal.

I can't find the reference to the 2150150 on your other wheels, nor the 2160117 on my wheel, but my parts list is not current, it only goes to 2006.

[Audax]

I can't find the reference to the 2150150 on your other wheels, nor the 2160117 on my wheel, but my parts list is not current, it only goes to 2006.

That first one didn't sound like a Saab number but if you slap it into google along with the magic word vauxhall and you get references to it being a wheel for a Meriva and Zafira, apparently they're ET43.

[wrighar]

I can't find the reference to the 2150150 on your other wheels, nor the 2160117 on my wheel, but my parts list is not current, it only goes to 2006.

That first one didn't sound like a Saab number but if you slap it into google along with the magic word vauxhall and you get references to it being a wheel for a Meriva and Zafira, apparently they're ET43.

Does that mean fit the GM ones at the front and the saab ones at the rear then because the et43 is close to the et41 you want and the et49 and the rear should have little impact (smaller brakes, no wheel turning movement.

[albion man]

Thanks for all the advice. The carbibles link has a useful calculator for determining inner and outer clearances and I am now satisfied that there should be no problem with wheelbearing loads. I already knew that there was no rubbing problems since the wheel/tyre combination performed very well last winter.

I am still going to take this up with the SAAB independent. They offered a package comprising steel wheels & winter tyres balanced and fitted in their workshop. It wasn't until the spring when I changed back to my double evo alloys that I found that the steel wheels, although perfectly sound, were second hand. I didn't take this up with them since I would have bought used wheels in any case had I got my act together before the onset of winter. However supplying two different pairs of wheels with a 6mm variance in offset, and not advising me to ensure that they were not mixed on the same axle is not acceptable. It could be that they didn't notice - I certainly missed it when I removed them and washed them in the spring. It was only once I got round to hanging them in a row on my garage wall that I spotted the different patterns of ventilation holes which then lead me to examine them more closely. I will give them an opportunity to transfer the tyres onto new or refurbished wheels of identical specification before naming and shaming.