Used alloy wheels: how to buy a set that fits
A used alloy wheel fits your car when five numbers match: PCD, centre bore, offset, width and diameter. Buy a genuine manufacturer wheel from the same model range as your car and all five are already right, which is why used alloy wheels from a breaker are the safest way to replace a damaged rim. This guide shows you how to read the markings, grade the damage and match one replacement to the three wheels you already have.
Why are genuine used alloy wheels better than replicas?
A genuine wheel was designed, cast and load tested for your car. The offset, bore and load rating are exactly what the suspension and brakes were built around. A replica is made to look similar and sold to fit "most" cars, which often means a hub ring to pad out the centre bore and an offset that is close rather than correct. A used genuine wheel also sits perfectly alongside the three you already have: same style, same offset, same tyre profile. It is usually a fraction of the price of new from the dealer, so there is little reason to settle.
What do PCD and stud pattern mean?
PCD is pitch circle diameter: the number of bolt holes and the diameter of the circle they sit on, written as 5x112 or 5x120. The first figure is the bolt count, the second is the circle in millimetres. BMW uses 5x120. Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat use 5x112. Ford Focus and Mondeo, Volvo and the Jaguar XE use 5x108. Early Mini hatchbacks use 4x100. A 5x108 wheel will not sit on a 5x112 hub no matter how close it looks. Check your PCD before anything else.
Does offset (ET) matter on a used alloy wheel?
Yes. Offset is the distance between the wheel's mounting face and its centre line, stamped on the back of the rim as ET followed by a number in millimetres. ET47 means the hub face sits 47 mm outboard of centre. The wrong offset pushes the tyre into the arch or the suspension, changes the steering feel and loads the wheel bearings differently. A few millimetres is normally tolerable, 10 mm is not. A wider wheel at the same offset also moves the inner edge closer to the strut, so stick to the width and ET your car left the factory with.
Why does centre bore catch people out?
Centre bore is the hole in the middle of the wheel that sits over the hub and locates the wheel; the bolts just clamp it. Mercedes and Audi both use 5x112, but Mercedes wheels have a 66.6 mm bore while older Audi, VW and Skoda wheels have 57.1 mm, so a VW wheel will not go over a Mercedes hub. Later Audis, including the A6 C7 and A4 B8, moved to 66.5 mm. Buying a wheel from the same model as your car avoids the problem entirely.
How do I read the markings on the back of the rim?
Turn the wheel over and look at the inner face of the spokes or the rim barrel. You will find a size string such as 7.5Jx17 H2 ET47: 7.5 is the width in inches, J the bead profile, 17 the diameter, H2 a double hump bead seat and ET47 the offset. Next to it is the manufacturer part number: Audi and VW group wheels contain 601025 with a suffix, Mercedes wheels start with A and the chassis number such as A2044010604, Jaguar uses a code such as GX731007UA, BMW a seven digit number such as 6780720. BMW also gives each design a Style number, for example Style 236 V Spoke on the F10 5 Series. Mercedes and Audi wheels are described by spoke count and trim instead, so the part number is the reliable route. If it matches the listing, it is the same wheel.
How do I grade kerb damage, buckles and repairs?
Light kerb rash on the outer lip is cosmetic and easy to refurbish. Deep gouges that remove metal from the lip or spoke are worth avoiding. A buckle shows as a flat spot or wave on the inner rim edge, felt as vibration at speed; spin the wheel and watch the bead seat run true. Welded repairs look like a smooth, slightly discoloured patch on the inner rim. A sound weld is common on used wheels, but it should be declared. Check inside the barrel for cracks running from the bolt holes: any crack means the wheel is scrap. Our listing photos show the real wheel, so look at the lip and the inner rim before you buy.
Should I buy a single wheel or a full set, and what about TPMS?
With one damaged wheel, buy one matching replacement with the same part number and width. If your car is four-wheel drive, keep the rolling circumference close by fitting a tyre with similar tread depth to the other three. On staggered setups the rears are wider, so buy a front for a front and a rear for a rear. Cars registered from late 2014 usually have tyre pressure sensors in the valve. A used wheel may come with its sensor, which needs pairing to your car, or without one, in which case your existing sensor can be swapped across when the tyre is fitted. Check the tyre's load index and speed rating against the handbook.
What we usually have in stock for used alloy wheels
Stock changes daily as cars are dismantled, and the used alloy wheels collection shows what is live today. Recent examples across the yard:
- BMW F10 F11 F12 17 inch V Spoke Style 236 alloy wheel 8J ET30, part number 6780720
- BMW 1 Series E81 E82 E87 16 inch alloy wheel 205/55 R16, part number 677969614
- Mercedes C-Class AMG W204 front 7.5J alloy wheel in black, part number A2044010604
- Mercedes B-Class W245 alloy wheels and tyres 205/55 R16 6J ET48, part number A1694010202
- Audi A6 C7 Black Edition 20 inch alloy wheel 8.5J ET43 245/35 R20, part number 4G9601025M
- Audi A5 S line alloy wheel with tyre 245/40 R18, part number 8T0601025M
- Ford KA Zetec alloy wheel with tyre 195/50 R15, part number 9S5J1007BA
- Volvo S40 alloy wheel with tyre 205/55 R16, part number 30671413
- Jaguar XE X760 17 inch alloy wheel 5x108 6.5J ET43.5, part number GX731007UA
Buy with confidence
Browse used alloy wheels or go straight to the BMW, Mercedes, Audi or Hyundai wheel collections, or the Jaguar hub. Every wheel is inspected and the photos show the real item. Partsworth offers tracked UK delivery on every order (free on most parts; panels, engines and gearboxes are charged at checkout) and 30 day returns. Send us your registration and the part you need and we will confirm fitment before you buy. Parts worth your trust.
Frequently asked questions
Will a 5x112 Audi wheel fit my Mercedes?
Not without a spigot ring. Both use 5x112, but Mercedes wheels have a 66.6 mm centre bore and older Audi, VW and Skoda wheels have 57.1 mm. Buy a wheel from the same model range as your car and the bore is already correct.
Can I fit one used alloy wheel to replace a damaged one?
Yes. Match the part number, width and offset of your existing wheels and it will bolt straight on. On four-wheel drive cars keep the tyre tread depth similar to the other three.
How do I find the part number on my alloy wheel?
Look on the back of the rim, usually on the inner face of the spokes or near the valve. The size string and the manufacturer part number are cast or stamped there.
Are welded alloy wheel repairs safe?
A properly executed weld on the inner rim is common and can be sound, but it should be declared and the wheel checked for true running. Any crack from the bolt holes means the wheel should not be used.
Do used alloy wheels come with TPMS sensors?
Some do and some do not, so check the listing. A sensor from a donor car needs pairing to your vehicle, or your own sensor can be moved across when the tyre is fitted.