Hello,

I have a 2009 Fiat Panda Cross, it presently has 175 65 15's on it but was thinking of going to all weather 185's or even 195, probably 55 of 60 series tyres.

But on checking the rear there is very little gap between the tyre and the inner wall, so I'm feel even slightly bigger tyres just wont fit :-(

None the less My old 100hp had 195's on it and they fitted fine?

I therefore looked at this site for some advice, but it seems people really don't know what an wheel offset actually is or how to correctly read it.

As in the supplied photo, people miss read 24 and 35 offset being nearly the same, but they're wrong. The 24 is actually -24 offset, so the wheel is 'poking' out of the car more than in. While the newer cross wheels are offset 35 and instead 'poke' into the car from the centreline So could never fit on my mk2 Cross.

I don't if anyone has looked at 100hp wheels but their negative offset must surely be 'more' than -24 to fit on the Pandas hubs or are the 4x4 axles alot narrower than the normal car?

I need to confirm but pretty sure the 100HP has ET 32mm.

If the wheel is sitting too far towards the suspension (large ET), you can fit small spacers under the wheel. If the ET is too small you will not be able to use wider tyres.

Hello,
The thing is I think the suspension particularly at the rear, is completely different for the 4x4 over the 100hp fwd, it may well be somewhat narrower than the more normal fwd setup?
When I had my 100hp is did note that it has different drop link locations at the front so the larger wheels can fit in.
The thing is the cross has -24 offset to the 100hp's 32 offset, so there is a 56mm difference in where the wheels sit on the the hubs. At least at the rear, the cross's wheels are already rather close to the arches, so there is no way 100hp wheels could fit on :-(
I have considered spacers, but they do tend to gt a bad press, I would only need 5mm ones however to get the space required for 185 tyres which I cannot think would be too bad?

Spacers are fine for correcting a wide ET. They get a bad press because they are more normally used for cosmetic reasons on correct ET wheels.

You might need longer wheel bolts which can push up the costs especially if they are an unusual length.

Hello,
Thanks, I feel that some minimal spacers would be the best option to allow the modest increase in tyre size to 185 or even 195's and the wheels sit so far in on the 4x4 compared to the 2wd, I'd hope they would still sit evenly on the hub

The standard tyres for 100 HP are 195-45-R15. It's fine with 50 series and the speedo is reading is put spot on. But any taller would lead to slow speedo and probably over gear the car. That increases mpg as the engine is never running at its most efficient speed range.

It's rthe same with any car so if you want taller tyres, you will need to fit smaller diameter wheels.

Hello,

I had a 100hp too before the cross. I noted it has differently positioned drop links, likely so it can fit those wider wheels and tyres.

It also has a hugely wider offset compared to the cross with the tyres sitting I think 50mm further out from the hub compared to the cross (-24 compared to 100hp +35 as shown in my picture).

This wide difference of where the wheel sits on the hub, leads me to think that minor adjustments to the track using a spacer will not have any issue wearing out the bearings, weather they weaken the wheel attachment is another matter however

Are you really sure about the minus 24 mm Offset? That would create a very deep dish wheel.

gr J

A3jeroen said:

Are you really sure about the minus 24 mm Offset? That would create a very deep dish wheel.

gr J

Click to expand...

I think it's a dash rather then a minus sure I remember someone posting about that before not 100% however

Doesn't the post 2014 cross come as standard slightly bigger tyres on either

185/65R15 6J ET24

or

195/55R16 6.5J ET30

Hello,

I did consider it could be a dash, but I do not think so as why no dash on the 110 hp wheels? Also my standard wheels are on the back with standard 175/65/15 tyres are only millimetres from the inner arch -just as if they are sitting inward more than other panda wheels?

Have a look at this web pic on offset, it describes the same negative offset.

As with my cross which has the middle type wheels with little arch space, there is no way the 100 hp type wheels like the right picture would fit on :-( Much like I would want them too :-(

I am well aware what offset means and how it would look.
Maybe the wheels you are compairing are not made by the same manufacturer which would explain the difference in notating the ET (EinpressTiefe in German).
Negative offset is very unusual and mostly used on RWD widebodycars like a König W126 coupé Mercedes.
You could take out the measuringtape...

gr J

Hello,

I agree that a minus offset is rather odd, but it does seem to fit he 4x4 panda mk2.

The rear suspension system is obviously completely different to the 2wd car and I feel it is due to the rear axle used on this car is 'an off the self design' and it is alot wider than in the 2wd, so the only way they could fit the wheels in is to have a negative offset?

Maybe? sort of?

If the axle is wider and ET is negative, your wheels would stick out...

gr J

Hello,

You are quite right, ive got that the wrong way around, the axle must be shorter than the independent suspension wheel separation on a normal panda?

This sort of stuff must be in specs on the panda service cd, i'll have to have a gander.