Wheel sizes

[Parabolica]

Hi all, what does ET35 or ET38 signify? Is it the offset?
I'm just checking wheel/tyre sizes for 500's and Pandas. The wife's 500C is on 16's with some newish 195/45 Potenzas. Sadly, the alloys are a bit scuffed so I'm wanting to get them refinished/powder coated. I plan to buy a set of 14" steels and have 165/65's fitted. Once the alloys have been done they can go back on the 500 and the 14's can go onto a Panda I've just bought. This is a lovely little car, 59plate with only 21,000 miles and presently sat on some 13" steels with 155/80's. The PCD's are all 4x98 on the 13's 14's and 16's. The parts man at the local Fiat tells me 14's will fit onto the 500C. The only differences I can see on the website I've looked at are the above mentioned ET numbers.

And finally, absolutely nothing to do with the above, but here's a nice photo of a lovely classic 500 sat in the Tuscan sunshine, in Lucca.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Yes, offset. 3mm isn't likely to make a huge difference. If ET35 is currently fitted and you have any issues with fitting the ET38's then 3mm spacers may help. Besides machining, there's not much you can do if going the other way and have issues.

 

[Parabolica]

Could someone tell me if 165/65's or 175/65's are preferable, please?
According to Blackcircles' excellent guide, the 155/80/13's the Panda is now on have a standing height of 22.76"
175/65/14's are 22.89" and the 165/65/14's are 22.44"

edit: handbook says 165's
Cheers.

Here's another photo for you, a cheeky little Abarth sneaking around Roma's "area pedonales"

 

[Parabolica]

These finally turned up from Germany, via Bolt On Bits in Bradford. £39.95 each. Next up, some winter tyres.