What Does Wheel Fitment Mean?

In the simplest terms, wheel fitment refers to the “fit” of your wheel to the wheel well of your vehicle. There are a lot of factors that relate to a wheel’s fitment, such as:

• Size of wheel (both width and diameter!)
• Bolt pattern (how many lug nuts are on your wheel)
• Offset (the distance between the wheel’s centerline and the mounting surface)

This is a lot to keep track of! Each vehicle requires a specific type of wheel fitment. Thankfully, there are four main types of wheel fitments that offer unique looks. In this article, we’ll explain why wheel fitment is so important and the types of wheel fitments you need to know about. We’ll also talk about how you can tell if a wheel fitment is right for your vehicle. 

Why Does Wheel Fitment Matter?

Your OEM (original equipment manufacturer) wheels will have some sort of fitment that’s recommended. Sticking to OEM fitment ensures the new wheels will mount properly without the need for spacers, hub adapters, or other modifications.

Mismatched wheel fitment can cause mounting issues, affect handling and braking, or even pose safety risks such as wheel vibration or interference with suspension components. When buying a new set of aftermarket wheels, this is very important to know!

If you want to know the specifications of your OEM wheels, you can either check your car’s manual or check the backside of your car’s wheels, where the fitment information is usually stamped into the wheel (size and offset). 

Types of Wheel Fitments

In this section, we explain four basic types of fitments: flush, poke, stance and tucked. Why not include staggered fitments? We have a whole other post that explains staggered wheel fitment.

Flush Fitment

This fitment type is where the wheel and tire is “flush” with the fender, so the wheel doesn’t look like it’s inside or poking out past the fender. A flush fitment is sometimes also called a fender flush because the tires and wheels are flush with the vehicle's fenders. 

ID 95587114 | Bmw F80 M3 | Artzzz | Dreamstime.com

This can be a tricky fitment to achieve, as the measurements of your vehicle and the wheel you purchase need to be perfect. If you’re off by a few millimeters, the wheel will protrude or recess into the wheel well. Do it correctly, though, and it’s an aggressive style that’s often found on racetracks and other performance vehicles. Highly recommended for a simple, stylish upgrade over your OEM wheels. 

A "hellaflush" fitment refers to a fitment that has been modded to place the wheel and tire assembly as close as possible to the fender edges ... and it's probably beyond the scope of our focus!

Poke Fitment

If you read the last fitment type, you may already be able to guess what a poke fitment is. This fitment is where the wheel protrudes beyond the fender of your vehicle, so you can see the profile of your wheel and tire when looking at the car straight on. 

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This style is usually found on muscle cars that are looking for larger, louder wheels and tires. However, you do have to be a little careful with this style. When you turn your wheels, it’s possible for the wheel to rub against the inside of the wheel well or the suspension of your car, which can damage the tire. Be cautious any time when choosing a wheel that has a different fitment from your OEM wheels. When switching to poke fitment, double check clearance, to avoid rubbing issues.

Stance Fitment

This unique fitment is where the wheels are tilted slightly in the wheel well so it looks like your car is squaring off in a “stance”. You’ll find stance fitments have a negative camber, where the bottom of the wheel is tilted out and the top is inward. 

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This style is usually all about the unique look, especially for cars that are low to the ground. You won’t have better performance, but it will set your build apart from others. It’s also very tricky to set up correctly! The wheel and car need a lot of adjusting to get the wheel to sit in a stance fitment. This can put pressure on specific areas of your tire, so be aware that this is more of a show fitment than an everyday driving fitment. 

Tucked Fitment

The tucked fitment is where your wheel looks like its tucked behind the fender of your car. If you were looking at the car straight on, you wouldn’t see the tires protruding from the sides. 

ID 43692506 | Wheels | Redwood8 | Dreamstime.com

This style has the unique effect of making your vehicle look a lot wider than it is. It’s also usually on vehicles that are low to the ground, which gives it an aggressive look, as if your car is sliding across the road. You will need to ensure that your car’s fender is prepared for a tucked fitment. Sometimes, the fender has to be modified so as not to scratch the tire. 

How do I know which fitment is right for my vehicle?

This depends on the look that you’re trying to achieve! If you’re trying to upgrade over your OEM wheels and want a sleek car build, consider the flush fitment. Otherwise, for certain show builds, the other looks can really set your car apart. 

If you’re just looking for a standard OEM fitment or to upgrade your wheels with the same OEM fitment, we’ve got you covered.

Tire Agent has a wheel matching tool that you can use to find wheels that fit your vehicle (as long as you enter the right specs for your vehicle). It’s the perfect place to upgrade your wheels with a sweet new set of aftermarket rims that are a step up from your standard set! Using a wheel matching tool guarantees that your new rims fit your vehicle without any modifications needed. 

And thanks to our easy payment plans, upgrading your ride with a new look is easier than ever.