When talking about cars—especially the wheels—many people focus on the tires, but the wheels also play a vital role in both the appearance and performance of the vehicle. Just like tires, wheels come in different sizes that must match the type of car. One important measurement that is often overlooked is PCD, or Pitch Circle Diameter.

If you're still confused, simply put, PCD is the diameter of the bolt circle on the wheel. This number determines the distance between the bolts and whether the wheel can be properly installed on the car. For example, PCD 5x100 means there are 5 bolts with a 100 mm distance between them.  

What if the PCD doesn't match? It can be dangerous! The wheel might become loose, even causing the car to become unstable while driving.

When Should You Replace the PCD and Wheel?

For safety, there are several conditions that serve as warnings to immediately replace the wheel or PCD:

• Cracked or bent wheel. Don't delay, as it can cause other components to malfunction.
• Worn or loose bolts. Loose bolts prevent the wheel from being properly installed.
• New wheel modifications. If you replace aftermarket wheels with different sizes, the PCD must also be adjusted accordingly.

In summary, do not ignore this issue. Problematic wheels and PCDs not only affect the appearance but can also compromise driving safety.

Easy Way to Measure Wheel PCD

No need for advanced tools; just use a ruler or measuring tape.

• If the number of bolts is even (4, 6, 8), measure the diameter between opposite bolts.
• If the number of bolts is odd (3, 5, 9), measure from the outer edge of one bolt to the center point of the opposite bolt.

From there, you can determine the PCD size of your car’s wheels.

Don’t Forget the Wheel Offset

In addition to PCD, there’s also the term “wheel offset,” which often causes confusion. Offset refers to the distance between the wheel mounting surface and the wheel’s centerline, typically denoted by the ET code.

• A positive offset (ET45, ET40, etc.) makes the wheel protrude outward.
• A negative offset makes the wheel recess inward.
• The smaller the ET number, the more "low-profile" the appearance because the wheel extends outward.

If you choose the wrong offset, the car may feel odd to drive. So it's not just about style, but also about comfort and safety.

Conclusion

Want to change your wheels to look cooler? Go ahead, but don't just pick any wheels. Make sure the PCD and offset match your car's specifications so you can maintain style while ensuring performance and safety. Remember, wheels aren't just cosmetic—they're an important part of the driving system.

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Cara Mudah Ukur PCD Velg Mobil dan Pentingnya Offset

Banyak orang kalau ngomongin mobil--terutama bagian kaki-kaki--pasti fokus ke ban, padahal velg juga punya peran vital buat tampilan sekaligus performa kendaraan. Sama seperti ban, velg hadir dengan ukuran berbeda yang harus sesuai dengan jenis mobil. Nah, salah satu ukuran penting yang sering disepelekan adalah PCD alias Pitch Circle Diameter.

Kalau masih bingung, gampangnya PCD itu ukuran diameter lingkaran baut pada velg. Angka ini menentukan jarak antar baut, sekaligus jadi penentu apakah velg bisa terpasang sempurna di mobil atau nggak. Misalnya PCD 5x100, artinya ada 5 baut dengan jarak 100 mm antar bautnya.

Kalau PCD nggak sesuai? Bisa bahaya!. Velg bisa longgar, bahkan bikin mobil nggak stabil saat jalan.

Kapan Harus Ganti PCD & Velg?

Biar aman, ada beberapa kondisi yang jadi warning buat segera ganti velg atau PCD-nya:

• Velg retak atau peyang. Jangan ditunda, karena bisa bikin komponen lain ikut rusak.
• Baut aus atau longgar. Baut yang nggak kenceng bikin velg nggak terpasang sempurna.
• Modifikasi velg baru. Kalau ganti velg aftermarket dengan ukuran beda, otomatis PCD juga harus disesuaikan.

Intinya, jangan cuek. Velg dan PCD yang bermasalah bukan cuma ganggu tampilan, tapi juga bisa ngancam keselamatan berkendara.

Cara Mudah Ukur PCD Velg

Nggak perlu alat canggih, cukup pakai penggaris atau meteran.

• Kalau baut jumlahnya genap (4, 6, 8), ukur diameter dari baut yang saling berseberangan.
• Kalau baut jumlahnya ganjil (3, 5, 9), ukur dari tepi luar satu baut ke titik tengah baut di seberangnya.

Dari situ, kamu bisa tahu ukuran PCD velg mobilmu.

Jangan Lupa Offset Velg

Selain PCD, ada juga istilah offset velg yang sering bikin bingung. Offset ini adalah jarak antara permukaan pemasangan roda dengan garis tengah velg, biasanya ditulis dengan kode ET.

• Offset positif (ET45, ET40, dst.) bikin velg lebih nongol keluar.
• Offset negatif bikin velg lebih masuk ke dalam.
• Semakin kecil angka ET, makin “ceper” tampilannya karena velg melebar keluar.

Kalau salah pilih offset, mobil bisa terasa aneh dikendarai. Jadi bukan cuma soal gaya, tapi juga soal kenyamanan dan keamanan.

Kesimpulan

Mau ganti velg biar makin keren? Sah-sah saja, tapi jangan asal pilih. Pastikan PCD dan offset velg sesuai spek mobil supaya gaya tetap dapat, performa juga aman. Ingat, velg itu bukan cuma kosmetik, tapi bagian penting dari sistem berkendara.