Poke vs Flush vs Tucked: What Do They Mean?

Q: Is poke legal on public roads?

In most US states, tires must be covered by fenders poke that extends beyond the fender line is technically illegal during vehicle inspections. In the EU, tires protruding beyond the fender are illegal in most countries. Laws vary by region; check your local vehicle modification regulations.

Three terms that describe exactly how far your wheel and tire sit relative to the fender lip and how offset controls each one.

Written by Jake Harmon · ASE-Certified Mechanic · Updated July 2026

What does "poke" mean on a wheel?

Poke means the outer face of the wheel and tire extends beyond the outer edge of the fender lip. A wheel has poke when any part of the tire is visible past the bodywork when viewed from directly above. Poke is created by using a lower ET offset or a wider wheel width than stock.

Poke is measured in millimeters specifically, how far the outer tire face extends past the fender edge. A wheel with 15mm of poke means the tire sticks out 15mm beyond the fender lip. This is common in the stance and JDM tuning community but creates legal and clearance risks on public roads.

To create poke, lower the ET of the wheel compared to stock. Switching from ET45 to ET25 on the same width wheel moves the outer face 20mm further out. If the original wheel had 5mm of tucked clearance, the new wheel would have 15mm of poke.

What does "flush" mean on a wheel?

Flush means the outer edge of the tire sits exactly level with the outer edge of the fender lip neither protruding nor sitting inward. Flush is the most visually balanced fitment. Achieving it requires precise matching of wheel offset, wheel width, and tire size to the exact fender geometry of the vehicle.

Flush fitment is considered the ideal stance by most enthusiasts. The tire fills the entire wheel arch without rubbing or protruding. Because fender geometry varies by vehicle and suspension height, flush fitment usually requires corner balancing checking each corner individually, as fender gap is rarely identical on all four corners.

What does "tucked" mean on a wheel?

Tucked means the outer edge of the tire sits inside the fender lip no part of the tire extends past the bodywork. Tucked fitment uses a higher ET offset or narrower wheel width. It is the safest fitment for avoiding fender contact but reduces the visual stance width of the vehicle.

Most factory (OEM) vehicles come with tucked fitment. Manufacturers build in 10–20mm of fender clearance on each side as a safety margin for suspension travel, tire flex, and manufacturing tolerances. The amount of tuck on a stock vehicle depends on the wheel width, ET, and tire size specified by the manufacturer.

Poke

Tire extends beyond the fender edge. Low ET or wide wheel. Risk of fender contact and legal issues.

Flush

Tire edge aligns exactly with fender lip. Perfect stance. Requires precise offset and width calculation.

Tucked

Tire sits inside the fender. High ET or narrow wheel. Safe from fender contact. Less visual width.

How do I calculate poke from wheel offset?

Poke change (mm) = (New wheel width mm ÷ 2 − New ET) − (Stock wheel width mm ÷ 2 − Stock ET). A positive result means more poke. A negative result means more tuck. This formula calculates only the change in position not the absolute distance from the fender lip.

Example: Stock wheel is 7.5" wide at ET45. New wheel is 8.5" wide at ET30. Stock outer position = (190.5 ÷ 2) − 45 = 50.25mm. New outer position = (215.9 ÷ 2) − 30 = 77.95mm. Difference = 77.95 − 50.25 = +27.7mm more poke. Use our wheel offset calculator to run this instantly without manual calculation.

How do I achieve a flush fitment?

To achieve flush fitment: first measure your current fender-to-tire gap at each corner in mm. Then use the offset calculator to find an ET that reduces poke or tuck by exactly that gap amount. The wheel width also affects flush wider wheels at the same ET create more poke.

The most reliable method is to use a wheel spacer test: fit progressively thicker spacers (5mm, 10mm, 15mm) to find how much outward movement achieves flush. The spacer thickness that achieves flush equals the amount you need to reduce your ET. A 15mm spacer on ET45 = the fitment you would get with ET30 on the same wheel.

What fitment style suits which vehicle type?

Daily drivers and track cars should use flush or slightly tucked fitment for safety and legality. Show cars and stance builds use poke for visual effect. Off-road trucks use tuck to protect tires during trail flex. Lifted trucks use mild poke to fill the larger fender opening created by the lift kit.

Vehicle Style	Recommended Fitment	Reason
Daily Driver	Flush to Tucked	Legal, safe, no fender risk
Track / Race Car	Flush to slight Tuck	Avoids tire contact during cornering
Stance Build	Poke	Visual width, aggressive look
Off-Road Truck	Tucked	Protects tires during articulation
Lifted Truck	Flush to mild Poke	Fills larger fender opening from lift
Show Car	Aggressive Poke	Maximum visual stance width

Is poke legal on public roads?

In most US states, tires must be covered by fenders any poke that extends the tire beyond the fender lip is illegal during vehicle inspections. In the EU, tires protruding beyond the fender body line are illegal in most countries. Legal poke limits vary by state and country.

Legal Warning

In most US states and EU countries, tires must be fully covered by bodywork or fender flares. A wheel with visible poke past the fender line can fail a vehicle inspection and result in a fine. If you want a wide stance legally, fit fender flares that extend over the tire this covers the poke and keeps the vehicle road-legal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does poke mean on a wheel?

Poke means the outer face of the wheel and tire extends beyond the fender lip. A wheel has poke when any part of the tire sticks out past the bodywork when viewed from directly above. Poke is created by a lower ET offset or a wider wheel than stock.

What does flush mean on a wheel?

Flush means the outer edge of the tire sits exactly level with the outer edge of the fender lip neither protruding nor sitting inward. Flush is the most visually balanced fitment and requires precise matching of wheel offset, width, and tire size to the vehicle's fender geometry.

What does tucked mean on a wheel?

Tucked means the outer edge of the tire sits inside the fender lip no part of the tire protrudes past the bodywork. Tucked fitment uses a higher ET or narrower wheel. It is the safest fitment for fender clearance. Most factory OEM vehicles come with tucked fitment from the manufacturer.

Is poke legal on public roads?

In most US states, tires must be covered by fenders poke beyond the fender line is technically illegal during inspections. In the EU, tires protruding past the fender are illegal in most countries. Adding fender flares that cover the tire is the legal way to run a wide stance with poke.