What is Wheel Poke? | Revv.ly Glossary

What is Poke?

Right, so you know when you see a car and the wheels are just... out there? Like they're almost daring the fenders to contain them? That's poke, and when it's done right, it's absolutely brilliant. The wheel--or at least its lip--extends past the fender edge, creating this aggressive, wide-stanced look that makes the car appear planted and purposeful.
Now, I'll admit there's a practical debate about poke versus flush versus tuck, but let's be honest--a properly poked setup looks properly menacing. It's the car equivalent of squaring your shoulders and taking up space. The wheels aren't hiding; they're out there, proud, slightly confrontational.

How Much Is Poke?

Poke is measured in millimeters (or fractions of inches for the imperial crowd) beyond the fender lip:

• Subtle Poke (+3-5mm) -- Just barely past the fender. Visible but not aggressive.
• Moderate Poke (+5-12mm) -- Definitely noticeable. The wheels are clearly not flush.
• Aggressive Poke (+15mm+) -- Making a statement. May require fender modifications for clearance.
  The amount of poke you can run depends on:
• Fender design and rollability
• Suspension travel and compression clearance
• Legal requirements in your area (some jurisdictions require fender coverage)
• Your tolerance for stone chips and spray on the body

Achieving Poke

Getting wheels to poke requires understanding offset, width, and tire sizing:
Lower Offset -- Moves the wheel outward. A wheel with +25mm offset sits further out than one with +45mm offset.
Wider Wheels -- Increase overall width. A 10" wide wheel extends further (on both sides) than an 8" wheel with the same offset.
Tire Stretch -- Narrower tires on wide wheels allow the wheel lip to extend further without the tire contacting the fender.
Spacers -- Wheel spacers effectively lower offset, pushing the wheel outward. Quality hub-centric spacers work fine; cheap spacers are a gamble.

The Look

Poke changes how a car photographs. The shadows under the fenders emphasize width. The wheels become more prominent in the overall design. From certain angles, poked cars look wider than they are--which is entirely the point.
Different vehicles suit different amounts of poke. Wide-body cars can handle more because the fenders have been extended. Narrow-body cars with aggressive poke can look disproportionate to some eyes, perfect to others.

The Considerations

Let's not pretend there aren't downsides:

• Stone Chips -- Exposed wheels throw more debris onto bodywork
• Spray in Rain -- Water and road muck spread more with poked setups
• Rubbing Risks -- Heavy bumps may cause wheel-to-fender contact
• Legality -- Some places require tires to be covered by fenders
  But enthusiasts accept these trade-offs for the visual impact. A properly poked car commands attention in ways a flush-only fitment doesn't.
  Find your perfect poke on Revvly--the community that appreciates aggressive fitment done right.
  Related: Offset, Flush (Hellaflush), Tuck, Stretch
  Poked Setups Common On: Nissan 240SX, VW GTI, Subaru WRX