Why wheel offset is important

The centerline is the centermost point of your wheel, if you were cutting it in half vertically. Positive Offset : In a wheel with positive offset, the mounting surface of the wheel is to the outside of the wheel on the street side.

This is the most common scenario for newer, OEM setups. This offers maximum backspacing. If you transition to a wheel with less offset, either positive or negative, can mean your wheels are sticking out past your fenders or wheel wells. This will spray salt, chemicals and sand at your own car and the other cars around you. In some places, that kind of offset is actually illegal, so make sure you know and understand the risks involved. When it comes to choosing the right wheel and tire combo for your car or truck, we know the options can be overwhelming.

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Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Customizing your ride with aftermarket wheels and tires is a fun way to make your car or truck your own.

Proper offset assures your new package has enough clearance so nothing rubs against the suspension, brakes or vehicle body like fenders, bumpers and mud flaps. Backspacing is the distance your wheels and tires need to accommodate both offset and wheel width. To compensate for a wider wheel: A wider wheel with the exact same scrub radius as the stock wheel will be positioned closer to the suspension components. If the wheel is too much wider, it will not fit. To compensate, you would choose a smaller offset to move the wheel away from the suspension.

To create a wider stance: By setting the wheels outward, the stance of the car becomes wider and stability is increased. In some applications, the benefits of this stability are greater than the drawbacks of the scrub radius change and the driver may make this compromise.