Wheel "Offset", please explain.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 61
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From: Ray, MI
Wheel "Offset", please explain.
Can someone please explain how the "offset" of a wheel has an affect on the overall asthetic appearance of a tire?
For example, I am considering upgrading from 17" factory wheels and 255/75R17 tires to 285/70R17 tires and new wheels. I appreciate that to avoid rubbing issues with the new, wider tires that the new wheels should have 4.5" of backspacing.
Here's the question, IF...
- Wheel "A" has 4.5" of backspacing and -10mm of OFFSET
- Wheel "B" has 4.5" of backspacing and +10mm of OFFSET
- Wheel "C" has 4.5" of backspacing and +20mm of OFFSET
In what way would the tires appear different when mounted on wheels having the same amount of backspacing? Which wheel (A, B, or C) would result in the tire protruding farther out from under the wheel well?
For example, I am considering upgrading from 17" factory wheels and 255/75R17 tires to 285/70R17 tires and new wheels. I appreciate that to avoid rubbing issues with the new, wider tires that the new wheels should have 4.5" of backspacing.
Here's the question, IF...
- Wheel "A" has 4.5" of backspacing and -10mm of OFFSET
- Wheel "B" has 4.5" of backspacing and +10mm of OFFSET
- Wheel "C" has 4.5" of backspacing and +20mm of OFFSET
In what way would the tires appear different when mounted on wheels having the same amount of backspacing? Which wheel (A, B, or C) would result in the tire protruding farther out from under the wheel well?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Randolph, Massachusetts
I didn't know this answer, so I just looked it up. There's plenty of examples online, just google "wheel offset" and you'll find plenty of answers.
Short answer:
-10MM will look like your tires/wheels stick out further.
Short answer:
-10MM will look like your tires/wheels stick out further.
Last edited by uselessllama; Feb 19, 2011 at 03:59 AM.
JK Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul , MN
Offset
The options you show can not really happen if the wheels are the same width. For a given width wheel, as backspace increases offset also increases.
For the scenarios you list with backspacing staying constant the wheel width is increasing. And if backspacing is constant and you go from a 8 inch wheel to a 9 inch wheel it will stick out 1 inch farther.
For the scenarios you list with backspacing staying constant the wheel width is increasing. And if backspacing is constant and you go from a 8 inch wheel to a 9 inch wheel it will stick out 1 inch farther.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
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From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs