One question that often comes up when buying new wheels is what are wheel offset and backspacing? The two terms are often considered to be interchangeable but although their meanings are similar, they do not describe the same wheel dimensions. Get them wrong when buying new wheels and your tires could end up rubbing on the frame or suspension on the inside or the fender on the outside.

 

Wheel Offset

 

Wheel offset is the distance from where the wheel meets up with the vehicle’s hub and the centerline of the wheel as measured between the beads and is measured in millimeters. Offset Can be negative, positive, or zero.

 

  • Negative offset means that the wheel’s mounting surface is closer to the back of the wheel, or the closer to the car.
  • When the wheel’s mounting surface is closer to the fender, offset is considered to be positive.
  • Zero offset indicates that the mounting surface aligns with the centerline of the wheel.

 

Every vehicle, whether truck, van, sports car, or sedan, has a specific

Read more »