Educate me on offset.

[NorthernVandal]

Been slowly adding stuff to my rig, currently have a 3.5' suspension lift and Hankook 35's, bumper, winch, mid height rack and other stuff. I am not a wheel guy, so I don't really understand what seems Greek to me regarding wheel offset. The reason I ask is my setup currently has some slight rubbing at full lock with factory wheels and I am looking at getting some wheels. Now, I don't understand the math or numbers, so I don't get it when I read the -12 recommendation. I am looking to widen the stance a bit but not anything crazy, I do like the look with a bit wider stance, but more so to prevent rubbing. I plan to do some light overlanding, forest service trails, camping and general back woods stuff, no rock crawling or super technical off roading. Any recommendations on what would help with the rubbing and give me a bit wider stance? I appreciate the insight.

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[In3briatedPanda]

i had the same issue, went with a 4.74 inch backspacing or -6mm offset.


https://tiresize.com/wheel-offset-calculator/

this site helped me.

I wish my stock wheels had the clearance, but oh well.

 

[21Mojave24XR]

You and me both, it has been driving me crazy as well because I lucked out and can run my factory wheels which are the optional Mojave wheels also came on the far out edition but looking to get a wider wheel to better suit the tire. Most people say 0, -6, or -12mm but I like to keep mine tucked or as flush to the fender as possible to keep my scrub radius close to factory so have been looking at 17x9 +12mm offset and it looks like they will sit about flush but I’m still not positive on it

 

[JTdiRtyD]

0 offset means the mating surface of the wheel is exactly center of the wheel width. A positive offset will cause the wheel to get sucked into the wheel well of the vehicle, a negative offset will cause the wheel to get pushed out. The number is just how many millimeters the mating surface is moved from center.

Backspacing is how many inches the mating surface of the wheel is from the inner lip. The larger the backspacing the more the wheel gets sucked into the wheel well, the lower the backspacing the more the wheel will get pushed out. If you have a 8in wide wheel, then a 4in backspacing would be center, or a 0 offset equivalent.

I have a write up explaining offset from back in my BMW days,
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=28258267#post28258267

You should be able to view the thread even if you aren't a member. It also explains how to use this calculator to really dial in how a set of wheels might fit your vehicle.

https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/

 

[OldSarge]

0 offset means the mating surface of the wheel is exactly center of the wheel width. A positive offset will cause the wheel to get sucked into the wheel well of the vehicle, a negative offset will cause the wheel to get pushed out. The number is just how many millimeters the mating surface is moved from center.

Backspacing is how many inches the mating surface of the wheel is from the inner lip. The larger the backspacing the more the wheel gets sucked into the wheel well, the lower the backspacing the more the wheel will get pushed out. If you have a 8in wide wheel, then a 4in backspacing would be center, or a 0 offset equivalent.

I have a write up explaining offset from back in my BMW days,
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=28258267#post28258267

You should be able to view the thread even if you aren't a member. It also explains how to use this calculator to really dial in how a set of wheels might fit your vehicle.

https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/

That’s awesome. Thank you

 

[DFWJTR]

For insight, I added 35/11.5x17 tires to my stock Rubicon wheels on a Teraflex 1.5” leveling kit. It never rubbed anywhere, but I wanted more stance without buying wheels at the time and added 1.75” Teraflex spacers, which is equal to 44mm. The stock Rubicon wheels are 17x7.5 with a +44mm offset. The spacers made them sit as if they were zero offset and I had very slight poke with a lot more inner clearance. I then found the wheels I wanted in stock. KMC IMS 17x8.5 -10 offset. Slightly more poke than the stock wheels on spacers and a great looking stance without going wild IMO. The backspacing on the KMC wheels with -10 offset is 4.36”. (Most aftermarket lifts suggest a minimum around 4.5” of backspacing. Some are even at 3.5” of backspacing for larger shocks or coilovers.) New KMC’s installed pictured for reference.

 

[Mad Jasper]

I also got the -12 recommendation from every vendor I spoke with. I ended up with a -6 offset as that was the only offset that Icon offered on the Rebound Pros.​

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I would have preferred positive offset, perhaps a +12. -6 is a little on the pokey side, but I really liked the Rebound Pros.​

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[DFWJTR]

I also got the -12 recommendation from every vendor I spoke with. I ended up with a -6 offset as that was the only offset that Icon offered on the Rebound Pros.​

​

I would have preferred positive offset, perhaps a +12. -6 is a little on the pokey side, but I really liked the Rebound Pros.​

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Looks great!

 

[21Mojave24XR]

I also got the -12 recommendation from every vendor I spoke with. I ended up with a -6 offset as that was the only offset that Icon offered on the Rebound Pros.​

​

I would have preferred positive offset, perhaps a +12. -6 is a little on the pokey side, but I really liked the Rebound Pros.​

​

im right there with you on the rebound pros but that -6 is what killed it for me but it does look really good

 

[21Mojave24XR]

This is my first gladiator and it had 17x9 -12mm offset with 35x12.50 general grabber XM3 and I liked the looked at the time but definitely prefer to keep this one more flush

 

[Jteakus]

Offset used to be difficult until I memorized 'Less is more''.
The less the offset, the more the wheel sticks out.

 

[Master_Cylinder]

0 offset means the mating surface of the wheel is exactly center of the wheel width. A positive offset will cause the wheel to get sucked into the wheel well of the vehicle, a negative offset will cause the wheel to get pushed out. The number is just how many millimeters the mating surface is moved from center.

Backspacing is how many inches the mating surface of the wheel is from the inner lip. The larger the backspacing the more the wheel gets sucked into the wheel well, the lower the backspacing the more the wheel will get pushed out. If you have a 8in wide wheel, then a 4in backspacing would be center, or a 0 offset equivalent.

I have a write up explaining offset from back in my BMW days,
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=28258267#post28258267

You should be able to view the thread even if you aren't a member. It also explains how to use this calculator to really dial in how a set of wheels might fit your vehicle.

https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/

I think this has been the best explanation I’ve read. Thanks!

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

0 offset means the mating surface of the wheel is exactly center of the wheel width. A positive offset will cause the wheel to get sucked into the wheel well of the vehicle, a negative offset will cause the wheel to get pushed out. The number is just how many millimeters the mating surface is moved from center.

Backspacing is how many inches the mating surface of the wheel is from the inner lip. The larger the backspacing the more the wheel gets sucked into the wheel well, the lower the backspacing the more the wheel will get pushed out. If you have a 8in wide wheel, then a 4in backspacing would be center, or a 0 offset equivalent.

I have a write up explaining offset from back in my BMW days,
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=28258267#post28258267

You should be able to view the thread even if you aren't a member. It also explains how to use this calculator to really dial in how a set of wheels might fit your vehicle.

https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/

Nice explanation.

One minor correction, an 8” wide wheel with 4” backspacing is not 0 offset. The reason is wheel width is measured between the bead mount area and backspacing measures to the outside edge of the wheel. An 8” wide wheel with 4” backspacing will have -12mm offset. An 8” wide wheel with 0 offset has 4.5” backspacing.

 

[TestMule]

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