Gladiator Wheel Offset

[Mopar King]

Hi Everyone,

I just traded of my 2015 JKU for a 2020 Gladiator Rubicon. It was special order and should arrive in the next 4 weeks. I already have the dealer doing the 2" Mopar lift and am going with 37's. I am trying to figure out what wheel offset to go with. Hoping some of you all could post pics of your lifted truck? I would like to see the difference between -18 offset and -44 offset. I want some meat sticking outside the finder flares but don't need half the tire. The dealer said the -18 offset would stick out about 2" further than the stock tires. Would love to see some actual examples.

Thanks all!

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[Lfuhr]

Hi Everyone,

I just traded of my 2015 JKU for a 2020 Gladiator Rubicon. It was special order and should arrive in the next 4 weeks. I already have the dealer doing the 2" Mopar lift and am going with 37's. I am trying to figure out what wheel offset to go with. Hoping some of you all could post pics of your lifted truck? I would like to see the difference between -18 offset and -44 offset. I want some meat sticking outside the finder flares but don't need half the tire. The dealer said the -18 offset would stick out about 2" further than the stock tires. Would love to see some actual examples.

Thanks all!

 

[Lfuhr]

The tires are 37x12.5x17

 

[Renegade]

Hi Everyone,

I just traded of my 2015 JKU for a 2020 Gladiator Rubicon. It was special order and should arrive in the next 4 weeks. I already have the dealer doing the 2" Mopar lift and am going with 37's. I am trying to figure out what wheel offset to go with. Hoping some of you all could post pics of your lifted truck? I would like to see the difference between -18 offset and -44 offset. I want some meat sticking outside the finder flares but don't need half the tire. The dealer said the -18 offset would stick out about 2" further than the stock tires. Would love to see some actual examples.

Thanks all!

Are you sure you want a comparison vs. -44? Stock is +44.

 

[DaytonOhioGladiator]

Keep in mind offset is entirely tied to wheel width, in terms of fitment. The same offset on different width wheels will have different physical placements for backspace and front space. Use an online wheel calculator to get those backspace and front space measurements.

 

[Renegade]

Keep in mind offset is entirely tied to wheel width, in terms of fitment. The same offset on different width wheels will have different physical placements for backspace and front space. Use an online wheel calculator to get those backspace and front space measurements.

This is not correct. Offset identifies the centerline of the wheel/tire independent of wheel width. When using a backspacing measurement, the actual placement of the tire in or out of the wheel well varies based on width.

 

[DaytonOhioGladiator]

This is not correct. Offset identifies the centerline of the wheel/tire independent of wheel width. When using a backspacing measurement, the actual placement of the tire in or out of the wheel well varies based on width.

Not interested in a forum argument so I’ll just say this and move along. I sold wheels for a premium wheel manufacturer for many years. Every order was custom and fitment had to be verified through me. I’m a wheel expert and I’m telling you in terms of fitment, offset and width are directly tied. A -32 8” wheel is completely different than a -32 9” wheel in terms of where the wheel fits against the fender, suspension and brake clearance. With that, you can’t ask a question like “which offset fits xxxxx car?” without tying it to a specific wheel width.

 

[willemlock]

Here is mine one Black Rhino Armory rims. Nitto Ridge Glappler 35x12.5R17 also shows her flexing

 

[Ted Striker]

18 x 9.5
-18 offset
37" Ridge Grapplers
2" Mopar lift

 

[UKCATS]

Keep in mind offset is entirely tied to wheel width, in terms of fitment. The same offset on different width wheels will have different physical placements for backspace and front space. Use an online wheel calculator to get those backspace and front space measurements.

Not interested in a forum argument so I’ll just say this and move along. I sold wheels for a premium wheel manufacturer for many years. Every order was custom and fitment had to be verified through me. I’m a wheel expert and I’m telling you in terms of fitment, offset and width are directly tied. A -32 8” wheel is completely different than a -32 9” wheel in terms of where the wheel fits against the fender, suspension and brake clearance. With that, you can’t ask a question like “which offset fits xxxxx car?” without tying it to a specific wheel width.

^^^^^This. I have had 14 Jeeps now. Backspacing is the info I need to determine how far out the tire will stick out, and if it will rub at full lock, or full stuff. Lift kit manufacturers recommend a certain wheel backspacing for their lift. Not an offset.

 

[Renegade]

^^^^^This. I have had 14 Jeeps now. Backspacing is the info I need to determine how far out the tire will stick out, and if it will rub at full lock, or full stuff. Lift kit manufacturers recommend a certain wheel backspacing for their lift. Not an offset

Not interested in a forum argument so I’ll just say this and move along. I sold wheels for a premium wheel manufacturer for many years. Every order was custom and fitment had to be verified through me. I’m a wheel expert and I’m telling you in terms of fitment, offset and width are directly tied. A -32 8” wheel is completely different than a -32 9” wheel in terms of where the wheel fits against the fender, suspension and brake clearance. With that, you can’t ask a question like “which offset fits xxxxx car?” without tying it to a specific wheel width.

Maybe we are saying the same thing different ways, but a -32 offset 8-inch wheel, and a -32 offset 9-inch wheel both locate the tire in the exact same plane in space. The only difference being the width of the wheel, with 1/2” difference on each the front and back sides of the wheel. A 4” backspacing 8” wheel, and a 4” backspacing 10” do not do this because the centerline of the wheel changes, thus pushing the tire farther out of the fender well. Here is the visual of the 8 and 9 inch wheel, both with -32 offset:

 

[UKCATS]

A -32 offset, 9” wide wheel is 3.75” of backspacing. A -32 offset, 8” wide wheel is 3.25” of backspacing. A -32 offset on a 12” wide wheel is 5.25” of backspacing. Quite a bit of difference in how far the tire will stick out. Not the same. Backspacing is what matters, but, like the other guy, not looking to argue. Not had enough coffee yet.

 

[Renegade]

A -32 offset, 9” wide wheel is 3.75” of backspacing. A -32 offset, 8” wide wheel is 3.25” of backspacing. A -32 offset on a 12” wide wheel is 5.25” of backspacing. Quite a bit of difference in how far the tire will stick out. Not the same. Backspacing is what matters, but, like the other guy, not looking to argue. Not had enough coffee yet.

Ok, but in all those wheel scenarios you mentioned, the tire stays in the same location, not moving inward or outward. The cross section does get wider as the wheel width increases, and there is more wheel depth visible from the outside, however there is also an equal change on the inner portion of the wheel given a constant offset. I agree that backspacing can determine interference with brakes or suspension components which are outside of the inner diameter of the wheel, but the most common interference points are on the control arms when a wheel/tire is turned to lock, and on the outer fender lip when stuffed during compression.

 

[WXman]

So, before this thread goes to hell in a wicker basket, I'll say this:

Rubicon and Max Tow have wide axles. I ran +10 offset wheels that were 8.5" wide for a while and there was enough tire sticking out that gravel was beating the piss out of my paint. I have no idea why a guy would want ANY negative offset whatsoever. Not only does it make the truck look like a skateboard, it's also not functional. It makes the axles as wide as a dually pickup, it blasts the paint with mud, sand, gravel, etc., and it puts other drivers at risk (which is why it's illegal in many states). Don't be that guy. Run a positive offset wheel.

 

[Renegade]

So, before this thread goes to hell in a wicker basket, I'll say this:

Rubicon and Max Tow have wide axles. I ran +10 offset wheels that were 8.5" wide for a while and there was enough tire sticking out that gravel was beating the piss out of my paint. I have no idea why a guy would want ANY negative offset whatsoever. Not only does it make the truck look like a skateboard, it's also not functional. It makes the axles as wide as a dually pickup, it blasts the paint with mud, sand, gravel, etc., and it puts other drivers at risk (which is why it's illegal in many states). Don't be that guy. Run a positive offset wheel.

I agree with what you said, and am actually running +11 wheels which are 8.5” wide. I just used those earlier specs because they were the theoretical wheel offsets used as examples in the prior posts for comparison only, not recommending them.

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