wheel offset...

[xhdriver]

what exactly is offset a measurement of? everyones always talking about +40 this and +32 that but what exactly does it mean? i would love to get it cleared up in my head.

[White240sx]

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm

[Dunkee]

I am on the same boat as xhdriver...but this site as informative as it is, still doesn't explain the numbers. Why are there two sets of numbers? If it were a positive offset why wouldn't it be just +40...why does it have a minus number after it? What does the zero offset start with and does it differ for different cars?

[White240sx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Dunkee @ Mar. 29 2002,06:18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Why are there two sets of numbers? If it were a positive offset why wouldn't it be just +40...why does it have a minus number after it?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
There is only 1 set of numbers, maybe you are thinking of wheels that come in a variety of offsets and the vendor lists them out?

[luey02]

offsets tells how much width is on the left and right of wheel's centerline. &nbsp;centerline as in the center of rim width, not diameter. &nbsp;More negative, more out of car.

[boywonder]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">offset (wheel) - Measurement of distance of inside of wheel mounting plane from centre plane where wheel mounts to hub. Positive offset means wheel (and tire) are closer to inside of car; negative offset, the wheel is further from the car.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
http://bmwclub.ca/images/offset.gif
Dunno if this will help. There's also a description of the different measurements in every Wheel Buyer's Guide in Sport Compact Car Magazine (the newest issue has 2002 wheels). Hope this helps

[xhdriver]

so on a rim of the same width a +30 offset would have a bigger lip than the same width wheel with a +40 offset. another queation though... its +40 what? millimeters, centameters, what?

[White240sx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (xhdriver @ Mar. 30 2002,01:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">1. so on a rim of the same width a +30 offset would have a bigger lip than the same width wheel with a +40 offset.

2. another queation though... its +40 what? millimeters, centameters, what?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
1. Yep

2. millimeters

[adey]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (xhdriver @ Mar. 29 2002,12:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">so on a rim of the same width a +30 offset would have a bigger lip than the same width wheel with a +40 offset. another queation though... its +40 what? millimeters, centameters, what?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Haha... I sure hope it's not 40cm! that's about a foot and 4 inches! but yeah, like the previous guy said. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

oh yeah, and it's "centimeters"... "centimetres" if you're from the UK or OZ!