vettfixr

I was reading another thread about wheels and as usual you find out just how much you don't know every day. I know that backspace is the distance measured from the hub to the wheel lip on the inside of the wheel. But what is offset and how is it measured. :confused: :confused: :confused:

BigBadRed

Usually, offset refers to either positive or negative offset. It is based on the center of the depth of the wheel. For example

a six in wheel the lug nuts directly in the center would have a 0 or zero offset.
Front wheel drive typically have very postive offsets. On a six inch wheel, it would probably have a 2 inch positve offset resulting in 5 inch backspace.
(two inches further out from center equals 1 inch from the outside lip of the wheel)

A rear wheel drive will probably have more of a negative offset Probably at least 1 inch negative, resulting in a 2 inch back space.

I hope this helps.

--marc

Twin_Turbo

very simple, offset and backspacing are related

an 8" wheel with 0" offset has 4" backspacing
an 8" wheel with 2"pos offset has 6" backspacing .....




[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 1:53 PM 8/4/2003]

vettfixr

Ok, so am I correct in saying backspace is measured from the hub to the ip of the inside of the wheel and offset is measured from the outside lip of the sheel to the inside of the hub? To follow your example a zero offset wheel would have a 4 inch backspace and a 0 offset on an 8 inch wheel. If the backspace was 3 inch then the wheel would have a 1 inch offset?

Twin_Turbo

yes, 3" backspacing on an 8" wheel would mean 1" negative offset.

vettfixr

Where's that little lightbulb going on smilie when you need it. :)