what exactly is wheel offset?? what i'm thinking is that it has to do with how far the wheels sticks out from the car. and why do some people have a negative offset??

thanks ahead of time.

aaron

 

Here is a really good explanation of wheel offset from Discount Tire Direct.

Wheel Offset Info

 

This might be helpful:

The offset of a wheel is the distance from its hub mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. The offset can be one of three types.

Zero Offset
The hub mounting surface is even with the centerline of the wheel.

Positive
The hub mounting surface is toward the front or wheel side of the wheel. Positive offset wheels are generally found on front wheel drive cars and newer rear drive cars.

Negative
The hub mounting surface is toward the back or brake side of the wheels centerline. "Deep dish" wheels are typically a negative offset.

If the offset of the wheel is not correct for the car, the handling can be adversely affected. When the width of the wheel changes, the offset also changes numerically. If the offset were to stay the same while you added width, the additional width would be split evenly between the inside and outside. For most cars, this won't work correctly. We have test fitted thousands of different vehicles for proper fitment. Our extensive database allows our sales staff to offer you the perfect fit for your vehicle.

For additional technical information on wheels or to view the selection of wheels we offer for your vehicle, please visit our site at: http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=DJ1&...eels/index.jsp. Or for personal service, please feel free to contact me at the numbers listed below!

 

great stuff thanks for the information