This article was co-authored by Michael Dey and by How.com.vn staff writer, Eric McClure. Michael Dey is an Automotive Enthusiast specializing in sharing detailed automotive content and restorations on rare and exotic vehicles. Michael has been passionately working on and restoring cars for over 15 years. He has a follower base of over 30,000 YouTube subscribers and 28 million views. Michael is a Factory Trained Master Guild Audi Technician and ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician.
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Wheel offset refers to how the wheels mount in your wheel wells, and as a result, how much space you have on either side of the wheel. If you’re going to replace a vehicle’s rims, choose a set with offset that matches your vehicle's specifications. If you happen to choose a rim with an incompatible offset, it can lead to dangerous driving conditions. In this article, we’ll break all of this down so that you can confidently choose the right set of rims for your car.
Things You Should Know
- A wheel’s offset refers to the specific location of a rim’s mounting plate relative to the centerline of that rim.
- A rim with a neutral offset has a mounting plate perfectly in the center. Positive offset means the plate is further away from the car, while negative means the plate is closer.
- Backspacing specifically refers to the raw distance from the back edge of the rim to the mounting plate location.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionCan I correct the wheel offset at home?Michael DeyMichael Dey is an Automotive Enthusiast specializing in sharing detailed automotive content and restorations on rare and exotic vehicles. Michael has been passionately working on and restoring cars for over 15 years. He has a follower base of over 30,000 YouTube subscribers and 28 million views. Michael is a Factory Trained Master Guild Audi Technician and ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician.
Automotive EnthusiastYou can correct car wheel offset at home with the right tools and knowledge. Most vehicles come equipped with the necessary tools for removing a wheel. While not everyone may feel comfortable performing this task, it's generally a straightforward process in the majority of road-going cars. However, achieving precise wheel offset correction requires more than just a tape measure; you'll need precision tools to ensure accuracy. If you're just going to travel for a short distance, attempting to correct the wheel offset at home may suffice. However, for longevity and optimal performance, I suggest visiting a car repair shop, tire shop, or suspension shop that offers offset correction services. They have the expertise and specialized equipment to ensure the job is done accurately and effectively.
Tips
Expert Interview
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References
- ↑ http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3e01bf511d4da3315c66902d6.r6.cf1.rackcdn.com/PDF_12846_Understanding_Wheel_OffsetR1.pdf
- ↑ http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3e01bf511d4da3315c66902d6.r6.cf1.rackcdn.com/PDF_12846_Understanding_Wheel_OffsetR1.pdf
- ↑ http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3e01bf511d4da3315c66902d6.r6.cf1.rackcdn.com/PDF_12846_Understanding_Wheel_OffsetR1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.speedpro.com.au/assets/technicalsheet/How%20to%20Measure%20Wheel%20BackSpace%20and%20Wheel%20FAQ.pdf
- ↑ https://www.speedpro.com.au/assets/technicalsheet/How%20to%20Measure%20Wheel%20BackSpace%20and%20Wheel%20FAQ.pdf
- ↑ https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10155230-9999.pdf
- ↑ https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10155230-9999.pdf
- ↑ https://www.lesschwab.com/article/wheels/what-is-wheel-offset.html
- ↑ https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2013-01-2893/
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