Wheel offset is used to move the entire wheel and tyre either in or out from under the vehicle. In some cases, a larger rear rim can be fitted under the guard by adjusting the wheel offset. But before you increase or reduce the wheel offset, you need to measure the vehicle backspacing and inspect for clearance from all obstructions. Take into consideration the brake assembly for clearance and the movement of the rear axle in its vertical swing so that the tyre does not hit the fender well.
What is wheel offset?
Wheel offset is the distance from the centerline of the alloy wheel to the mounting face of the hub (the face touching your rotor). Traditionally this measurement quantified in millimetres.
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What are the types of offset found on wheels?
Wheel offset comes in three types: zero, positive, and negative.
- Zero offset means the hub mounting surface is directly even with the centerline of the wheel.
- A positive offset is when the hub mounting surface is located towards the face of the wheel in relation to the centerline, making it the most common offset found on cars today.
- Negative offset is when the hub mounting surface is located closer to the inside wheel flange in relation to the centerline of the wheel. Negative offset wheels are mostly found on off-road vehicles and trucks where the wheels stick out past the fenders.
Here is an image that will help you understand the three different types of offset found on alloy wheels.
Can I change a wheel offset at home?
Well, that’s a tricky question. You can’t just machine down the wheel to increase offset. There is a lot more to it, and you can find yourself ruining your alloy wheels which will involve greater costs. When rims are designed for a certain offset and application, a wheel specialist has to consider the current offset, required offset, rim width, backspacing clearance, and the depth of the PCD hole when machining it down.
Alloy wheel offset machining service
Alloy wheel offset is one of the main factors on whether a rim will fit your car or not. If you have your eyes on a set of alloy wheels that don’t quite fit your car because of different offset, fear not because there is a solution. At CNC Wheels, we can change offsets by shaving the back of the alloy wheel using the latest CNC machine. Contact us here for a quote!
Can I change wheel offset without changing wheels?
Yes it’s possible. If you want to increase the number of positive offset (ex. from +30 to +35), the back of each alloy wheel has to be machined down evenly using a special CNC machine. Note that not all offset changes can be achieved. Please contact us and our team will advise you whether the offset changes can be made.
Wondering how to reduce wheel offset? Let’s say you want to go from +35 to +25 offset. In this case, you need to use spacers. There are many wheel spacers with varying thicknesses which allow you to change the offset of your wheels quickly and easily. Wheel spacers essentially increase the distance from the centre of the wheel to the hub, thus reducing positive offset. The lower number positive offset you achieve, you space your wheels out towards the fender or sometimes beyond the fender.
Are wheel spacers safe for your car? Learn everything you need to know about wheel spacers here.
Final say about wheel offset
Changing the offset of alloy wheels can be a critical decision to your ride stability, performance and appearance. One of the most popular reasons car owners search for alloy wheel offset machining is to push the wheels and tyres further inside. If you want a more aggressive look, giving the car a wider stance, consider adding as little as 10mm wheel spacers which can substantially change the look of your car.