What is wheel offset?

With aftermarket wheels, there are a lot of ways to make your ride all your own. Once you’ve found the perfect style and wheel finish, you can also adjust the wheel offset for an even more unique look.  

If you’re new to the world of custom wheels and offsets, we’re going to answer a common and important question... 

WHAT IS WHEEL OFFSET? 

Wheel offset is the distance in millimeters of the position of the wheel’s mounting pad in relation to the centre of the wheel assembly.  

If your wheel hubs were mounted at the centre of the wheel, that’s zero offset. There are three types of offset:  

Positive offset – If the mounting surface is closer to the face of the wheel it is known to have a positive offset. 

Zero offset – The wheel is mounted in line with the centre of the wheel, along the “wheel centreline” 

Negative offset – If the mounting surface is closer to the inside of the wheel it is known as negative offset.

HOW TO CALCULATE WHEEL OFFSET   

Here’s how we calculate your offset—it’s how far or how close the wheel hub will be placed in relation to the centre of the wheel:  

1. We start with the width of the wheel, inside bead to inside bead.  

2. Now we can divide this in half to know where the centre line is, see Zero Offset image below. 

3. If you want your wheel’s mounting pad closer to the wheel face, it could be offset (away from the centre line, toward the street) by 25 mm, see the Positive Offset image below. 

4. If you want your wheel’s mounting pad away from the wheel face and toward your suspension, it could be offset by -15 mm, see the Negative Offset image below.  

It is important to ensure your vehicle drives the way the manufacturer intended. When seeking a wheel package, be sure to follow recommended specifications for your aftermarket wheel fitment. These are known as min/max wheel specs. Kal’s team have all the tools to guide you through the process and help you find the perfect fit for you and your vehicle.   

Changing the offset can affect how your vehicle performs safely. That’s because the wrong offset can interfere with braking and compromise vehicle stability—and it can cause rubbing against suspension components, brakes and more. 

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THERE’S TOO MUCH POSITIVE OFFSET? 

 With too much positive offset, you could be at risk of:  

• Damage to the suspension system 
• Tire failure 
• Brake systems being compromised  
• Vehicle instability  
• Poor handling 

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THERE’S TOO MUCH NEGATIVE OFFSET?  

With too much negative offset, you could be at risk of: 

• Stress to the suspension system 
• Steering wheel kick-back (when the steering wheel shudders) 
• Poor handling 

HOW DO I CHOOSE AN OFFSET 

The right offset is critical to making sure there’s enough clearance around your wheel and that all your vehicle’s systems can perform safely as designed.  

With so many possibilities and so much consider, it can help to have a wheel expert at your side. Talk to Kal! We’re here for you online, on the phone or at a store near you.