What do different offsets do? - Honda Prelude Forum

PreludeNYC · 12-17-2001, 04:14 AM

I honestly don't know anything about rims except that lighter is better, and smaller rims are better, What do offsets do? How would changing offsets affect handling.

I have a 1993 Prelude, with Koni Adjustable gas shocks, Eibach Sportlines, DC strut bars (front, rear, under) and a Neuspeed rear sway bar...

I am planning on changing my rims as soon as I finish my engine swap... BUT I wanna know before hand what kinda offset to get that would be best for my setup. I was going to get the 16" Rota Slipstreams, in black, available in the last week of this month BUT I wanna know what offsets are... I also wanna know what is the biggest and smallest offsets...

Jose

Thanks =)

prelude2005 · 12-17-2001, 07:40 AM

offset is how far the rims stick out of the car, i had a write up on it, if i find it ill post...

JDM Lude · 12-17-2001, 10:31 AM

offset is how far off-center the hub is from the middle of the wheel, if you look at it head on.

for example - a positve offset will give a rim a 'dish' look... like its really deep, and the lugnuts are set deep inside the rim (a lot of trucks are like this)

a negative offset pushes the hub closer to the outside of the wheel.

However, the way the spokes are designed, and how 'thick' the hub is, will give the rim a lip, not just the ammount of the offset. The offset will determine how far out the rim will be. with a 7" wide rim, I think the proper offset is like -42mm or something like that. There is a range you need to stay in to make sure your rims don't rub (to far in) or that you don't look stoopid and damage your wheel bearings (wheels too far out)

gills · 12-17-2001, 11:51 AM

JDMlude, you have it backwards. The lower the offset, the more deepdish the wheel is going to look and vice versa.
Anyway, i have 17x7" w/ a +42 offset and 215/40/17s and i never get any rubbing. But the proper offset for our cars in plus sizing is +45 --- +50(having the hub mounting surface more toward the front part of the wheel)

Here read this, it'll let you know everything you need to know:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm

PreludeNYC · 12-18-2001, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gills
JDMlude, you have it backwards. The lower the offset, the more deepdish the wheel is going to look and vice versa.
Anyway, i have 17x7" w/ a +42 offset and 215/40/17s and i never get any rubbing. But the proper offset for our cars in plus sizing is +45 --- +50(having the hub mounting surface more toward the front part of the wheel)

Here read this, it'll let you know everything you need to know:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm

Thanks a lot guys and thanx for the website!!

Great Info!!

Jose