Wheel Offsets Explained

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Biggest

FRF Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Posts
879
Reaction score
1,115
Offset / Tire combo

For the Raptor and the places where it rubs when you use a negative offset, the number we really need is the front spacing.
The analog of backspacing, Front spacing is the distance from the mounting surface to the outer (front) lip of the wheel. Front spacing usually isn't mentioned in wheel fitting though, so we have to calculate it and that is where the confusion comes in.
No matter the wheel width (within reason) if the front edge of the wheel sticks out past a certain point, the tire will rub on our trucks. For a 17x8.5 wheel, that safe spot happens with a 0 offset. For a 17x9 you are looking at a +6 max. Since the wheel is wider, we need a little bit of positive offset to keep the outer edge of the wheel in the same place relative to the vehicle body. i.e for every 1/2" wider wheel, you would need +6 more offset in the wheel.
If you start going crazy wide wheels, all this is out the window because you will rub in more places than just the outside of the wheel.
Link
Chase, he is my question, I bought the Fuel trophy wheels. 17x 8.5. The tires I am mounting are toyo MT which are 37x13.50x17. I am putting on glass fenders as well. Will this + 6 offset be an issue?
 

Chayse

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2012
Posts
334
Reaction score
73
Location
SE PA
Chase, he is my question, I bought the Fuel trophy wheels. 17x 8.5. The tires I am mounting are toyo MT which are 37x13.50x17. I am putting on glass fenders as well. Will this + 6 offset be an issue?

I'm sorry, I can't really help you with that. 37's kinda throw the whole thing out the window. You could be alright with the glass fenders, but you may still need to do some clearancing to not rub. Guys with 37's should be able to help better. My calculations were based on stock sized tires/35's.
 

sringer

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2013
Posts
120
Reaction score
38
Location
Whitefish, MT
I knew offset and backspace really well in the jeep world and what I needed to work with my lift. However...I want a set of Spyderlocks for my raptor...I'm confused here even after reading thru everything. Spyderlocks are 10" wide and the offset is 3.5. Will this be ok with 35x12.5 nitro trail grapplers?


Sent from my iPhone5 using LTE

---------- Post added at 04:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 PM ----------

I knew offset and backspace really well in the jeep world and what I needed to work with my lift. However...I want a set of Spyderlocks for my raptor...I'm confused here even after reading thru everything. Spyderlocks are 10" wide and the offset is 3.5. Will this be ok with 35x12.5 nitro trail grapplers?


Sent from my iPhone5 using LTE

Actually I was wrong...their website says offset. But it really means back spacing is 3.5. And on a 10" wide wheel...3.5" bs means -51mm offset...am I silly to put these on with 35x12.5 nitro trail graps? Will it rub?


Sent from my iPhone5 using LTE
 
OP
OP
shooterAMG

shooterAMG

FRF Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Posts
1,381
Reaction score
925
Location
Far northern Chicago suburbs
So I'm going to work through this in my head as I type it.

An 8.5 inch wheel with a -12mm offset is bad if you offroad. We've all agreed on that.

12mm is about 1/2 an inch (25.4 mm in an inch)

So an 8.5 inch wheel with a 1/2 negative offset will leave 4 inches of wheel inside.

Your wheel is 10 inches with a 3.5 inch offset (assuming negative) will leave 1.5 inches inside. That doesn't sound right. If you go with the 51mm/2 inch, you'll have 3 inches inside. That sounds like it will cause a problem. Check my math and thinking, but I think it might be too much.


Todd
 

WTXRaptor

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2014
Posts
15
Reaction score
4
Location
Lubbock, Tx
Ok, so my dumb question, considering I want to run a 17" wheel and run a 35" tire, should I do the 17x9 or 17x8.5, or does it really even matter? And if so, what offset/backspace should I look for on both? I'm thinking on either the Fuel wheels or the Method wheels.
 

jcl48

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Posts
286
Reaction score
99
Location
South Florida
Hi guys need help and Advice, since I will be buying new set of tires.
So I bought my Fuel Mavericks 20x10 -12 offset. Unfortunately is until today I read this thread, and I am rubbing on the inner part of the fender, well was rubbing since I did a little trimming to avoid tearing out the fenders. If I decide to change my wheels what would you guys recommend 20x9 +14 offset or +1. The +1 will stick farther the tire by 1.3" than stock wheels; same 1.3" farther than stock as the Methods 17x8.5 with 0 offset.
The 20x9 with +14 offset will stick the tire farther than stock by .8" what sould I go with if maybe in the future I would like to upgrade to a 37" Tire. As of now I am on Mid Perch running 35x12.5 R20 Nitto Trail Grapplers.

I Would like the look of the +1 offset but don't want to deal with rubbing issues on stock fenders trimmed.
 

JAH

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Las vegas
I have Moto metal 20x10 with -24 offset. Obviously I did not follow the chart correctly. I am exchanging for the 20x9 with 0 offset. Will I be okay?
 
Top