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0MY CARTWhether this is your first time buying a set of wheels, or you're just wondering what all of the numbers on the back of a wheel mean, you're in the right place. We'll cover what all of the numbers on wheels mean as well as covering what offset and backspacing.
Offset is the distance between the hub mounting surface and the centerline of the wheel. But what does that actually mean to you? Let's take a look at how it affects your wheel fitment and the overall look of your vehicle.
The centerline that we referred to before is found on the barrel of the wheel. To find the centerline, aftermarket wheel companies measure the distance between each bead seat; the part of the wheel that the edge of your tire attaches to (not the lip of the wheel). The midpoint between these two bead seats becomes the centerline of the wheel.
The offset of a wheel is calculated by measuring the distance between the centerline and the hub mounting surface, or backpad of the wheel, and is measured in millimeters. If the backpad is lined up with the centerline of the wheel, then the offset is 0.
If the backpad is in front of the centerline of the wheel, towards the face of the wheel, the offset is positive. So a wheel that has the backpad 23mm in front of the centerline of the wheel, the offset becomes +23.
It's not uncommon for most aftermarket wheels on trucks to be negative offset wheels. Similar to measuring positive, negative offset is how far behind the centerline of the wheel the backpad sits. If the backpad is 44mm behind the centerline, the offset is -44..
Offset plays a big part in how a wheel looks. Wheels that have a low or negative offset often make the surface of the wheel more concave and, depending on how aggressive the wheel is, create a deep lip. Offset doesn't only affect how the wheel will fit on a vehicle but plays a major part in how the wheel is styled as well.
While not nearly as common as it was 10 years ago, backspacing is pretty similar to offset. Instead of measuring from the centerline of the wheel, backspacing is the distance between the hub mounting surface and the backside of the wheel.
There is no definitive answer to which method is better for measuring wheel fitment, but offset is a lot more common and easier to understand than backspacing. When you're looking for wheels you'll most likely find offset being used as the measurement.
When you're searching for a new set of wheels, you can find offset as the last number in the wheel sizing description. Let's use an ARKON OFF-ROAD Lincoln as an example.
If we look at the underlined numbers, we can break down exactly what each one means. The "24" is the diameter of the wheel in inches. So this wheel is 24 inches tall.
The second number, "14", is the wheel width or side of the wheel in inches. This wheel is 14 inches wide.
Finally, the last number, "-81" is the offset. The hub mounting surface of this wheel is 81mm behind the centerline, which is why we see it have a large lip and concave face.
We have a calculator designed to find exactly what fits your ride so you can take all of the guesswork out of finding the correct fitment. The Fitment Calculator will give you detailed specs in a numbered format, limiting the amount of time you’re out in the driveway measuring your setup.
Also, check out the Custom Offsets gallery. It’s the largest gallery of custom trucks in the world and is full of thousands of trucks that are all running aftermarket wheel and tire packages. You'll be able to see exactly what fits your truck and how it will look before you make a decision. You can even buy the exact setup you're looking at directly from the gallery page.
This is by far the best tool for finding the look you want for your truck while providing all of the measurements you could ever want.
