backspacing and stuff...

[jasonb]

can someone explain to me basically what backspacing is? if i ever get new wheels, i'd like them to sit a little further out or look that way. so the edge of the tires are more even with the edge of the plastic trim. would just getting wider wheels do that? anyway, i dont know a lot about wheels and tires so any info is appreciated. thanks!

 

[tbomb]

heres what backspacing is:

lay a rim face down on the ground. measure from the edge of the rim sticking up in the air to the back of the mounting surface of the rim. thats backspacing. offset is similar; offset is the same measurement, but not from the edge of the rim thats sticking up in the air, its measured to the middle of the rim (an 8" wide rim's mid point is 4" in from the front or back.)

a smaller backspacing (also, a smaller offset) will make your rims stick out a little more. i just put some 17x8 rims on that have a 0 offset. click the link in my sig and when you get to my page, at the bottom, click "stage 3."

 

[jasonb]

ok, that makes sense. so what is the offset or backspacing of the stock 16" wheels? i like their design a lot, but when i get new tires, i'll probably get new 15" wheels and i do want them to stick out a little further.

 

[tbomb]

stock offset on the 16" stock wheels is 20mm (offset is always given in mm, and backspacing is always given in inches.)

youre gonna go from 16" wheels to 15"? how come? the only reason i could see this is if youre putting bigger tires on, like 32's or something, cuz a 32 with a 15" rim is cheaper than 32's with a 16" rim, but then again, if you go with 32's with a 16" rim, you already have the rim, as opposed to buying new wheels.

 

[jasonb]

tbomb.. i was probably going to go with the 15" because by the time i get new wheels (year from now), i should have a pretty good lift and will probably want something like 33 x 12.5 or so. i don't think a 12.5 could really go on the stock wheels, and that is the main reason. if it will fit a stock wheel, i'd be more than happy to keep them! i heard somewhere that you shouldn't go over 4" wider tire than the rim. is that true? i've seen 11.5 on a stock, but i figured 12.5 was pushing it.
who knows.. i may end up going for some thinner tires like 11.5 at that time.. its a long way away. just getting a head start on the terms. thanks for the input.. anymore is appreciated.

 

[tbomb]

nah, youre right, if youre gonna get a 12.5" wide tire, you need wider rims, and like i said before, the only reason you really wanna drop a rim size is if youre gonna do some offroading.

good luck with it.