Whats the difference in Wheel Backspace and Offset
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Breaux Bridge Louisiana
Whats the difference in Wheel Backspace and Offset
I am about to purchase a set of 17x8 with 4" backspacing but was reading something about offset...I wanna make sure I dont buy the wrong ones...anything else I need to know before buying?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Hello,
Here is a good article on wheel backspacing and offset.
http://www.usacomp.com/Offset.htm
From this website I cut and pasted one of the paragraphs below.
kdf
So what are offset and backspace? Offset is the distance from the Centerline of the wheel to the wheel bolt up face (the part of the wheel that contacts the car's hub when you attach the wheel). Positive or Negative is the descriptive term that tells us whether the wheel bolt up face is farther towards the inner or outer part of the wheel. Defining which side positive or negative means is the part not everyone agrees with. Backspace is not near as confusing. Backspace is the distance from the edge of the inner rim to the wheel bolt up face.
Here is a good article on wheel backspacing and offset.
http://www.usacomp.com/Offset.htm
From this website I cut and pasted one of the paragraphs below.
kdf
So what are offset and backspace? Offset is the distance from the Centerline of the wheel to the wheel bolt up face (the part of the wheel that contacts the car's hub when you attach the wheel). Positive or Negative is the descriptive term that tells us whether the wheel bolt up face is farther towards the inner or outer part of the wheel. Defining which side positive or negative means is the part not everyone agrees with. Backspace is not near as confusing. Backspace is the distance from the edge of the inner rim to the wheel bolt up face.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by BreauxBridgeKid
So what else do I need to know other than I need 17x8 with 4" backspace when ordering them?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Those wheels should clear the calipers and 4 inch backspacing will work just fine... (I always thought that those wheels had 3.875 inches backspacing... Either way it should work fine..
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by BreauxBridgeKid
The Omi-Potent Ever Powerful, Torq Thrust 2's from American Racing
These are what I have and they fit perfect.
American Racing Torque Thrust 2 Wheel (Part Number 505-7861)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
