Who works at a wheel shop or know about wheels. I need some help.

[Rage]

I would like to know how the offset of a wheel works. I have a 98 Civic. The wheels I want to buy are the 07 Honda Fit HFP wheels. I can get the set for $606 shipped BUT they have a 55 offset. Does this mean they will stick out to far or will it mean they are in to far? Im hoping they will fit just right. I think the 99-00 Si wheel is a 40 offset. Thats why Im wondering about 40 verses 55 offset. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

[Formally...]

Here are a few quick things I found to help explain offset. You will need to know the width of the wheel first because since the offset is based off the center line of the wheel it varies by width. As far as the 15 difference that is 15mm which is a little over 1/2 of an inch so depending on the width it may move in or out. Later.

offset stuff (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.discounttiredirect.com/images/wheel.offset.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/brochure/info/tmpInfoWheelOffsets.jsp%3Bjsessionid%3DGD1vyzyRdhZ ZT57j219fKbhVw4TJzknJXJ4Jyp131QqShC2wnhhv!29744920 8!NONE&h=194&w=350&sz=27&tbnid=g3i92OFSx7QbRM:&tbnh=67&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwheel%2Boffset%26um%3D1&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1)

More offset stuff (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.1010tires.com/images/WheelOffset.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp&h=368&w=200&sz=22&tbnid=m-2lyPCpQgiPhM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=66&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwheel%2Boffset%26um%3D1&start=2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2)

[green91]

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[SLow_POke]

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[Dietcoke]

If yours are a 40mm offset, the fit wheels at 55 will be 15mm more inside the fender. The offset is how far away the face of the wheel is relative to the center of the wheel. 15mm could definetly cause brake caliper clearance issues.