Teach Me About Wheels

[VooDooXII]

Really...the only thing I know how to do is read the sidewall...and those are tires, not wheels.

I don't know what "offset" is...I mean I'm sure I know the definition, but I don't get how it applies.

I don't know why RWD cars are capable of having such deep-ass rear wheels, and why I can't just put any 5x120 bolt-pattern wheel on the GTO despite its bolt-pattern being 5x120.

Anyone have any websites or anything...or they're just willing to explain?

Don't get onto me about this...everyone has to start somewhere, right?

[.blank cd]

What all do you want to know?

Offset is the distance between the centerline and the hub
RWD are usually deeper than FWD cars. not too sure. i think i know but i dont wanna give you the wrong answer.

You can put any 5x120 wheel on your car but if you got a small offset wheel on a deeper offset car then its gonna look like that wheel is too far underneath your car

[VooDooXII]

What all do you want to know?

Offset is the distance between the centerline and the hub
RWD are usually deeper than FWD cars. not too sure. i think i know but i dont wanna give you the wrong answer.

You can put any 5x120 wheel on your car but if you got a small offset wheel on a deeper offset car then its gonna look like that wheel is too far underneath your car

Thanks so far

Can someone elaborate on this?

[AgentEasy]

Really...the only thing I know how to do is read the sidewall...and those are tires, not wheels.

I don't know what "offset" is...I mean I'm sure I know the definition, but I don't get how it applies.

I don't know why RWD cars are capable of having such deep-ass rear wheels, and why I can't just put any 5x120 bolt-pattern wheel on the GTO despite its bolt-pattern being 5x120.

Anyone have any websites or anything...or they're just willing to explain?

Don't get onto me about this...everyone has to start somewhere, right?

ok.. offset is the distance between the center of the wheel and the hub.. that determines whether it's a neg. offset or pos.. more - an offset the farther the hub is to the inside of the wheel.. meanign the bigger lip you can fit on it..

RWD can have such wider tires because it's easier to put a wider tire in the back b/c in the front you have to worrt about it scrubbing b/c to have to turn those wheels.. the backs stay staionary (for the most part) and the GTO ? idk, prolly becase of the offset..

need any other info lmk..

[speedminded]

Three diagrams to help explain, all tell the same thing but in a slightly differant way each time...

[VooDooXII]

The pictures definitely help.

So I know the GTO has a 45mm offset...negative I'd imagine. They makes spacers or something like that right? For some reason, I wouldn't feel to confident with those, but I mean...if they make them, then they should work.

I've been looking at wheel options for the GTO, and there really aren't that many. I was just wondering if I was missing something, and I didn't know what to look for on those websites which don't let you shop for wheels by your vehicle. I checked out Tire-Rack and only got three available wheels, only one of which looks good...the ASA JH9. Do they just carry a small collection?

Thanks for the information though!

[Benefit]

offset is how much u want your wheel to stick out in the most lamen's terms , so for example, 45mm would be like honda , anything like 30 , 20 , 10 the wheel sticking out further. get it?

[yudalicious]

most likely it's +45 positive. google "offset calculator" which allows you to enter your old wheel width and offset and new wheel width and offset to determine how much space you gain/lose on both the suspension side and the fender side. How much space you have exactly on the inside or fender side, that'd be info you can probably find on a GTO forum or can find by measuring yourself.

[VooDooXII]

I was just relying on Tire-Rack for the wheel information.

I think it's negative, because I checked out some other wheels, and those with positive offsets were labeled as "+45mm" rather than just "45mm".

Thanks for the offset calculator though...nice.

[.blank cd]

So why exactly are RWD offsets are more negative than FWD offsets

[yudalicious]

I was just relying on Tire-Rack for the wheel information.

I think it's negative, because I checked out some other wheels, and those with positive offsets were labeled as "+45mm" rather than just "45mm".

Thanks for the offset calculator though...nice.

you'd be hard pressed to find -45mm offset wheels, it just doesn't make much sense since it will just be extra weight. look behind the spokes of your wheels, if it were -45, it'd be very obvious.

[AgentEasy]

The pictures definitely help.

So I know the GTO has a 45mm offset...negative I'd imagine. They makes spacers or something like that right? For some reason, I wouldn't feel to confident with those, but I mean...if they make them, then they should work.

I've been looking at wheel options for the GTO, and there really aren't that many. I was just wondering if I was missing something, and I didn't know what to look for on those websites which don't let you shop for wheels by your vehicle. I checked out Tire-Rack and only got three available wheels, only one of which looks good...the ASA JH9. Do they just carry a small collection?

Thanks for the information though!

go into a Discount Tire and have them look it up... they carry a lot.. or if oyu find some wheels you like on a gto site or w/e then go in there and they can order em..

[VooDooXII]

DT being Discount Tires?

Cool.

[speedminded]

So why exactly are RWD offsets are more negative than FWD offsets

Because front wheel drive mounting surfaces are generally closer to the outside of the wheel...in other words, a smaller lip.


To make this easier to comprehend i'll use an odd number, 25mm = 1".

If it's a 8" wide wheel and has a 0mm offset that means it's half the wide of the wheel (4") +0mm from the mounting surface (the part that touches the hub) to the outside edge of the lip.

If it's a 8" wide wheel and has a -25mm offset that means it's half the width of the wheel +25mm [1"] from outside edge of the lip to the mounting surface or 5 inches (4+1=5")

If it's a 8" wide wheel and has a +25mm offset that means it's half the width of the wheel -25mm [1"] from outside edge of the lip to the mounting surface or 3 inches. (4-1=3")

Just remember positive offset means smaller lip.