Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Does wheel offset have anything to do with traction in cornering? I believe my wheels have a lot of negative offset (they come in towards the car a ways) and the steering is horrible at low speeds. I was thinking of how the wheel would move as a whole as the suspension moves and I was thinking that it might tip more during suspension movement as opposed to a wheel with less offset. Is this true? If so, could that cause the wheels to break loose much easier when cornering? (Just trying to figure out why my truck will hook up better coming out of a corner than my Z) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greimann Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Wheel offset should have little to do with handling characteristics of a car unless you have significantly changed the centerline of the wheel from stock. High positive offset wheels with corresponding adapters will place the wheel centerline right where the stock wheel was and the suspension will not know the difference. You didn't mention what kind of wheels you have or their measurements, but that would be helpful. You handling problem is most likely some other issue like alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 About all I know about that is that they are Enkei mesh spoke wheels. If you could tell me the points to measure then I can measure them today. I am also going to be checking out my suspension because this car is supposed to have some pretty good stuff on it but it seems very rigid to me. (I forget what brand the parts are). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Place a straightedge across the back of the wheel rim, and then measure the distance, from the wheel mounting surface where it fits onto the hub, up to the straightedge. This measurement is your backspacing. Also, measure the entire width of the wheel. With these 2 numbers, the offset can be calculated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Wheel offset should have little to do with handling characteristics of a car unless you have significantly changed the centerline of the wheel from stock. Any time you change track width you change handling. The Pontiac ads are right, "Wider is Better." Swapping from a .250" wide to a .500" wide spacer on the front of my 240Z is noticeable on a race track. But its something you would not notice driving on the street unless we're talking about inches of track change. (Just trying to figure out why my truck will hook up better coming out of a corner than my Z) You're comparing apples and oranges. You handling issues probably have nothing to do with the wheels unless they are broken. Look at the basics on your car (everything tight? everything in good shape? alignement correct? good tires? proper air pressures?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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