2003 Cadillac Escalade 26 inch Dub Esinem Floaters
Offset
The offset of a wheel is the distance from the hub mounting surface on the car axle side to the true centerline of the wheel. The hub also known as the bearing tube runs down through the wheel center and a hub mounting surface refers to the back side of the wheel hub that touches the disk/ drum. Many of the large wheel manufacturers such as
Chip Foose,
Eagle Alloy and
Cragar or
Crager wheels list the offset of their wheels. The intials "FWD" (front wheel drive) and "RWD" (rear wheel drive) are also terms used for the "offset" of a wheel.
This information along with the backspacing measurement is useful in determining what wheel will fit your vehicles. Zero offset of a wheel means that the wheel center and wheel hub mounting surface measurements to both outer rims of a wheel are equal. Positive offset means the mounting surface of the wheel is positioned in front or street side of the true centerline of the rim. Positive offset wheels are generally found on front-wheel drive (FWD) and some newer trucks. Negative offset of a wheel means that the mounting surface of the wheel is positioned closer to the disk/drum, axle or behind the centerline of the wheel and is commonly referred to as a deep dish wheel. This offset is common in older vehicles.
Backspace
Spinner rims are available in a wide array of dimensions. A 15x8
American Eagle wheel in a given style might have backspacing that range from two to six inches. This means that the tire can either be tucked up under the fender, or it can hang out. Because of this, it makes sense to check and double-check dimensions before buying a spinner rim or spinning attachments.
Backspacing is defined as the measurement from the inside of the rim edge to the edge of the mounting surface. It can be measured by putting a yardstick across the backside of the rim and measuring the distance between the mounting surface hub and the yardstick. Backspace is expressed in inches.
Determining the amount of backspacing will help you determine the amount of wheel offset. This information is useful in determining what custom wheel will fit your car or truck, especially if you want to replace a set of wheels that fit correctly with another set of the same size but are a different style. The above measurement is done to the wheel with the tire off.
