Quick answer: Wheel offset is the distance in millimetres between the wheel's mounting face and the centreline of the rim. A higher positive number (like +35) tucks the wheel further into the guard, a lower number (like +22) pushes it further out, and offset 0 puts the mounting face exactly in the middle. On the same width wheel, going from +35 to +22 moves the whole wheel 13 mm outwards: 13 mm more poke and 13 mm more room on the inside.
Below we explain positive, zero and negative offset, then use real customer cars to show what different sizes and offsets actually do.
Positive, zero and negative offset
- Positive offset (+): the mounting face sits towards the outside face of the wheel. Most passenger cars use positive offset, and every SW passenger wheel is positive, from +15 to +40.
- Zero offset (0): the mounting face sits exactly on the rim's centreline, so half the width sits on each side. Our SW21 and SW11 4x4 wheels are 17x9 offset 0.
- Negative offset (-): the mounting face sits towards the inside of the wheel, so most of the wheel sits outboard of the hub. None of our SW wheels currently use negative offset.
On many wheels the offset is marked as "ET" followed by the number, for example ET35 for +35.
Offset only makes sense with width
Offset tells you where the mounting face is relative to the centre of the wheel. Width tells you how far the rim extends either side of that centre. You need both to work out where the wheel actually sits. A simple way to compare setups:
- Outer lip position (poke) = half the rim width in mm minus the offset.
- Inner lip position (inside clearance) = half the rim width in mm plus the offset.
Both are measured from the hub mounting face. One inch is 25.4 mm. These use the nominal rim width, so the actual lip edge sits a little further out, but the comparison between two wheels holds.
Real setups compared
Every size below is on a real customer car in our gallery.
| Size and offset | Example customer car | Outer lip from hub face | Inner lip from hub face |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18x8 +38 | Hyundai i20 N on SW01 | about 64 mm | about 140 mm |
| 19x8.5 +40 | Audi RS3 sedan 8V on SW16 | about 68 mm | about 148 mm |
| 18x8.5 +35 | Ford Falcon FG on SW06 | about 73 mm | about 143 mm |
| 18x9.5 +35 | Nissan 350Z on SW05 | about 86 mm | about 156 mm |
| 18x9.5 +22 | Nissan 350Z on SW10 | about 99 mm | about 143 mm |
| 18x10.5 +22 | Nissan 350Z Roadster on SW17 (rear) | about 111 mm | about 155 mm |
| 17x9 offset 0 | Toyota HiLux N80 on SW21 | about 114 mm | about 114 mm |
What +22 versus +35 means in practice
Same width: the Nissan 350Z
Our customers have run the 350Z on both SW05 18x9.5 +35 and SW10 18x9.5 +22. Same 9.5-inch width, 13 mm less offset. The +22 wheel sits 13 mm further out at the lip and has 13 mm more room on the inside, which can help with suspension and caliper clearance. The trade-off is that the tyre sits 13 mm closer to the guard lip.
Wider and lower offset: 18x8.5 +35 to 18x9.5 +22
This is the most common step our customers take. A customer's S15 Silvia runs SW15 18x8.5 +35, and several other S15s run SW12 18x9.5 +22. Going from the first to the second adds one inch of width and drops the offset by 13 mm. Run the numbers and the outer lip moves out about 25.7 mm while the inner lip barely moves (about 0.3 mm). All of that extra inch goes outwards, which is why 18x9.5 +22 gives the flush look on cars like the S14, S15, R33, R34, JZX100 Chaser and E46 BMW in our gallery.
That extra 25 mm of poke is also why wider, lower-offset setups may need guard work or a lowered ride height depending on the car. Ask us before ordering.
Higher offset: the European hatches
The Golf R Mk7 and Mk8 and the Audi RS3 8V in our gallery run SW16 19x8.5 +40, and the Golf GTI Mk7 runs SW07 18x8.5 +40. Other Golf Mk7, GTI Mk7.5 and GTI Mk8 owners run SW09 19x8.5 +35, which sits 5 mm further out than +40 at the same width.
Poke and clearance: what to check
- Outside: tyre to guard lip, on bumps and at full steering lock. More poke means less room.
- Inside: tyre to strut, spring seat and inner guard. A higher offset or wider wheel brings the inner lip closer.
- Brakes: spoke design and offset both affect caliper clearance, especially with upgraded brakes.
- Tyre size: a wider or stretched tyre changes where the sidewall sits relative to the rim.
The easiest way to compare your current wheels with a new set is our wheel offset calculator. Enter both sizes and offsets to see how the new wheel sits compared with the old one. If you are still unsure, message us with your car, current wheels and tyre size.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lower offset more aggressive?
Yes. On the same width wheel, a lower offset pushes the wheel further out from the hub, so it sits closer to or past the guard. +22 sits 13 mm further out than +35 on the same width.
What happens if I go from 18x8.5 +35 to 18x9.5 +22?
The outer lip moves out about 25.7 mm and the inner lip stays almost exactly where it was. Many of our customers' S15, S14, R34 and JZX100 builds run 18x9.5 +22.
Is offset the same as backspacing?
No. Backspacing is the distance from the mounting face to the inner lip, which is the "inner lip" figure in our table. Offset is measured from the centreline of the rim.
Do spacers change offset?
A spacer moves the wheel outwards by its thickness, which lowers the effective offset by the same amount. Whether spacers suit your car is something to discuss with us first.
Where do I find my current offset?
It is usually stamped on the back or inside of the wheel. If you cannot find it, message us with photos of your current wheels.