Wheel offset help

[Dazedandconfused]

Looking at putting a set of 20s on my truck in the next month or two. Question I have is which backspacing to go with? It will be a 20x9 wheel and comes in 4.53" backspacing with -12 offset or in a 5.47" backspacing with +12 offset. I plan on running 305/50/20s on it and drop it down 3"s all around. Which wheel will work better?

 

[SgtKilroy]

IIRC Positive offset makes the wheel tuck up under the truck more, whereas negative offset makes the wheel stick out the side. The number refers to the plane the bolt holes are on in relation to the center wheel. I may have that completely backwards though. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

 

[SSchmi5519]

IIRC Positive offset makes the wheel tuck up under the truck more, whereas negative offset makes the wheel stick out the side. The number refers to the plane the bolt holes are on in relation to the center wheel. I may have that completely backwards though. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

That is correct. A negative offset has a lip on the wheel, and pushes the center of the rim inward, making the tires stick out farther.

 

[JoshH]

More positive offset is better for clearance and for the front end (less stress on bearing and ball joints). It also makes it easier to turn because of less scrub radius.

 

[Burn Down]

I have run this, you need to go with the positive offset. I cut my bumper, put Bushwacker Cutouts on, & cranked my torsion bars, outside edge of the tire still rubbed a little on the front of the cab, with the negative offset wheels.

 

[whitetrash21]

Looking at putting a set of 20s on my truck in the next month or two. Question I have is which backspacing to go with? It will be a 20x9 wheel and comes in 4.53" backspacing with -12 offset or in a 5.47" backspacing with +12 offset. I plan on running 305/50/20s on it and drop it down 3"s all around. Which wheel will work better?

Something Im finding is that most 50 series sidewalls dont have the load rating necessary to use on our trucks. Seems like its the 55,65,75 sidewall height tires that are 8 or 10 ply and carry the E load rating.

If anyone has something to refute that, please say something. Been trying to find E load 305/50 20's for a while now..... no luck.

 

[Dazedandconfused]

The tires I'm looking at are rated at 3086 pounds and my current tires are rated at 32xx pounds so not loosing much. Which backspacing would you all run with?

 

[SSchmi5519]

Also, the more negative you go on offset, the harder it is on front end parts and consequently, harder to launch straight with a 4x4 launch.

 

[Dazedandconfused]

Dont have to worry about 4x4 launches just daily driving. Being 2wd I cant make it much easier on the frontend parts then it already is.

 

[SgtKilroy]

The tires I'm looking at are rated at 3086 pounds and my current tires are rated at 32xx pounds so not loosing much. Which backspacing would you all run with?

So you're going from a load rating of E to D? Not really sure if that's safe. Especially with thinner sidewalls. I would stick with 4.5" of backspace on a 9 or 10 inch wide wheel. That would put your hub right about the center of your wheel. Just my two cents.

 

[Dazedandconfused]

Why do you need E range tires???? I've always ran D range on every other diesel I've had and never had an issue out of them. Those were all Cummins trucks with a heavier nose then these trucks. My truck is a daily driver and thats it right now. If it sees a trailer a dozen times a year that would be huge for this truck. I use my dump truck for all my heavy hauling anyway.

 

[SgtKilroy]

They didn't wear out pretty fast? I've always been told to run E range tires on my truck since it's what the factory made it with. My truck is 4x4 so the front end might be a bit heavier than yours though.

 

[Dazedandconfused]

Not any faster then the E range that are on it. My last set of D's I ran on my Suburban came off one of my Dodges and ended up with 40,000 miles on them and they are now on a buddy's BB ford so probably have 45-48,000 on them now. My burb weighed 8,200 pounds and buddy's truck weights 8,000 with all his tools in it. If you haul heavy all the time then E's are what you need. The E's that are on my truck right now probably have around 43-44,000 miles and are almost to the wear marks.

 

[SgtKilroy]

Gotcha. Get those wheels picked out yet?

 

[Dazedandconfused]

I'm up in the air. Tell me what you all think since I cant figure out how to do a poll :rofl:

 

[SgtKilroy]

I see how it's a problem choosing! I'm gonna have to vote for the center one though.