Measuring Offset for Fitment
When fitting new wheels, one of the most important measurements to get right is backspacing — it determines how your new wheels will sit inside the guards and clear suspension or brake components. Follow the steps below to accurately measure your current wheel’s backspacing and work out what size and offset you’ll need for your new set of LA Custom Wire Wheels.
What you'll need
- Tape measure
- Straight edge (e.g. another ruler or flat piece of metal)
- Wheel, without fitted to a tyre is preferred but not mandatory
- Flat ground or workbench
Step 1 — Measure Your Wheel Width
Lay the wheel face down so the mounting pad (where it bolts to the hub) faces up.
Measure from the inside lip to the opposite inside lip — not the outer edges — to get the wheel width in inches.
Example: 8 inches
Step 2 — Measure the Backspacing
Keep the wheel face down on the ground.
Place the straight edge across the back of the wheel — it should touch both inboard flanges evenly.
Use your tape measure to measure the distance from the hub mounting pad (the flat surface where the wheel sits on the hub) to the underside of the straight edge.
This is your backspacing.
Example: 4.75 inches of backspacing
💡 Note: The larger the backspacing number, the further the wheel sits inward (toward the suspension). The smaller the backspacing, the further it sits outward (toward the guard).
Step 3 — Calculate Wheel Offset
Offset describes how the wheel’s mounting pad sits relative to the centreline of the wheel.
To find it:Divide your wheel width by 2 to find the centreline.
Example: 8″ / 2 = 4″
Subtract the centreline from the backspacing: Backspacing – Centreline = Offset
Convert the result to millimetres (1 inch = 25.4 mm).
✅ Positive Offset: Mounting surface sits toward the front (wheel sits further in).
❌ Negative Offset: Mounting surface sits toward the back (wheel sits further out).
Step 4 — Check vehicle clearance
Before ordering new wheels, confirm clearance around:
Brake calipers and rotors
Suspension arms and tie rods
Inner and outer guards (especially when turning lock-to-lock)
Shock absorbers and mounts
Use your existing setup’s backspacing and offset as a reference point — this will tell you how much extra space (in or out) you have available.
Step 5 — Choosing Your New Wheels
Once you know your existing backspacing and offset:
You can select new LA Custom Wire Wheels with the same or slightly adjusted specs to achieve your desired stance.
If you want your wheels to sit more flush or have more dish, you can reduce offset (less positive or more negative).
If you need them to tuck in further, increase offset (more positive).
If you’re unsure, contact our fitment team with your vehicle details and your measurements.