United Tire and Service News

Aftermarket wheels and tires are great ways to improve your car’s appearance and performance. It is very important to match the tires and wheels to your car. Wheel offset simply refers to distance from the wheel hub’s mounting surface to the wheel’s centerline. Depending on the width of the wheels and tires you are mounting, you have either zero, positive, or negative wheel offset. It is important to ensure the correct wheel offset to prevent damaging your wheels, tires, chassis, and suspension parts.

 

A positive wheel offset happens when mounting surface of the hub is located toward the front of the wheel. A positive offset results in a large amount of backspacing. That means your wheel and tire occupies more area inside the fender than outside. Virtually all front-wheel-drive cars and most vehicles built in recent years. When you mount new wheels, too much positive offset can cause the inner edge of the wheel to rub on the bodywork and chassis. That could lead to costly damage, tire failure, or an accident.

 

You get negative wheel offset when the mounting surface of the wheel hub is located behind the wheel’s centerline. Wheels that feature a “deep dish’ profile often have a negative wheel offset. That includes many aftermarket wheels for 4X4s and similar larger vehicles. The negative offset creates a lot of surface area for wide tires, like those mounted on 4x4 trucks. That give room for wide wheels and tires without damaging body parts or the chassis.

 

A zero offset happens when the wheel centerline is perfectly centered. You have an equal amount of backspace on the inside to the wheel as you do space on the outside. Some older style cars and trucks have zero wheel offset. It is fairly rare on newer vehicles, no matter their drive configuration. United Tires has a great selection of top-brand aftermarket wheels and tires. We also have spacers, wheel hubs, and new wheel assemblies that ensure the correct wheel offset for your choice in custom wheels and tires.

 

If you are looking for a great-looking set of aftermarket wheels and tires, call us now. United Tire is a collection of 13 independently owned tire shops across the greater Philadelphia area. You can stop in and browse our aftermarket wheels tires from the top brands in the business. When you find what you like, we can help ensure it will fit and look great. That will improve your ride and make your car, truck, or van more personalized. We have a comfortable waiting area with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, snacks, and drinks to keep you entertained. We will make your ride roll with the good times and look great with custom wheels and tires.