wheel offsets

[T86951]

I have an '86 951 and am looking at a set of spare rims, phone dials, like are on it now. The ones I am looking at are said to be 52.3 offset. does anyone know if that is right for my '86?

Thanks

[T86951]

what would 52.3 offsets be off of? Is that the '87 and newer cars? What thickness spacers would I need and would I need longer studs?

Thanks

[This message has been edited by T86951 (edited 12-22-2000).]

[monteness]

Here is a good link to wheel and offsets... http://www.connactivity.com/~kgross/944faq13.html

Bret

[T86951]

Thanks guys, yea spacers and long studs are really costly. I have found a set of rims off a 924 turbo. They are only 6 inches wide but the bolt pattern (5 lug)is the same, same rotors and brakes too. That should do me for spares and they look good also ( alum, sort of honycomb style). I will put 205 tires on them for my 89 na.

[T86951]

I looked at the chart on the link and it looks like the 924 turbo also has 53 mm ofset. I guess that would be right as the finders are more narrow on the 924. Damn, I was ready to go get them tomorrow

[porscheboi928s/c944t/n]

you need to change the studs to 75 mm..frt and back (i did it on my 86 951)....my suggestion is for u to just get wheel spacer adapter...

[T86951]

I am really confused about this offset deal. If they have more offset do they stick out further? Then why do u need spacers when putting the 53mm on and '86 car that has 23mm offset? spacers would make them stick out even further. Anybody have experience with this and can explain it?

Thanks

[drew1]

As far as offset & backspacing, they can be confusing. I like to think of backspacing when considering spacers. Back spacing is the distance from the mounting area with the stud holes to the inside lip where the tire mounts. The only time I think about offset may be to consider if the rims will fit inside the fenders, or maybe to try & figure backspace. I believe offset is the distance from the mounting area to an imaginary surface running from the center of the inside & outside rim lips at the top to the center of the lips at the bottom.

let's hope somebody explains offset better than me.

drew1

[todd951]

Offset is the distance from the mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. It's equal to the backspacing minus half the width of the wheel. So as offset increases, the mounting surface moves toward the outer edge of the wheel. This means that you can use large ofset wheels on a small offset car if you use spacers, but you cannot use small offset wheels on a large offset car because the wheels would stick out of the fenders.

[T86951]

Thanks everybody , I got ot now. All the answers helped clarify it but Todd's really cleared it up. I undertand now how a larger offset makes the wheels actually move in and the track be more narrow. When I first thought of offst I thought the more offst the farther the wheels would stick out but its just the opposite.

Thanks