i didnt want to hi-jack the other offset thread, but i wanted to make 100% sure i buy the right thing. the wheels i want to get (axis milanos) have a 2.5" lip, 19x8.5. they come in 2 offsets, 35 and 45. which would bring the tire the closest to the edge of the fender? obviously i dont wanna rub either way, but i want it just inside the fender, almost (but not) tucked when i lower.

 

35 will bring it closer to edge of the fender and possibly give you a bigger lip

 

i used that offset calculator from the sticky, and it said that a 35 offset will make the outter edge of the wheel stick out 29mm more...which is just over an inch....can that be right? that would mean the front tires would be well past the fenders, and the rear would just barely clear, if that calculator is right.

im soooo confused, lol. i assume what you said is correct Mack, thats what i thought originally.

 

ok let me explain the offset as well as I can.
Basically your rims are 8.5 inches wide. If you take half of that you get 4.25 inches. This would be considered 0 offset if you bolted the rim onto the axle at this point. Offset is measured in mm from the center of the rim to the place where you bolt the wheel on. The farther you move the bolt location toward the outer edge of the rim, the larger the number becomes. For example, a rim with a 45mm offset moves the bolt location away from the center (4.25") 45mm toward the outside or the rim. A 35mm offset moves only 35mm away from the center, therefore there would be 10mm more lip on the same width rim compared with the 45mm offset. When I say lip it doesn't always mean that it will have a lip. Some rims never have a lip no matter what the offset is. IT depends on the style of the rim. All you need to know is that the smaller the number in mms, the more it will stick out.

The calculator seems about right because although your original offset is like 45 mms you must remember that this measurement has been taken using 7" rims. The mid point on a 7" rim is only 3.5". Much narrower. I believe if you look closely you will see that you have about enough room to fit the 35mm offset. Mind you I would not try and fit any less offset than that on the front (by less I mean 34mm or any smaller number than that). You can actually get away with probably 25mm offset with a 8.5" rim on the back but don't quote me on that cos I have never tried it.
I hope I didn't totally confuse you about offset. It is so easy to explain if I could actually do a diagram.
35s are good though so go for it.

 

thanks for that explanation mack, i really appreciate it. i understand now, it makes sense.

i guess what throws me is the lip, for some reason, its like a mental block for me. ill check around for those rims in 35 offset. thanks again.

 

Yeah thanks for the explanation, I was confused a little about offsets. I'm thinking of getting 19x8 zenetti five's with a 40 mm offset.

 

35 should work just fine