wheel offset terminology

[Road America]

In some places I read that positive offset means the mounting surface is offset to the inside, making the wheel sit farther out (wider track), and other places seem to call that negative offset.
In full size cars, positive is narrow (flange closer to the outside) and negative is wide (flange closer to the inside). What's the "right" terms to use?

 

[nino]

It's usually opposite from 1:1 cars. More offset = wider track. But I don't think there's a rule per se

 

[CertifiedMike]

There is absolutely a set rule and us the same for 1:1 cars, truck, school buses and all rc's. Its standardized to avoid confusion.

The confusion usually comes from mixing back space with offset.

Hopefully the diagram will help.

 

[RustyUs]

In the short course world of wheels, a larger offset will widen things. The first time I heard "+3" used was in the new wheels offered for Team Associated SC10 rides to put the truck at maximum width for rules.

 

[Littlemotor]

View attachment 235052
There is absolutely a set rule and us the same for 1:1 cars, truck, school buses and all rc's. Its standardized to avoid confusion.

The confusion usually comes from mixing back space with offset.

Hopefully the diagram will help.

^^^THIS.

 

[RustyUs]

There is absolutely a set rule and us the same for 1:1 cars, truck, school buses and all rc's. Its standardized to avoid confusion.

The confusion usually comes from mixing back space with offset.

Hopefully the diagram will help.

That's the same picture I saved when I went shopping for full size pickup wheels, because RC positive offset terminology is backwards.

 

[Road America]

In the diagram, it shows a positive offset will put the center of the wheel inwards, making the track narrower.
Rusty's post seems to be saying the opposite.

 

[Littlemotor]

In the diagram, it shows a positive offset will put the center of the wheel inwards, making the track narrower.
Rusty's post seems to be saying the opposite.

Welcome to RC…

In the REAL WORLD-I.E.; every 1:1 vehicle on earth, @CertifiedMike ’s diagram is the gospel, and should not be questioned. He’s also correct in that 99% of confusion stems from folks mixing up offset with BACKSPACE measurement. Offset was used up until about 30yrs ago or better. Backspacing measurement is a far more standardized, and reasonable measurement for proper wheel fitment.

That being said; somewhere along the lines-some dipshiit RC engineer (that has ZERO clue wtf he was talking about ) decided to coin the term “+Xmm” to spec the wheel offset dimensions. Moron… Unfortunately it stuck, and nobody after that idiot had the balls to correct it, so unfortunately now, RC is “backward” from literally everything else on the planet.

Same thing in 1/8 (and some 1/10) when referring to wider wheel drive hexes for tuning changes. “+4mm” hexes WIDEN the track width of the vehicle, and BECAUSE they are widening it, the engineers refer to it (INCORRECTLY ) as “PLUS Xmm”, even though it should eleventybillion% actually be “MINUS Xmm” for all intensive purposes.

People are idiots…

So… This means that when talking RC, you need to go 100% by @RustyUs ’s diagram. Until another dipshiit RC engineer F’s up the global standard once more, anyhow..

 

[CertifiedMike]

Offset spacers is yet another wrench in an otherwise simple works.
I believe @Littlemotor is correct about the Mickey Mousing of the wheel offset in that diagram.
If this is the case, I recommend you buy wheels from companies like JConcepts or JCRacing. You can contact them and get exact and specific information about the product and how it will apply specificly to your rc.
Good luck getting that info from amazon!

The chart I posted is 100% correct. Look it up on any wheel dealer on the internet.

If it was screwed up by traxxas or any orther manufacturer, it was done so intentionally, to further lock you into their 'parts universe'
Utter nonsense.

The definitions and terminology did not change because it went to RC cars .