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what is golf cart wheel offset explained

by Flavie Hyatt Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Wheel Offset

  • The first number in the offset is how much backspacing is being represented.
  • The second number is the distance from the mounting space (where the wheel touches the hub) to the front edge of the wheel itself.
  • You can tell your wheel is centered when there is an equal distance between the front and rear wheel edge from where the hub touches the wheel.

Golf Cart Wheel Offset
An offset wheel means the hub mounting surface is not in the center. On a golf cart with offset wheels, the tire & wheel assemblies will either be closer together or further apart than centered wheels, depending on whether the wheels have a positive or negative offset.

Full Answer

What does offset mean on a golf cart?

On a golf cart with wheels that are offset, the tire/wheel assembly will be either close together or farther apart compared to wheels that are centered, depending on whether the wheels have a positive or negative offset. Can I put an 18” tire on an 8” wheel?

What is the offset of a wheel?

What is Wheel Offset? In short, offset is the distance from the center line of your wheel to the mounting pad. If the mounting pad is closer to the face of the wheel from the center line the wheel is a positive offset, if the mounting pad of the wheel is at the dead center of the center line the wheel is a zero offset and if the mounting pad ...

What are center mount and negative offset golf cart wheels?

Golf cart wheels are generally produced in two mounting styles for golf cart purposes – center mount and negative offset. The differences between the two styles are based on the position of the mounting flange (center of the wheel where the lug bolts go through).

What is the difference between a wheel and a golf cart wheel?

Wheels have rim flanges at their outer edges that provide a ‘seat’ for the ‘bead’ of the golf cart tire and a small hole for the valve stem. Golf cart wheels are generally 8″-14”across at the bead seat and 7-8″ across from flange to flange.

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What is the offset of a golf cart wheel?

What is wheel offset? The offset is a measurement of the distance from where the axle bolts to the inside of the wheel to the back side of the wheel rim. So on a 7" wide wheel, with an offset of 3+4, the first number is the inner measurement, the second number is the outer measurement.

What is a 3/4 offset on golf cart wheels?

On a wheel that has a 3x4 offset, the 3 represents the total inches of the backspacing. The 4 represents the distance from the mounting surface of the wheel to the front edge of the wheel.

How do you measure the offset of a golf cart?

0:421:53How-To Measure Golf Cart Wheel Size & Offset - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat that is determined by is the actual mounting surface where it mounts to the hub on your golfMoreWhat that is determined by is the actual mounting surface where it mounts to the hub on your golf car how will it measure that is turn it upside down we get a flat bar.

What does et 25 offset mean?

You will most often find this measurement moulded or stamped on your wheel, for example et25 or 25p. This would mean your mounting face is 25mm towards the outside of your rim from half of the wheel's width.

How big of tires can you put on a stock golf cart?

Non-lifted (stock) Club Car golf carts can fit any 18" tall all terrain tires (18x8-8" or 18x8-10") max without a lift kit. Any taller tires (20x10-10, 20x10-12, 23x10. 5-12, etc.) will require a lift kit.

Can I put bigger tires on my golf cart?

Lifted golf carts can fit ANY 8” tire, low profile OR high profile. In addition, lifted golf carts can fit any high profile tire measuring at 10”, 12” or 14”. Lifted carts will be able to take 20", 22", 23" and in some cases 24" all terrain tires.

How do I know what offset my wheels are?

0:433:04How to measure your Wheel Offset / ET accurately - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it's check the ox to measure the offset here we're just going to use a straightedge. Which you'reMoreSo it's check the ox to measure the offset here we're just going to use a straightedge. Which you're going to rest it up against the rim that we're going to take a measurement in millimeters.

Where do you find the offset on a rim?

Most wheels will have their offset embossed on the back of the wheel, either on the mounting plate itself or on the back of one of the spokes. Offset data usually, but not always, ends with the letters “ET” (which means the same thing as offset); a 45 mm offset will be printed as either ET45 or 45ET.

How are cart wheels measured?

0:346:39How to Measure Your Golf Cart Wheels & Golf Cart ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe will have to measure from where the tire mouse on the top to where the tire mounts on the bottom.MoreWe will have to measure from where the tire mouse on the top to where the tire mounts on the bottom. We can get this measurement I measure the entire wheel and deducting a half inch on each side.

Does lower Offset stick out more?

A simple way to understand offset, is the lower the offset, the more the wheel will stick out, likewise, the higher the offset, the more the wheel will tuck in.

How much Offset is too much?

Even if the tire and wheel have enough clearance, the wrong offset can decrease vehicle stability. Generally, with new wheels, you don't want the new offset to be more than 5 millimeters different from the old offset.

What does ET38 Offset mean?

What do wheel offset numbers mean? Offset is expressed as an ET number, (ie is ET38) and the 'ET' is a shortened version of the German word 'Einpresstiefe' which means 'insertion depth. ' The number is the distance in millimetres between the centre line and the mounting surface.

Sizing

Modern golf cart tires are tubeless and come in a wide variety of sizes and tread patterns. All tubeless golf cart tires have a thick ‘bead’ at the inner diameter of the tire on each side and air pressure pushes the bead against the wheel to form an air tight seal.

Tire Pressure

Your golf cart’s tire pressure is critical to long tire life. Proper tire pressure is usually indicated on the sidewall and will vary between brands or models of golf cart tires. Most golf car tires use somewhere between 15 to 25 PSI (pounds per square inch) with an average of about 20-22 PSI.

Tire Tread Patterns

Golf cart tire tread patterns vary from smooth (no tread at all) for greens mowers to straight rib and sawtooth for golf, turf, and street, to every type of knobby imaginable for off-road, mud, sand, and lifted application. We carry a full line of golf cart tires in our online store for golf/street use and for all types of off-road terrain.

Golf Cart Wheels

The rubber tires just described are useless without a golf cart wheel to which it is mounted. Golf cart wheels are generally made from steel or aluminum and can be painted or chromed. Wheels have rim flanges at their outer edges that provide a ‘seat’ for the ‘bead’ of the golf cart tire and a small hole for the valve stem.

What is offset on a wheel?

What is Wheel Offset? In short, offset is the distance from the center line of your wheel to the mounting pad. If the mounting pad is closer to the face of the wheel from the center line the wheel is a positive offset, if the mounting pad of the wheel is at the dead center of the center line the wheel is a zero offset and if the mounting pad ...

How does offset affect fitment?

The easiest way to understand how the offset affects your fitment is, the higher the offset the closer the wheel is to your chassis and the lower the offset the further the wheel is from your chassis.

When did the Corvette require high offset wheels?

In 1984 Chevrolet introduced the C4 Corvette which was possibly one of the first american vehicles to require high offset wheels.

How to determine wheel flange size?

Determine your centerline, this is your wheels width divided by two being the dead center of your wheel. Measure your backspacing.

What does offset mean on a golf cart?

An offset wheel means the hub mounting surface is not centered. On a golf cart with wheels that are offset, the tire/wheel assembly will be either close together or farther apart compared to wheels that are centered, depending on whether the wheels have a positive or negative offset.

Why rotate golf cart tires?

Rotate Tires Regularly - Uneven weight differences between the front and rear of the golf cart can cause wear and tear. Keeping your tires rotated periodically keeps them as even as can be, thus cutting down on the wear and tear. This is best for golf cart tires.

What is a dot tire?

A DOT golf cart tire is a tire that is approved by the Department of Transportation for legal use on highways. DOT approved golf cart tires have street tread patterns. These golf cart tires come in several different sizes to fit 8”, 10”, 12”, and 14” golf cart wheels.

What size tires can a golf cart fit?

Lifted golf carts can fit ANY 8” tire, low profile OR high profile. In addition, lifted golf carts can fit any high profile tire measuring at 10”, 12” or 14”. Lifted carts will be able to take 20", 22", 23" and in some cases 24" all terrain tires.

What is an all terrain golf cart tire?

An all terrain golf cart tire is just another term for a high profile tire or off road tire. See above for more on high profile tires and click here for some big All Terrain Tires.

How to remove lug nuts from golf cart?

The first thing you’ll want to do is slide a small floor jack under the chassis of the golf cart to raise it up slightly. Next, remove the lug nuts using the proper socket size and pull the wheel off of the lug studs. From there, you’ll need to use a valve stem tool to remove the valve from the tire stem.

What is a high profile tire?

High profile tires, also known as all terrain tires, are generally thicker and made to fit any golf cart that IS lifted (aga in, no lift kit installed). A high profile tire can be bought in several different sizes as well (8”, 10”, 12” & 14”). All Club Car EZGO and Yamaha golf carts will accept an 8” high-profile golf cart tire without a lift kit.

Why are golf cart wheels so popular?

Golf cart wheels are becoming more popular in the custom golf cart industry, and for good reason. They make the golf cart stand out, and add a level of awesomeness that turns heads when it rolls down the road.

What is a golf cart tire?

The golf cart Tire is pretty much what you’d expect. It’s a big piece of black rubber that is shaped around the silver metal that supports the tire. That silver metal part is called the wheel. A rim is just another name for a wheel. So if you’re confused about the difference between rim and wheel, there is none.

What are knobby tires?

Knobby Tires – Knobby tires can come in hundreds of different tread patterns. Most of the differences are very slight, but the shapes of the knobs will help you depending on the terrain they are being used in. Sand Tires – These are going to be a little different from your standard golf cart tires.

What does it mean when a golf cart tire is DOT approved?

DOT Approved. If your tires are DOT approved, this means that they are certified through the Department of Transportation. The treads are designed for road use, and will come in sizes such as 8”, 10”, 12” and 14” for your golf cart wheels.

How long do golf cart tires last?

Depending on the amount of use they get, and how hard you ride, tires will last anywhere between 2 and 4 years.

What size tires do you need for a club car?

You can find High Profile tires in sizes such as 8, 10, 12, and 14 inches. If you own a Club Car, EZGO, or Yamaha, you’ll be able to get away with an 8” all terrain tire without a lift kit. As you can see, the type of tire you purchase can directly affect whether you’re going to need a lift kit.

What are high profile tires?

These are mostly designed for off-roading, and will require your golf cart to be lifted. You can find High Profile tires in sizes such as 8, 10, 12, and 14 inches.

What is offset on golf cart wheels?

Custom wheel and tire orders usually start with the wheel. You will hear the term 3+4, 2+4 or 2+5 offset. Most of our golf cart wheels are 3+4 offset as a 2+4 or 2+5 offset pushes the wheel out from the hub and therefore the body (see image below).

What is the width of a golf cart tire?

205: This is the width of the golf cart tire ( across) in millimeters , which is about 8 inches#N#50: The ratio of the sidewall to the width (divide the first number, 205 by this number to get the ratio...the bigger the ratio, the meatier and taller the tire)#N#10: The tire size (to match wheel size you will mount on) in inches

What size tires are used on a golf cart?

The industry standard factory Golf Cart Tires that come on 99% of golf carts are 18x8.5-8" tires. Many cart owners decide to go with upgraded aftermarket wheels and tires in 10", 12", and 14" sizes... which is where the hundreds of new tire sizes/options come into play.

What is the difference between a 205-30-14 and a 205-65-10?

While a 205-30-14 tire on a 14 inch wheel (3+4 offset) installed on a Yamaha Drive will be slightly slower than the 205-65-10 but the 14 inch wheel will shine more. Club Car and EZGO typically have less tire and wheel flexibility due to the body style, but there are some nice options for them as well.

Is chrome wheel brighter than other colors?

Obviously the larger the custom wheel the more "sparkle" and "dance" the wheels create as they turn. Likewise, Chrome is brighter than most other colors. But size may give way to a less comfortable ride if a low profile tire is mounted on a 14 inch wheel as an example. But the trade off may be worth it.

What makes a difference in golf cart tire size?

Another factor that will make a difference in your golf cart tire size is whether your cart is lifted or not. Lift kits are used to create more distance between the bottom of your cart and the ground. This is useful for all-terrain situations. If you have a lifted cart, this will also affect your golf cart tire size.

What information do you need to know about golf cart tires?

Information you will generally need includes the following: The make of your golf cart. The model of your golf cart. The year your golf cart was manufactured. All of this can help you find out which tire is best suited to your golf cart. You can also keep an old tire to use as a reference.

What to consider before buying a golf cart tire?

The size can depend on many different factors, including: The make and model of your cart. Whether or not you installed a lift kit. If wheel offset needs to be considered. If the tire is high or low profile.

How wide are golf cart tires?

Many stock golf cart tires clock in at 18 inches tall and 8.5 inches wide when full of air. This type of tire can be fitted on an 8-inch round hub. The two most common stock tire sizes are 8 inches wide and 7 inches wide. There are even options to customize your tires depending on your needs or make/model.

What are low profile tires?

Low Profile: Low profile golf cart tires are thin and will fit on most carts that do not have a lift kit. Think of these as being similar to the sleek, stylish and performance-minded low profile tires you’d put on a sports car.

How to tell if a wheel is centered?

You can tell your wheel is centered when there is an equal distance between the front and rear wheel edge from where the hub touches the wheel.

Do golf carts have different tires?

Just like different types of automobiles require different tire sizes and types, golf carts also require different tire sizes depending on the type of cart your sporting around. Luckily, the team at Golf Cart Garage has put together a handy guide to help you understand your options when picking out new golf cart tires.

What is offset wheel?

Wheel offset represents the distance between the centerline of your wheel and the surface where it mounts to your hub. It’s important to install wheels with the right offset so that they don’t rub against your fenders, brake calipers, and / or suspension components.

What does it mean when a wheel has zero offset?

Rim offset can either be positive, negative, or zero. Here’s how the three types differ: To visualize this, look at a wheel from the top and picture an imaginary line that represents its inner mounting surface. Now, if this line is visibly in the center of the rim, it means that the wheel has zero offset.

What is offset backspacing?

Offset and backspacing are two different ways of measuring how a wheel will mount on your car and whether or not it’s going to leave room for other components. While they basically measure the same thing, the two are very different and need to be considered as two separate measurements.

What does a -10 offset wheel mean?

The same applies to negative offset wheels. -10 offset means that the mounting surface of your wheel is 10 mm away from the centerline, towards the inside. So if you switch from a zero offset wheel to a -10 offset wheel, it’ll pop out by 10 mm.

What are the downsides of positive offset wheels?

Clearance issues are the only major downside of positive offset wheels. If you have enough room in your wheel cavity, then you can enjoy the advantages of positive offset. If you’re low on space however, you might experience the following problems.

Why do car guys change their offset?

Car guys change their offset usually when they’re switching to a new set of wheels. It is done in order for a certain type of wheel to fit properly. The two main goals include: More stable handling. Better stance / wheel fitment.

What does negative offset mean on a wheel?

Negative offset: Mounting surface is tucked inside the centerline, towards the suspension. To visualize this, look at a wheel from the top and picture an imaginary line that represents its inner mounting surface. Now, if this line is visibly in the center of the rim, it means that the wheel has zero offset.

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