offsets and stuff

[GoLfMan]

Im really confused about all these offsets (positive and negative) and all that stuff that goes with wheels, can someone please enlighten me as to how all it works..
Cheers

[evorobin]

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2006/09/WheelOffset-1.jpg

Higher the positive number the more the wheel sits in the arch. The lower the number the more the wheel sticks out. If the mounting face is very low (negative 6mm) this happens

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2006/01/mk1010-1.jpg

[GoLfMan]

thanks for that mate :)

[rayray086]

Just wanna ask a few questions relating to this offset business...

I read somewhere that most FF cars use high positive offsets, whereas most FR/MR cars use low positive/negative offsets. What's the reasoning for this?

And also, what are the consequences of using low positive/negative offset wheels on FF cars, like a Golf?

[evorobin]

Moderation is the key. Popular opinion suggests excessive wheel bearing wear. I always thought the positive offset was a packaging factor where in a fwd the drive shafts are either side of the gearbox compared to a rwd where they exit the diff...