Last couple of weeks I've been posting alot of questions on offsets and I really appericate all the help I am getting from everyone. My question is , is the higer the offset the more the rim sticks out or the more it sticks in ? Im set on a pair of rims with a 38 offset 17's. I just dont want any rubbing

 

I'm almost positive with a 38 offset ur goin to rub! not 100% sure though.

 

YOU WILL DEFINITELY RUB! DOnt get that setup. for 17's you want at LEAST a +42 offset. You can get away with +40, but with any kind of drop you will have to roll the fender.

 

the guy told me something about spacers. anyone use those? are they safe?

 

Spacers would move the wheels outward I believe.... therefore doing the exact opposite of what you are looking for. The higher the Offset # the more the wheel will be "tucked in" to the car. You need the high offset so that the tires don't stick out too far as to rub against the fender.

 

well, it's not a simple answer. offset comes in 3 types...positive, negative and zero. offset is defined as the distance between the wheel's centerline and the hub surface (where the wheel mounts to the car). zero offset is just that...the centerline and hub are in the same plane. a negative offset is when the hub is in the inside rim half. positive offset is when the hub is in the outside rim half. as you should follow, you can't talk about offset without talking about rim width (rim diameter is almost meaningless here).
most normal or slightly wild cars run a positive offset, so in cases like these, the higher the number the farther in the wheels will mount (unless your rims where too wide to begin with). because the hub surface is farther out. conversely, a high negative offset would mean a lot of the rim width will be in front of the rotor, quite possibly sticking out of the wheel well.

this is an example of positive offset...


spacers tend to move the wheel farther OUT of the wheel well.

 

this is getting too confusing to me now... the type s rims that we have now is 50+ offset.. but if i can put my fingers between the center cap and the rim that should be more than 11mm cause i plan to get a rim 17x7.5 with 39+ offset. wouldnt a spacer help correct the needed offset?