An Unsettling and Disturbing Guide to Handling, Modifying and Enjoying Your Car...

What should we know about wheels?

Weight matters.The lighter the better, as a light wheel will follow the bumps better than a heavier wheel. (Being sprung weight - part of the mass of the suspension that moves with the road whilst the body theoretically remains stable over undulations - it's good to reduce the weight and reduce the forces involved.)

Offset is also important. Positive offset will increase the track (width side to side) of the car, lessening weight transfer and increasing grip. Such wheels are recognised by a concave, deeper look, where the mounting surface of the wheel is further inboard, beyond the centreline.

Negative offset is where the mounting surface is outboard of the centreline of the rim, giving the wheel a flatter appearance. Front drives often have negative offset to allow for the extra hardware upfront - the driveshafts, constant velocity joints and so on. However to consciously choose to refit your car with negative offset wheels means that you are choosing a narrower track, more weight transfer and less grip. Not a good option. However - since I now sense you of you front-drivers rushing off to get funky positive offset wheels or spacers - don't do it. Even if you manage to fit 'em - and you won't - your car's front end geometry will be totally stuffed. See an expert, perhaps an engineer, if you want to do something like change your track width.

Size matters, too - but we'll get to that.