GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Just want to make sure I get the right wheels.Keith

did you find out the stock offset? cuz i was wonderin about what it was. im tryin to get some rims, and they come in a 42 offset. someone told me the stock offset was 38. so i dunno, 42 might be a lil big. a lil help. thanks.

quote:someone told me the stock offset was 38. I think I remember reading 5/100 bolt pattern, 38 offset also.

I can't find a definitive answer from the search feature.....or elsewhere.According to andrewmva, MODERATOR from http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... 0616#20616 5X100 (bolt pattern) for sure...you want a +35 offset SlammedNiss: from http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... id=162#162 I ordered my 19's in a 40mm offset. They were test-fitted with 17's with a 40mm offset. The lug-pattern is 5x100mm. Hope this helps... Nothing in the specs here http://www.genvibe.com/html/03guide/vibeguide3.shtml Hmmm...http://www.ronalusa.com/cars/toyota_matrix.html sez the ET.42-30mm http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm has a lecture on offset. (which I needed as a refresher)Looks like there is a range that would be ok. We are talking mm here.Arghhh!!! Anybody got the specs? Can anybody explain the advantages to more or less offset? I know it has an affect on handling...

I sold my stock 16" wheels & tires before I even got my Vibe, but the 15" Corolla steelies I'm using for the winter are 35 mm offset, and everything looks and feels fine. It's pretty easy to check offset with the wheel off the car: Just measure from each sidewall or rim edge to the hub mounting surface, subtract one from the other and divide by two. Tip: The aftermarket and OEMs use the opposite convention re which is "negative" and which is "positive" offset. (But FWD rims are invariably set way "in" from zero, so WE won't get confused...) Typically, the vehicle manufacturer wants to get the center of the tread directly under the pivot point about which the wheel steers, but occassionally they go further inboard to reduce torque steer. (called "negative scrub radius") Aftermarket wheel companies, especially for wider rims, usually aim for a compromise to keep the fat rubber out of both the suspension parts and the fender lips as much as possible, while trying not to stray too far from the stock offset. (Of course they also want their wheels to be as universal as possible, so you can't be sure they designed it specifically for your car...) Problems with rims too far "out" include over loaded outer wheel bearings, steering kickback and torque steer, softer effective spring rates, more negative camber, etc. Going too high on offset can leave the rim or sidewall fouling the strut, rear control arm, inner fender or various brakets such as for the park brake cable.The 1/2" thick adaptors I'm building for Project BigBoots (275/40 x 17"s on 10" rims) put the effective offset of my C-5 Corvette rims at 34 mm, but it looks like around 38-40 would be a better fit re fender lip and front wheel liner clearances. (I won't know for sure until I get them on.) Hope this helps!

Thanks for the technobabble MadBill.So you figure the stock Vibe Offset is +35?You had to mention you had a C5 didn't you.

Well, my Corolla "snow boots" wheels are + 35mm anyway. My guess is that the Vibe's are also, but I didn't measure them before I sold them. Also, the 17"s could be different than the 16"s. Sometime in the next few weeks I'll have a chance to measure some stock 17"s and will post the results if someone doesn't beat me to it.Re C-5 envy: Envy no more! A close reading of my post will reveal that, alas, I have C-5 Corvette WHEELS, not the whole car! (They were intended for my one-owner 495 c.i. aluminum-engined 1970 Z 28...)

I think MadBill is probably right here. The only thing I've heard about the Vibe/Matrix wheel offset it that it was high positive. Funny thing is that my 2000 V6 Mustang was the same way even though it was rear wheel drive. The V8's had a completely different suspension and therefore probably had the traditional negative offset for a rear wheel drive car.

Ronal USA provides the correct OEM fitment information, at the top of the page...@http://www.ronalusa.com INDEX of CARS section, PONTIAC---VIBE...Stock offset is listed at the top of the page...but this will change depending on which size and WIDTH of wheel you put on the car!READ the section, entitled "SHOPPING FOR NEW WHEELS?"at the front page of the website.If you have questions, email them toronalusa@ronalusa.com