MS3 Owners: Show us your wheels

As the calculator shows, it's the relationship between the mounting flange and the center of the wheel itself, which BTW has nothing to do with wheel width. If there is more wheel behind the flange than in front of it, pushed back under the fender if you will, the wheel is said to have a positive offset, what nearly every FWD car has.
If more wheel sticks out, sometimes called "deep dished" wheels, the wheel is said to have a negative offset.
From the factory and by design, our Mazda's come with either a +52.5mm (2004-2009,) or a +50mm (2010+) offset wheels. By installing +48's, and all else being equal, each wheel will stick out from the fenders another 2mm over stock (OE,) which is not a lot at all.
Go too far however and you begin to change the steering angle and things like steering angle/tire scrub and bump steer become issues, not to mention fender rubbing.
I hope that explains it a little better for you?
 
As the calculator shows, it's the relationship between the mounting flange and the center of the wheel itself, which BTW has nothing to do with wheel width. If there is more wheel behind the flange than in front of it, pushed back under the fender if you will, the wheel is said to have a positive offset, what nearly every FWD car has.
If more wheel sticks out, sometimes called "deep dished" wheels, the wheel is said to have a negative offset.
From the factory and by design, our Mazda's come with either a +52.5mm (2004-2009,) or a +50mm (2010+) offset wheels. By installing +48's, and all else being equal, each wheel will stick out from the fenders another 2mm over stock (OE,) which is not a lot at all.
Go too far however and you begin to change the steering angle and things like steering angle/tire scrub and bump steer become issues, not to mention fender rubbing.
I hope that explains it a little better for you?

So all it means is how far the wheel will stick out of the fender like some of these guys you see where it looks like they extender their axles a few feet and looks like garbage. lol
 
No, not really. That could easily change by simply going to a wider wheel with the same offset.
Its all about the center of the tire tread. Cars are designed with a particular suspension and steering geometry in mind. Mess with it and there will besome consequences, unless you redesign the whole thing.
Offset identifies the center of the wheel/tire in relationship to geometry of the steering system as it was designed. Too much offset and the tire will scrub (being pushed across its tread sideways instead of taking the path of least resistance) causing premature wear and push (a.k.a. understeer.)
As you steer a car, the tires turn with the angle of the car. Additional offset means you'll be fighting the tire to actually push the larger, outer portion of the tread forward. Steering will get harder, less stable and as I'd said, increased tire wear. This can also cause bump steer (the wheels fights back when going over bumps.)
Too little offset and you run into backspacing issues. The tire then rubs on inner fenderwells or suspension pieces, and again the tire is not turning from the center but on the inside tread.
5-8mm is not liable to do any harm. I usually try to stay within 5mm +/-. That's my personal rule of thumb.
 
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BE by Breyton 18x8 45
 




For some reason, I think the RX-8's has a way of making themselves look REALLY BIG. At least I think so (maybe I'm biased :) ).



Here's what they look like had it not been for brake dust.

 

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