Never seen anyone as this...but is it possible to take a low offset wheel and find a machine shop that can shave/grind down the wheel pad to raise the offset?

 

I think I read somewhere (possibly here) that up to 10mm was possible, but that might be pushing it regards to the integrity of the wheel.

 

I was interested in doing this, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable without a good FEA stress analysis. Passenger car wheels are often overbuilt in this respect, but you're weakening the wheel by removing material.

I think there is a way to make it work, but I don't know if I would feel safe tracking the wheel and I wouldn't want to ruin some expensive wheels.

 

hmm...i figured it wouldn't hurt to shave off some of the pad...cuz for certain spec wheels, raising the offset just adds to the pad thickness...i didn't think it changed anything else on the wheel.

 

any good machine shop can do it. according to 5zigen the max amount you should grind down is 7mm. of course thats dependent on the wheel. whoever is doing is for you has to be careful because you are essentially changing the thickness of the seat surface of the lug nut. you dont want the lug nut seat to be too thin and have your wheel fly off at the track...

 

ah yes...i forgot about that. Guess i better just find wheels in the right offset

 

Hmm, I also forgot you then may run in to brake caliper clearance problems.

 

lol well i was thinking about shaving down like a wheel that was 17x9 +0...i think there's alot of room

 

they did that to my first set of wheels

 

take it to the 5zigen distributor in Torrance. They'll give you honest advice on whether it is safe or not to do so. It depends really on the wheel in question and how much "meat" it has available to cut.