When it comes to overland and off-road vehicles like our Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series project vehicle (OVR LC100), wheel fitment is not just a matter of aesthetics—it’s a crucial factor that influences performance, safety, and vehicle longevity.
While aggressive wheel fitments can give a truck an impressive stance, finding a balance between the factory settings and an aggressive look can be the key to optimizing both appearance and functionality.
We were offered the chance by Nomad Wheels to see what the differences are between two different offsets of the same size wheel. Before we get into it further, let’s talk about why we want to apply more scrutiny to the offset of our rig’s wheels.
The Importance of Wheel Offset
Wheel offset is the distance from the wheel’s mounting surface to its centerline. This measurement is crucial because it affects how the wheel sits in relation to the fender, brake assembly and suspension components.
A proper offset ensures that the wheels and tires are correctly aligned with the vehicle’s geometry, which is essential for maintaining handling characteristics and minimizing stress on suspension components.
Understanding Factory and Aggressive Offsets
Factory wheels typically have a conservative offset to ensure that the tires fit well within the fenders, providing adequate clearance and maintaining the vehicle’s designed handling characteristics.
In the case of our 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser, the factory wheels are sized at 16x8 with an offset of +60. Positive offset wheels have their mounting surface closer to the outer lip, causing the wheels to sit deeper in the wheel well and not stick out beyond the fender. This 60mm offset keeps the tires tucked well within the fenders of the Land Cruiser.
We initially installed Nomad Convoy wheels sized at 17x8.5 with a +0 offset. This change not only made the wheels wider and taller but also aligned the mounting surface with the centerline of the wheel, thereby pushing the entire wheel outwards.
As a result, the outer edge of the wheels protrude about an inch beyond the fenders, giving the Land Cruiser a wider and more aggressive stance. While this look can be appealing, it comes with both benefits and drawbacks.
+0 offset is techincally a neutral offset and doesn’t necessarily make for an “aggressive” fitment wheel. But in the case of the Land Cruiser 100 Series, which factory wheel offset is +60, a +0 offset aftermarket wheel can be considered much more aggressive than stock.
Keep in mind that the figures for your vehicle may vary. Some trucks come from the factory with +0 offset wheels, in which case you’ll see more aggressive offsets listed with negative numbers such as -20 or -38. Negative offset wheels have their mounting surface closer to the inner lip, making the wheels stick out beyond the fender.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Aggressive Offset
The OVR LC100’s +0 offset wheels offered several advantages, including enhanced aesthetics as well as more practical applications. The wider stance provided by the +0 offset wheels increased standoff distance between the vehicle’s body and obstacles like rockwalls and boulders, which proved beneficial in tight off-road situations.
Additionally, the wider stance gave the Land Cruiser a more aggressive and rugged appearance, which many off-road enthusiasts find desirable – including ourselves.
However, there were also significant disadvantages to aggressive offset wheels. The wider stance puts additional stress on suspension components, potentially leading to premature wear and failures. The altered geometry can also negatively impact ride comfort, making the vehicle feel less stable on uneven terrain in extreme cases.
Moreover, even with our thin ”pizza-cutter” tire setup of LT34x10.5R17-sized Toyo Tire Open Country A/T III tires – which are not considered at all wide, the aggressive wheel offset caused slight tire rubbing inside the fender when steering at close to full lock, especially under load. A tire wider than 10.5-inches would likely create even more rubbing issues.
The Balanced Approach
To address these issues, Carter Kendall from Nomad Wheels gave us the unique oppotunity to compare the same Nomad 501SA Convoy Salt wheels that we have on the OVR LC100 with an almost identical set, with the difference being that this new set has a +25 offset versus our current +0 offset.
We headed to RPM Off-Road Garage, the specialty off-road shop that does most of the work on the OVR LC100, and asked them to help us dismount and remount our Toyo Tires onto the new Nomads. With the wheel and tire swap completed, we headed out for several drives on paved roads and unpaved trails to investate the differences for ourselves.
Compared to the +0 offset wheels that we’ve been driving on for over a year now, these +25 offset wheels bring the face of the rim back into the fenders by 25mm, which may seem like a minor adjustment but as we found, yielded significant benefits. The improvements were immediately noticeable.
First, the +25 offset ensured that our tires no longer rubbed the inside of the fender, even during full steering lock and when the suspension was under load. This was a welcome improvement for maintaining the vehicle’s functionality and avoiding damage to the tires, frame and fenders.
Second, with the wheels sitting just within the fenders, we noticed considerably less dirt and mud splashing onto the sides of the Land Cruiser. This not only kept the vehicle cleaner but also reduced the potential for paint and body damage from flying debris.
It also kept ourseves cleaner when entering, exiting and working in and around the vehicle. While this may not sound like a big deal, it is for us.
A former Toyota Land Cruiser engineer explained that aligning wheel fitment more closely with factory settings offers long-term benefits that are harder to quantify but are equally important. Reducing the stress on suspension components can extend their lifespan, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.
He also pointed out that maintaining a geometry closer to the original design also ensures that the vehicle retains its factory designed handling and stability, which is crucial for safe off-road (and on-road) driving. Additionally, a less aggressive offset can improve ride quality, making long overland trips more comfortable and less fatiguing for the driver and passengers.
A Visual Comparison
We realize that 25mm (0.98”) doesn’t seem like much and that it may even be hard to see. Below is a visual comparison between the two offsets. The first image is of the +0 wheels and the second picture shows the +25mm wheels.
The Best of Both Worlds
While aggressive offset wheels can make a vehicle look formidable, the key to a well-rounded overland and off-road setup lies in balancing aesthetics with performance and practicality.
We do like the look of the +0 offset wheels better, but by opting for +25 offset wheels on the OVR LC100, we achieved a compromise that enhances both the look and functionality of the vehicle. In fact, we like the squared up look that the +25 offset wheels give the truck.
This balanced approach ensures that the vehicle performs reliably in challenging conditions while also looking the part. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most effective modifications are those that strike a perfect balance between factory conservatism and aftermarket aggressiveness.
Final Thoughts
When considering wheel upgrades for your overland or off-road vehicle, it’s important to evaluate both the immediate and long-term effects of different wheel offsets. Striking the right balance can significantly enhance your vehicle’s performance, durability, and aesthetics, ensuring that you’re ready for any adventure that comes your way.
That said, we appreciate that wheel companies, such as Nomad Wheels, offers various sizes and offsets so you can choose how you want your wheels to fit – ultra aggressive, factory conservative or something in-between, like we did.
To learn more about OVR LC100’s wheels and tires, you will want to read this article too.
Nomad Wheels
501 Convoy
Size: 17x8.5 | 5x150 | +0
Size: 17x8.5 | 5x150 | +25
Toyo Tires
Toyo Tires’ Open Country A/T III
Size: 34x10.50R17LT
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