Understanding wheel offsets

 In order to choose which offset will suit your needs better first you must understand what the offsets mean. All wheels are offered in a x+z (for example 5+2)offset the Z is the amount of the wheel that sticks out past the hub while the X is the amount of wheel that sits inside the hub. The higher the Z the wider your machine will be(going from 5+2 to 2+5 offsets will yield your machine basically a total of 6 inches wider). A wider machine will handle better on high speed trails as well as handle better in offcamber situations by offering more stability. But the wider offset will also have a slightly larger turning radius, yield more kick back in the steering wheel, fit tighter on narrow trails, and it will yield more stress on the suspension components. Another thing you have to remember is the wider offset wheels will also sling more mud outside the fenders which will end up on you and your cargo, This can be corrected with the correct fender extensions but you may want to consider it when ordering the wheels.

The most common offsets are 5+2, 4+3, and 2+5. The 2+5 being the widest offset and the 5+2 being the narrowest offset. So for tight wooded trails you may consider the 5+2 for the narrower stance and maneuverability. Where if you find yourself in a lot of offcamber situations you may want the wider 2+5 offset for the sense of security that comes with the wider stance.

The main thing here is to weigh the pro's and cons and choose the best offset for the majority of your riding conditions. I currently am running the 2+5 offset (with no spacers) for the added stability in offcamber situations plus the fact a wider stance may stretch across and give a little extra traction in rutted mud holes..

If you do a lot of high speed riding you may want to look into a mid travel setup which will yield less cons with the basically the same pro's.