Hello,

I have done some searches but mostly the search engine just breaks when I try things like FC* AND offset AND rims. Dunno why. So I figured I'd just ask and hope nobody gets mad that I'm asking something that's probably been covered several times before.

I'm looking to upgrade my tires for spirited street driving (I'm in Atlanta... its considered normal driving here), and the occasional autocross days. I've got a good suspension setup on the way (Koni's + GC coilovers + new RB sway bars, etc) and need some good rims to go with it. I'm thinking 17's would be a good size. First of all, does conventional wisdom say that 17's are the "right" size for this? Second, how wide can I / should I go in the front? rear? I was thinking 17x7's or 17x8's in the front, and 17x9's in the rear, if I can get away with that. What offset should I then be running, and how do I find wheels with these offsets?

I particularly like wheels similar to the O.Z. Crono Evolutions and the BBS RZ series. If anybody has any further comments on these, I'd appreciate that as well.

Thanks!!

 

You're going to get differing suggestions, but these are the numbers I work with...

17" x 8" +27mm (+30 to +25 should work) with 225/45/17 up front
17" x 9" +20mm (+15 to +30 will work) with 255/40/17 in back


-Ted

 

If I like a particular design (O.Z. Crono Evolution, BBS RZ) can I find them in multiple offsets or am I usually stuck with what they offer? I really like those two designs and they are both VERY lightweight wheels which I also like. But I've read the BBS stuff is offset around 40, which is too much for 8's from what I've heard. Do your tires stick way out or do you find they fit decently?

You run 225's on the 8's? I'm running 215 now on the stock 6.5's and they fit VERY well! How does only another 1cm of tire width work with another 1.5" of rim width?

EDIT: oops restated myself twice.

 

you should be able to fit 245's on an 8" rim with that small of a sidewall. a friend of mine has 18x7.5's on his celica and he has 245's. that's amazing if he's telling the truth.

 

Yes, you are stuck with their offerings for offsets.  This is why I've mentioned a range for offset values.


I like to run very straight sidewalls on my wheel/tire combinations.  You can go with a 235 wide tire, but the total diameter gives you a much larger deviation from the stock 205/55/16 tire size.  I find tires wider than 225 are very hard to squeeze up front.  Thus, a 245 wide tire will fit on an 8" rim, but squeezing that 245 wide tire up front is pretty hard to do.  I think 225 is the "optimal" tire width for an 8" wide rim.


-Ted

 

Hey guys.. I have a question for ya.

I just got some FD rims for my FC. Im looking for a set of tires now and i was wondering if its possibe to fit 245's up front without TOO much rubbing. Im looking at maybe some 45 series tires. The reason i ask is because i want to be able to rotate the tires properly. anyone have experience with this?

 

 

http://www.negative-camber.org/crisp...c/fcpart11.htm

 

Hmmm... so one person says they are hard to squeeze up front.. And another has a link to a car with 245's on. You guys are just confusing me now.. Can someone clear this up?

 

The description on that page states:

"Clearance in the front between the tire and strut is minimal - 1/16" but it fits. The front wheels do stick out and preclude slamming the car too low[.]"

So basically I'd call that a pretty freakin tight fit.

 

He never says what size the tires are exactly though. He says 245's. but are they 40,45,50's??

Edit: Nevermind, didnt see that he says the tires size. 245/45/16.

 

There are laws down here in Hawaii that make stupid things like this illegal.  The law states that no part of the tire tread can past the wheel well vertical line.  It's for your own safety!

Recent rainstorms in Hawaii have caused a lot of pot holes to appear on the roadways.  On the news, some dumbass in a new Celica was bitching how he hit a pot hole and his front fender was wrinkled - aftermarket rims and tires.  He's lucky the tire didn't puncture due to the contact with the wheel well!  This is why getting proper offsets and NOT letting the tire contact the wheel well is so important - even more so with lowered vehicles.

Come on people, I know the allure of running wide tires is nice, but don't do it to compromise safety!


-Ted

 

Well the car in question is a semi-streetable gutted out budget race car, not something that most people would be driving on a regular basis.