Folks,

It's been a long time since I've perused these great forums. Approximately since baby #1 came along.

Well, now I'm looking to do the very modest mod of getting a full set of summer wheels/tires. I have a hook up on some Enkei RPF1s and would like to go 18" (Chicago's inept government and related potholes make 19"s a bad idea).

I checked the FAQ first and did some queries, but I haven't been able to absolutely confirm the answer to these noob questions of mine:

1. If going 18"s, what's the widest I can go on the front and back if I wanted to have the wide look without any kind of adapters to deal with offset? I'm thinking 8.5/9.5 with 245/40 275/40 tires, but am a bit weary in the event I have my car loaded with people.

2. Would I need spacers?

3. Would that set up carry any risk? (e.g. throwing off the speedometer)

4. Any suggestions for a better staggered alternative?

5. Any one have an RPF1 staggered set up on 18" today that can share how well the work for them?

Thanks.

 

1) based on your desires, it will be very possible to run that setup but it will come down to offset.

2) Again, offset

3) find the tire size calculator and see for yourself, off the top of my head it will be off by very little but I wouldn't consider that taking a risk.

4)8.5/9.5 is pretty good, 8.5/10 even better (if they make x10 size that is).

5)I dont have them but my friend does, they are VERY VERY light and that's always a plus.

 

Understood. I'm waiting on the size of the tires he was going to hook me up with.

I am a bit stuck on the offset thing. Is there a calculator out there on that or is it as simple as ensuring the offset of the RPF1s is either the same as my current offset or within some specific limit (e.g. 45mm??)?

Thanks for your help.

 

you dont want your offset to be the same......usually stock offsets are very conservative and wheels are not lined up with the fenders. List the size/offsets/tire size of the setup you are gonna get and we'll tell you if it'll look good or not. We have many wheel gods on this forum (I'm not one of them), and they can tell you just by specs what you need to run to make it functional and look good.

 

So this is what I'm looking at right now:

Enkei RPF1s 18x8.5 all around w/ a 40 mm offset (there is a 30 mm offset option) http://www.1010tires.com/wheel.asp?w...=379-8856540SP

Bridgestone Potenza RE050 Tires in 245-40-18 (cause they're free)

I considered staggered, but went for uniform since the tires are free and then I can rotate.

Your thoughts/suggestions?

(Now I just need to find some inexpensive OEM TPMS)

 

You would want the 30mm offset with an 18x8.5 245/40 setup.
-GP-

 

Because I seek to understand, may I ask why? I'd like to de-noob myself over time. : )

 

stock coupe wheels are 18x8 +30 all around with a staggered 225/245 setup and is barely flush on a sedan at stock ride height. 18x8.5 +40 with a 245 will be slightly more tucked than stock coupe 18's. The +30 on an 18x8.5 with a 245 tire will fit perfectly at stock ride height but will still look good when the car is lowered.
-GP-

 

Gotcha. Just to be sure given the coupe reference, I am planning this for my sedan (although I wish I still had my coupe). Does your rec still apply? In my simple mind, I was thinking +30 would stick out less than +40 and possibly be too tucked.

Thanks again.

 

Yes, it still applies... if it was for a coupe, i would recommend a +5 or lower offset. The lower the offset, the further out the wheel is pushed towards the fender.
-GP-

 

Understood.

So if standard offset is 45mm, would I need spacers? Can I safely assume the spacers would need to be 15mm in size (45-30)?

 

do they not have the RPF1's in anything but +45?
-GP-

 

if you can try to run at least a 9" wide rpf1. then you can have the flat face bc it looks SO much better

 

+100000

18x9 +30 with a 255/40 tire would look much much better than the 18x8.5 +30 or 40 with a 245/40

 

Not sure about this. The +40 will move the tire inward by 10mm, but you're running a tire that's 20mm wider, 10mm of which will be on the outside, putting it in basically the same position as the 225's with a +30 offset. Add in the fact that the wheel is ¼" wider on either side and I think a +40 with 245's will be perfect in the front.

Again, not sure about this. I've put my Coupe 18x8's with 245 in the front of my Sedan, and it's too wide. Sticks outside the fender. It's the only reason I haven't put 245/45's all around on my car. If I had a +40 offset in the front I would have already done that.

Maybe my math is wrong for this specific setup, but I know it doesn't work on my car. OP, have you considered 235/45 in the front and 265/40 in the back? Same diameter and same diameter as stock (26.3").