jz983

the 96 2.5 has a +38mm offset right? correct me if i am wrong. now can i get new wheels with a bigger offset, or do they have to match exactly? like, can i get +42mm? i can't go down right, to like 35mm right?

TLBaller

if you want 18's....7.5 width is the max you can get (from what i hear) +42 is the max offset you can get...for 18's or 17's

neokinetiks_00

On My 96 2.5 I have had 18x8 w/ a +43 offset w/ 215/35/18 tires and 3.25" drop.Tires were way too small. Went to 225/40/18 on 2.25" drop w/ no rubbing problems. Now 19x7.5 w/ +43 offset 225/35/19 2.25" drop no rub. w/ a camber kit in the front. Hope I helped.

mola

38mm offset is 38mm from center so the offset is really based on a few factors.
1) width of the rims
2) width of tires i.e. 225/35 - 17 where 225 is the width (225mm)
3) width the car will allow from inside and outside without the wheels sticking out too far and wheels touching the inside.

It's a general rule to stay within 20 mm of factory offset and I think 15mm max rule works for our TL's. There are also spacers to push the rims out to help with centering however I dont recommend them... it's a pain in the rear if you have to change tires.

For the 3.2's factory spec seems to be 55mm however my car came with 65mm offset rims. I'm running 45mm offset 16 inch rims and it's pretty close... the rim design is flush to 45mm offset so the rim is a credit card width away from the front brake calipers.
It also sticks out just a tad, if I lowered it it'll rub since the tires wont clear the fenders. Well, maybe if I rolled them it might work.


So larger the rim size, the width normally gets wider... so try to stick close to your 38 offset as possilbe... meaning if the larger rims are wider like 10mm, then it'll push out 5mm on each so you have less than 5mm of offset flex to work with. Also all cars have more than plenty of room to go wider ...

If you have 38mm offset you can go 35mm ~ 45mm without question, going father would need some calculations including rim width and tire size. Some some tires are wider than others using the exact same size. i.e. Kumho side walls are flat, so not as wide as the same size conti tires which are round.

I think I can go one for couple more lines but... the above items to consider should be enough to work on.

It also looks like you got some good real life info from neokinetiks and TlBaller above.


Mola

Mikes96TL03CLS

For 18's you should get +42 offset. I have had so much trouble finding rims for my TL. All the ones I find are not +42 offset. So I am still looking.

TowerOfLove

wat is the factory tire width, offset, lug pattern etc. ?

TLBaller

i think factory tire size is 16? lug pattern for 2.5 is 4x114.3 and 3.2 is 5x114.3

Wampum

3.2TL 205/65/15 +55 offset I believe. 5x114.3 lug patter
2.5TL 205/60/15 Don't know the offset but I am sure its right around the same. not sure about the bolt pattern either.