Chessie724

Hope this doesn't go to Ramblings...I think there's pertinent discussion material here. I've been shopping for wheels for the last five months, mainly because my tried and trusty TireRack.com kept bumping a backorder date because the manufacturer couldn't stock the wheel I was hoping to get. Anyway, it's been a torturous obsession finding something I like in a wheel that fits. Some websites say a wheel will fit, but another won't. I got eBay sellers and online vendors assuring me of fitments when my research says maybe-not. I'm researching backspace dimensions, weights, off-sets, spacers/no-spacers, it's fracking maddening I tell you!!!

I respect the fitment gurus that can figure out how to make what seem to be (on paper) impossible wheels fit, especially on lowered cars and even without rolling/pulling fenders. And drivers that just buy a wheelset and then find out they don't fit, that just boggles my mind. I'm an engineer by education (albeit half a lifetime ago) and I can't identify with that. It should be pretty formulaic in the figuring so that you can reasonably tweak dimensions to land somewhere between the stock wheel fitment and it's-not-gonna-work. It shouldn't be this difficult!

So anyway, onto the fitment question at hand...I'm looking at a different 18x8 that comes in +35 or +45. TireRack says +35 clears the Brembos but it's too much extension for their liking, even though I think it'd be worth the risk for a pretty flush look. But then would it be better to go with the +45 and add a 3 or 5mm spacer? That should be a good compromise, right?...split the difference to have brake clearance but it's not so radical an offset than +35. My brain is mush, I tell ya.

jwr0ng626

iTrader: (1)

+35 is NOT dangerous.... people run extreme wheels... 19x9 +15.... 19x10 +20...

18x8 +35 is pretty conservative..and will work perfectly, (but wont be flush) you wont have to mod fender OR stretch tires.. I have no idea what tirerack is talking about, there is much worse

hope this helps!

jimsta

iTrader: (1)

+35 won't give you flush, I've had 18x8.5 +35 with 235 tires and they are still ride pretty tucked. I don't think you will have a problem but i don't have brembos so I can't say.

murph145

^ agreed with others i have no idea why they say an 18x8 +35 won't fit that's ludicrous!

you really dont want to go higher than a +40 offset to clear brembos so a +35 would be just fine... on an 18"x8" rim you won't be flush until you have around a +20 offset at a +35 you can run normal tires and not worry about rubbing even when lowered

Chessie724

Thanks for the reassurances. I'm calming down about it.

I guess a lot of it is that vendors are playing it safe, and I understand that with our sue-happy society. I think they would sell more wheels though, if they worked with you. Most websites are yes-or-no with fitment with simple database checks, but if they were geared to have technical support available (faster than trading emails at a rate of one per day), the process could be more interactive and I guarantee they'd move more products.

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

i have 18x8 +40 and they fit fine over brembos. enkei ekm3 fyi

rptls08

iTrader: (1)

i have 19x9 +21 and they clear the brembos just fine... but i did have to do some fender modification

captain_crunch

Dude, I feel the same way. I've been looking for a set of wheels for the past 6 months and am about to lose my mind researching what size and offset will clear the brembos. I know of some wheels that will clear but don't want them. The wheels I am looking at, Boone really knows if they clear.
I'm probably gonna settle for some work 11r's but would really like a set of ssr type f's (18x9 + 32) but don't know if they'll clear. I do like the concavity of the ssr's.

Chessie724

Seein' the light at the end of the tunnel...

First, I have to brag that thanks to me and my crusade for fitment, the Enkei Imola rim at 18x8 +40 is now a validated by TireRack as compatible with the 6-spd 3G TL. They're also going to add the Motegi MR125 in 18x8 +45 shortly to the fitment portfolio, all thanks to me...got the emails to prove it. I challenged them and asked why they fit the auto and not the M/T when the offset and/or diameter increases should let it clear. They went back to the techs/engineers and are changing their database. I feel a little vindication, thank you very much.

So my original pursuit was for 6-spokes, ala TE37's, without the divorce-inducing pricetag. I was in the chase for some Tenzo DC-6's on eBay (cheap, but would've warranted a repainting job), but got sniped with minutes left in the auction. In looking at those, though I decided that I could live with 7-spokes, but only with thin/narrow spokes. I think I've narrowed it down to these two:



The Motegi's are new, so new that I can't find any images of them installed on any car, or even with tires. Frankly that's part of the appeal. I think the arms are sick, too and with the +35 fitment, should look pretty aggressive. I do personally prefer the finish on the Enkei's, but if the darker finish looks too color-matched to my AM, I can always paint them.

Bearcat94

Tire Rack is notoriously conservative with their fitments.

murph145

generally pretty much anything +40 offset or lower will clear brembos... even some +45's but thats a toss up at times... our stock rims are +45 and clear brembos but its tight so it really depends on the design of the wheel when you are around +45 offset if they will fit or not... but +40 and lower should be golden

murph145

when i got my rims on line from a site they asked if i was sure my TSW's would clear my brembos and i was liek yes i am sure... they told me if they didn't then its my responsibility lol