thughunter1961

I have posted, in this forum, a few times, but still have not got definite answers to my questions. Spring is coming and I need to get some wheels ordered. So here goes again...and pardon the details.

I have a 2007 Type-S with the stock suspension. I do not want to drop the suspension or roll/modify the fenders.

The wheels I am looking at are the XXR502 model.
Front 18x8.5 35 offset
Rear 18x9.5 35 offset

Tire size choices:
Front: 235/40-18 Rear: 265/35-18
or
Front: 245/40-18 Rear: 255/40-18
or
Front 245/40-18 Rear: 245/40-18

Here is what I'm trying to accomplish:
Staggered look
No rubbing...even with my two chubby friends in the rear
No body/suspension mods
Keeping the ride quality close to stock
Rim protection...(I'm not the only person that drives the car) taller sidewalls help.

Anyone advice would be appreciated.

murph145

i think you should run a wider tire in the rear if you are not lowering the car..... also i think you are guna get most people in here saying it will need to be lowered... when i put my rims on and didnt lower my car it looked silly too much gappage under the fenders but now being lowered looks sooooo much better and the cost isnt bad at all

thughunter1961

I didn't want to lower the car. I've had bad experiences, in past, with lowering My first choice is to put 245/40-18 in front and 255/40-18 in rear. Taller/wider tires that would help the "gappage" and give a little more sidewall for rim protection. I'm just concerned that, in the rear, running a 18x9.5 35 offset wheel that they will rub and or stick out of the wheel wells, and look dorky. Don't want to have to roll or pull fenders. My second choice would be the 235/40-18 front, 265/35-18 rear. The overall diameter would be stock but I am still concerned with rubbing and dorky sticking out issue.

ASASN21

Without lowering the car that's going to be inevitable.

Run 235/40 front and 265/35 rear.

thughunter1961

The question still remains...will the 265/35-18 on 18x8.5. 35 offset whees rub in back? And if not how much can I lower before the rubbing begins. I do not want to roll or pull fenders.

murph145

no on stock suspension nothing will rub..... i run a 19x9.5 rear 40 offset yes its kinda weak but not bad haha and i dont rub and id didnt roll my fenders im lowered like 2" and i can fit a finger in between my tire and fender snug but no rub

myron

iTrader: (4)

Are yOu sure that those wheels will clear the brakes? That would be my first concern

thughunter1961

I called the importer, of the wheels, and they assured me the wheels would clear the Brembos. Of course, there is always the possibility they could be guessing.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

The diameter of the OE Michelin tire is 25.6".
The 235/40-18 is only 25.4" and the 265/35-18 is 25.3", so both are smaller than the OE tire. This is why the gap will be wider and increase as the tires wear. One reason to go with the 245/40-18 at 25.7", or at least shoot for that dimension as the minumum height.

thughunter1961

I appreciate all the responses. Turbonut, your response prompted me to do a little research. I checked the car, it is wearing a set of Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 size 235/45-17. Not sure if these are the OE tires because I bought the car, used, with 18,000 miles, on the clock. I checked Michelin's website and , at first, I thought Turbonut is off on his specs. The 235/45-17 listed there showed a 25.35" diameter. Then I looked on Tirerack and they showed two listings for the MXM4, in that size. One with a 93 load range and a 25.6" diameter and a 94 load range with a 25.4 diameter....and....Turbonut is right on...my car has the 93 load range tires.

The manufacture website tire diameter specs are as follows:

Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 235/45-17 25.6" 9.6" section width on an 8" wheel
Continental DWS 235/40-18 25.4" 9.5" section width on an 8.5" wheel
Continental DWS 245/40-18 25.7" 9.8" section width on an 8.5" wheel
Continental DWS 255/40-18 26.0" 10.2" section width on a 9" wheel
Continental DWS 265/35-18 25.3" 10.7" section width on a 9.5" wheel

I'm leaning towards going with the 245/40-18 tire in the front and the 255/40-18 in the rear. As Turbonut stated, this would help the "gap" and give me a little more sidewall for rim protection. So long as they don't rub, I may go for lowering later. My local Discount Tire told me they would order me whatever set up I wanted to try, as long as I agreed to pay oneway shipping on anything I ordered but didn't purchase. I would like to get the set up and the look I want on the first try.

akrapovic

iTrader: (2)

not to thread jack but im having the same issue trying to figure out what size tires to run without rubbing. Im going with 18x9.5 et38 all the way around and im dropped like 2 1/2 inches. i think the best i can do is 245/40/18 without rubbing on the fenders since i dont have them rolled. trying to find a pic of what 245s look like on 9.5"