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[HX_Guy]

I'm looking at a set of wheels that are only available in 18x7.5, which watches the stock wheels up front, but in the rear it would be going from a 18x8 to a 7.5...normally you want to keep it the same or go wider.

But if keeping the same tire size (245), does the wheel width matter at all (traction wise)?

[EndOfAnEra]

A 1/2 inch isn't much of a difference so you'll be good. How different are the offsets though?

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

I'm looking at a set of wheels that are only available in 18x7.5, which watches the stock wheels up front, but in the rear it would be going from a 18x8 to a 7.5...normally you want to keep it the same or go wider.

But if keeping the same tire size (245), does the wheel width matter at all (traction wise)?

Possibly yes.

Go to tirerack.com and find the tires. There's a line in the tire specs that says what wheel widths are appropriate. Sometimes too much of a stretch is bad, and a bulge is equally bad.

[HX_Guy]

Hmm, TireRack.com shows the Michelin Pilot Super Sports in a 245/40-18 are for rim width's of 8-9.5", so I guess the 7.5" is a no go.

[rxbaker]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Hmm, TireRack.com shows the Michelin Pilot Super Sports in a 245/40-18 are for rim width's of 8-9.5", so I guess the 7.5" is a no go.

If you're going to run the same size wheels both front and back, why not just run a square setup with the same tires? Do they make those rims in 8.5"? 245 or 235 in front should be no problem with the correct offsets and you could run the same ones in the rear with spacers to fill them out.

[HX_Guy]

Actually I was going to put the stock tires on the new wheels, so fronts would be 225/40 and rear 245/35.

The particular rim I'm looking (Breyton GTS) at is only available in a 18x7.5 from TireRack (only US distributor). There is a similar style (Breyton GTS-R) that comes in an 18x8.5 but it doesn't fit on the front, and the 18x7.5 that is meant for the front doesn't have an aggressive enough offset so it would need a 12mm spacer, which I don't really want to do.

Find another wheel with the proper width/offsets. That's too much of a compromise IMO. Plus, the GTS isn't exactly a unique looking wheel. There are tons of options out there that look the same/better.

[HX_Guy]

I actually really like the look of the GTS, they just look good to me . Unfortunately I don't want to put a 245/35 tire on a 7.5" wheel as it's not recommended by Michelin and I don't want to run a narrower tire on the rear either so I guess they are out.

They wouldn't have quite this much concave but they would have some.




Still considering the GTS-R but would need to run a spacer on the front, was trying to not do that. The GTS-R looks very similar, but is a bit more "airy" in design and I actually preferred the more bulky look of the GTS.

Sucks there aren't more options for this car, at least not at this price range (~$1000) and these weights (~19lbs).

[Gary@TireRack]

Factory front 18" sizing is 225/40R18 which will fit both 18X7.5" and 18X8" wheels with no problem.

[HX_Guy]

Thanks Gary, I was wondering about 245/35-18 on the 7.5" wide wheel, which apparently Michelin doesn't list as an approved wheel width for that tire size (minimum 8" width needed they say).

I actually went ahead with the GTS-R in the 18x7.5 ET45 fronts and 18x8.5 ET48 rears, the front did require a spacer to fit but I would have used one anyway to get a more aggressive stance. Wheels look amazing in person, love the concave on the rear!

Not bad *obama face*

It's a shame you can't run those concave 8.5s square.

I wouldn't worry about the final tire sizes you end up with, especially since you're going with the PSS. Those run wide anyway so even if you run stock sizing you'll still see way more actual tread width.

[wdeerfield]

i see you have a 2er. pics of the wheels installed! shame you couldnt fit 8.5 square

[HX_Guy]

Technically I could run 8.5s on the front too with a spacer (5mm may work, 10mm would definitely work) but the offset would be too aggressive for my liking, would end up with equivalent of 18mm more poke vs stock (with 5mm spacer) or 23mm poke (with 10mm spacer). I did quite a bit of testing with stock wheels and spacers and found 12mm was my favorite, 15mm was good too but that's as much as I'd want to go.

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1015458

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

i see you have a 2er. pics of the wheels installed! shame you couldnt fit 8.5 square

Here you go!