So I'm checking out wheels and I found 5 sets I really like. they are all completely different styles and offsets and I was wondering what will fit well. I don't want the offsets too agressive. I plan on running the stock tire size, or bumping up to a 235 or 245, not a fan of stretch after my 4 years in the Euro community.
Set 1: MB Wheels Weapon in Bronze in 18x9, but the only et 38.
Set 2: Kyowa Designs Mesh Zero, only available in Matte Silver, 18x8 off et 38.
Set 3: Rota D2 Royal lip gunmetal 18x8.5 et 35
Set 4: Rota P-45 Sport bronze 18x8 et 35
Set 5 : Asuka Racing NZ51 18x8 et 35.
Each wheel has it's own style and Since my car is blue I wanted to try something different. I just wanted to make sure that any wheel I chose from these will fit and what anyones opinions would be.

 

If you don't want you tires stretched. Thee 18x8s you can keep your stock tire. That what I have. 18x8.5 with stock tire would be slightly stretched but not too much. And if you went 18x9 thats when you can get a 235/40 or 245/40 which ever you prefer. I think that would look good.

 

To give you an idea I have 17x9 with 235/40's on my CR kais for my rx7..I love it.





Best pics I have but just thought I would share in case you were curious.

 

You want to keep the stock offset as close to stock as possible (at all costs!)...+39. By doing so, you will maintain all of the suspension geometry correctly. Your bearings will last longer and your tires too. The further off of the stock offset you go, the greater the risk of screwing up the handling of your car. There is plenty of clearance for 9" wheels with a +40 offset...I've checked. You might even be able to stick 10-inchers with the +40 offset. There is plenty of room up front, but the drag link may get in the way of the 10-inchers in back. Keep it as close to +39 as possible. This is one place to sacrifice looks (flush, not flush) for performance.

 

thanks, so the et 38 wheels are my best option then. i love looks but I want this car to be as functional as possible, my wife and I are in the service and alaska is on our list of possible next base, so function is #1 right now.

 

A +38 with the 18x9 will fit great. That would be my suggestion.

 

so offset stays the same even though wheel width goes up?
<- I'm a wheel novice as well

 

^No. You need to play with offset to get a wider wheel to fit. That's what offset is for.

You do not need to match stock offset when buying new wheels but you do need to check your clearances when going wider than stock otherwise you can run into rubbing issues with various parts of the car.

Use this to get an understanding of what offset and width will do to the fitment versus stock:
http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

Remember, stock is 7.5" wide and +39.

 

so, i calculated 18x9 with +38 offset and it says there's 18mm less clearance so what's the limit on clearance on the tC2?

 

When using the offset calc one thing that helps me is to reference a picture of a known wheel and how it fits on the car, for example....

WellesleyScion (Ted) runs an 18x9.5 with a +35 offset, which looks like this...



Another example, the Five:AD tC2 has 19x8.5 with a +30 offset, which looks like this....



So if you insert the stock wheel specs (18x7.5 et 39) and compare these two sets you end up with this

Ted's tC: 21mm less clearance on the strut side and 29mm less clearance on the body side when compared to the stock wheel

Five:AD tC: 4mm less clearance on the strut side and 22mm less clearance on the body side when compared to the stock wheel

Look at the two pictures and those numbers and compare the wheels you are interested in to get a good idea of how they will fit!

Another interesting note is that the fiveAD car has a whole inch narrower wheel, but nearly the same clearance on the body side, simply because they have a +30 offset compared to +35. Offset is key!

You asked what is the limit for clearance on the tC2, well you have to be the judge based on what your style and preference is on wheel fitment. if you like how either of these fit, then find wheels with similar clearance, if you want more or less just compensate with offset... hope that helps bro!

-Austin

 

Ahhh! The wheels I want are 18x9.5 et30 but I'm not sure if they will fit with my 255's even if I roll my fenders. After looking at wellesleys I don't know if I could pull off the other 5mms I don't want -3 degrees of camber to do it either. Only -1.5 but no more. What do you guys think?

 

I found this.....




So your +30 offset might not be optimal with a 255. There seems to be room for large wheels, but only with more offset....

 

Damn. Well I'll see if I can find a 38 then for it. Thanks!

 

The center of the contact patch of the tire (to the ground) coincides with the centerline of the wheel. All of the suspension geometry is designed and calculated from that point. The offset is the dimension from the centerline of the wheel to the mounting face of the hub. Neither point changes...ever!

There is one more consideration, you could also screw up the suspension geometry by changing the diameter of the tire. The most acurate is the number of revolutions the tire rotates to travel one mile. That is how Michelin reports this. To explain why the diameter of the tire is so important, none of the suspension points are at right angles. So when you change the height of one side of the triangle, that angle does not change and moves that intersection point (center of the tire contact patch) out of that design point.

You need to know a lot about the suspension to change the offset or the diameter and not screw it up. That means that you could change both (in the right way) and still be good...but there is quite a bit of calculation and knowing a lot about the original design to be able to do that.

 

thank you, that makes sense. so for ideal suspension geometry and grip, you want to maintain offset while fitting the widest wheel in there, correct? So a 18x9 with +38 offset will be a pretty good fit without having to roll fenders, right?

 

Yes...for the first part...

Probably...for your second question...but it all depends on the "rolling" diameter of the tire you put on.

And it sounds like you are getting it...

 

I love when people reference my car, LOL It makes me feel all warm and tingly inside

 

hahahaha

 

Hey i need some help picking up wheel for my tc2 Im trying to get some t37's
front: 19" 9.5 +12
rear: 19" 10.5 +12
or go with a
19" 8.5 +12
19" 9.5 +12
What tire size can i put so it doesnt rub, as is lowered 1.5" ???

 

^damn with such low offsets and a drop you might need to roll your fenders and run stretched tires to not rub. esp with the 9.5/10.5 set