Question: 51mm offset good or bad for the following?:

17 x 7 offset 51mm
18 x 8.5 offset 51mm

Thanks.

 

Austin_S2000,

The 18x8.5 with +51mm is good to go.

The 17x7 with +51mm will work also.

 

You are the man!

Thanks.

 

Austin_S2000,

Now that we have discussed that the wheel specs will work...
let's talk about tires.

18x7 won't work with 225/40/18 too well (I don't recommend it). I have 18x7.5 in front and I am using 215/40/18 (24.8 inch diameter). There is only one tire manufacturer that makes 215/40/18...and that's Yokohama (Parada).

With 18x8.5, the recommended tire is 245/35/18 (24.8 inch diameter). Now that size is also not common. I use Toyo Proxes T1-S. There are plenty of tire manufacturers that make 255/35/18...but with the +51mm offset you are cutting it close. Mine rear is 18x8.5 with +50mm offset and the car is lowered...I know for a fact that if I were to run 255/35/18 (25 inch diameter)...the tires would rub on a hard turn, or if I had a heavy set passenger with me. If your car isn't dropped...or you don't plan to drop your car...255/35/18's will work fine on the 18x8.5 with +51mm offset.

 

To sum it up...the 18x7 +51mm and 18x8.5 +51mm will work fine on a stock height S2000 if you run 215/40/18 and 245/35/18 or 255/35/18.

If you plan to lower the car...215/40/18 in front and 245/35/18 in back.

As it is known...the stock rear tires on the S2000 are equivalent to 255/35/18's...so if you go 245/35/18...the rear tread width will be more narrow than stock.

Either way...you have to mix and match the tires for the 18x7 and 18x8.5 wheel specification.

I don't mind using the Parada's in front and Toyo's in rear...because the tread patterns sort of match each other. Also, I don't mind the 245/35/18's being a little more narrow than stock...because I use the 18's for pimping and all weather transport.

With all that said. I believe the best 18 inch setup is 18x8 +55mm and 18x9 +65mm. I don't know if such a specification exists...but with 18x8 and 18x9, you can run 225/40/18's and 255/35/18's. And both alot of tire manufacturers make both those sizes. And becuase the tire sizes are more common...you have the choice of putting some all season everday driver tires on the wheels...or some sticky road coarse tires.

 

Unicron thanks for all the great help. Let me tell you what I know about the wheels.

The wheels were posted in the Groupbuy....Enkei Ageis. The specs as posted are:

2 front 17x7inch Ages w/ 225/45/17's 51mm offset
2 rear 18x8.5inch Ages w/ 255/35/18's 51mm offset

They are mounted with Bridgestone S02PP.

My main concern is for them not to rub. Let me know what you think.

I appreciate your help.

 

Austin_S2000,

I'm sorry...I mistaked the front wheel for 18x7 instead of 17x7.

2 front 17x7inch Ages w/ 225/45/17's 51mm offset
2 rear 18x8.5inch Ages w/ 255/35/18's 51mm offset

With this setup...I wouldn't plan on lowering your car.

If you did plan on lowering...I would invest in some coil overs so you can fine tweak the maximum droppage without rubbing.

 

Comptech coil overs are in the near future.

A couple more questions:

Are the different wheel widths a problem? The stock wheels vary by 1" but this is 1.5".

Will the car ride higher in the back with 18's or will it ride at the same height?

What is your HONEST opinion about this combination?

Thanks.

 

Austin_S2000,

225/45/17 has a ~ 25.1 inch diameter / 17x7
255/35/18 has a ~ 25 inch diameter / 18x8.5

The wheel diameters are different, but the tire diameters are exact. I don't think the rear end of the car will be noticably higher than the front. Maybe just a bit because the 17 inch tire may be compressed more than the 18 inch tire.

Honest "style" opinion...I think that the car should have 18's in front and back.

Honest "fitment" opinion...I wouldn't think about lowering the car with those rear tires. If you plan to lower the car...you better get 245/35/18's in rear. The fitment isn't bad...there really isn't many wheels that fit our car perfect. The fitment is pretty close to my specifications...you just don't have much tires to choose from in 245/35/18. I think someone here uses 235/35/18 (but those are $300 a piece). 245/35/18 Toyo Proxes T1-S costs around $220 a piece.

Overall...I haven't even seen how the wheels look...but if you like them...go for it, but that's a style issue. I'm stuck in the same situation on tires and rubbing also. 18x7.5 +48mm, 18x8.5 +50mm. 215 and 245's will work when the car is lowered...but 225 and 255 won't.

 

Hey, what do you guys think of Pirelli P7000 Super Sport. They make tires in 215/40/18 and 255/35/18. I was thinking about trying them, but I'm not sure if they are any good. I plan to lower the front and don't want to rub. Thanks.