I'm looking to purchase wider rims (17x9's) however I have been wondering what the ideal offset would be for Evo fitment (I am going to be running 255-265 wide tires). I know many people on here went with +35mm offset, but I am thinking that maybe I would have a better chance of not rubbing by going with a smaller offset (+29 to +33 perhaps?). Any input on this?

depends on the design of the wheel.

This is very true, but in general the outer lip and offset dimensions are similar between manufactures. Anyone ever get away with 17x9 +27mm?

If it is going to rub in a 9 inch wheel, it's going to rub on the fender. The +35 pulls the wheel in where even with stock suspension, you have 3/4 inch clearance, but on the fender side, a 9 inch with+35 is nearly even with the fenders edge. A +22 would push it further out than a +35 by over 1/2 inch and would be outside the fender line.

Try +28 ~ +30 range.

http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

Sure about that? Everything else being equal a wheel that has the same offset and more width splits the difference to each edge. Try it and see. Now get creative and look at the difference between stock (8" and 35mm) and what I run in the front 9.5 et 25. NDgsx runs 38 on his Black Racing with 255's and SLAMMED on MR's. It doesnt rub.

17x8 +38 is stock. 9 inch is 1/2 inch more each direction. Now, subtract 13 mm from the inside and add it to the outside half, you've got approx .50 inch more to the outside which is 1 inch wider on the outside of stock, in other words, closer and beyond the fender. Measure and you will see. +22 is 13 mm less offset, plus the 1/2 the additonal width. Yes, I'm sure.

By the way, stock is +38 not +35, that's .120 right there.

I took stock wheels and measured them for clearance. I then place 17x9 +35 CE28N and remeasured. Wheel was only 4mm from fender line. If the car was dropped at stock camber, it would have been very, very close. Add another 1/2 inch less on the offset and bingo, fender (provided car is lowered and camber settings aren't really negative.)

the 1010 site even shows 1.2 inches pushed further to the outside, 3mm MORE clearance on the inside, due to big offset difference between +38 and +22.

most ppl run 35

Yep, +35 is nearly Ideal for the centerline and clearances each way.

I would go with the stock 38 mm offset if I didn't want to roll the fenders. I might even go with +40 mm. I would think that a 17x9 +25 mm would rub the fender badly with a 255 tire.

My comment was IF it's going to rub, it would be on the fender (without saying 'instead of on the inside on the suspension') because of his +22 would move it all to the outside, which it did. 29mm less on the outside, 3mm more on the inside.

mrfred, you're correct. It would be very very close if it doesn't. The thing that would stop it would be negative camber. Maybe 2.5 degrees or more.