fantrman

iTrader: (27)

Hey guys,

Has anybody done this?

I've been slowly modifying my daily driver 9 as $$$ becomes available for local-level auotcrossing in SM. I have been autocrossing for 15+ years, but am new to evos and would greatly appreciate advice on wheel offsets. I'm set on 18x9.5 (RFP1 or NT03+M) with 285/30-18 A6s, but I still have the stock struts, for now. Can this wheel/tire size be made to work with stock struts without cutting or widebody fenders until I get good coilovers? I know to turn the front concentric bolt for max positive camber to get the tire away from the struts for clearance and then have camber/caster plates for decent camber. I just don't know what impact the stock struts will have.

Reading the forums, it seems like the best wheel offset with coilovers in order to run the same size all around is about +35 ET to fit the rears and then add about 15mm spacers in the front. I will be rolling the rear fenders, of course. What would you say is the best starting place for front offset with the stock struts if this combo is possible?

I appreciate any advice you can offer.

Tom

ratt_finkel

Honestly, I'm not even sure if the will fit with any offset. I would try and see if you can test fit them before purchasing the whole setup. Any reason why your upgrading your wheel and tire combo before your suspension?

fantrman

iTrader: (27)

Thanks for the reply. I've heard it can be done, but just want confirmation (or not) from someone that has tried it before purchase. I chose to buy wheels and tires before coilovers as the stock struts (with Swift springs) are still in excellent condition and I believe I would see the most benefit from a wheel & R-compound tire upgrade. I would like to do both at the same time, but my budget is limited at the moment to one or the other.

ratt_finkel

It will definitely make the car faster. But, with that setup you will start to see the deficiencies in your current setup.

Anyway, you will want an offset that will push the wheels out, otherwise you will be rubbing all over the spring perch. Which is huge on stock shaped struts. Like I said though, I dont offset will matter much.

You may try linking up with Bill Collyer. I know he runs in FL. He may let you test fit a set to see.

griceiv

iTrader: (2)

I agree with Jermey, 285's won't work with stock struts, or stock rear shocks. had to throw the stock gear on the race car while we had the ohlins out for rebuild and tried putting the 18x9.5 +35 wheels with 285's on and all 4 corners would not rotate because they were stuck up against a shock or strut.

fantrman

iTrader: (27)

Considering your exerience with the stock setup on the car, about how much more would you guess the rear wheels would need to be pushed out from +35 ET to just clear the stocks? 3mm? 5mm?

griceiv

iTrader: (2)

I didn't spend a lot of time looking at it, so i don't really know. I just laughed and put the stockers on.

MSP608

iTrader: (11)

For reference, my 245/35/18's on 18x9.5 +35 fit with stock struts. Rear fenders are rolled just a tad. I imagine if you roll fenders and do a minimal spacer just so the tires clear the struts you could pull it off.

EVOlutionary

iTrader: (38)

What kind of tires? Depending on the tire - a 285 Hoosier could be up to 2.5" wider than that setup. . .

MSP608

iTrader: (11)

They were Hoosier R6's.

fantrman

iTrader: (27)

Thanks for the info. That helps with some calculations. The sectional width of the R6 245/35-18 is 9.8" and the sectional width of the R6 285/30-18 is 11.5", according to the Tirerack website. That's a difference of 1.7". So the difference at one side would be half of that or 0.85". Assuming for reference your tire is just far enough from the strut not to rub, it would need a 0.85" spacer with your wheels or a total +13mm wheel offset to fit the 285 tire. That's out there and would probably require a lot more than a standard fender roll. Of course we don't know how far your tire really is from your strut and wheel widths influence sectional tire width, so this calculation is a worst-case scenario.

Anybody else out there have experience here?