First post in the Tires, Wheels, Brakes & Suspension section of the Forum, so hello!

I'll admit I've never focused on wheels too much. I've also never begun to try to wrap my brain around all the various offsets +/- Ext..

However, lately I've been looking at some of your cars with these meaty a** 255's (some run even more meat) on 17x9.5's or 18x10's and I have to say; I'M JEALOUS!
Since you guys are the Wheel Guru's, I come humbly asking for your advice.

I would like to run some 255's on my IX, but I'm not exactly sure if I want to run 17's or 18's. I'm currently on RPF1 17x9.0's with 245/40's (unknown offset, my guess is 38?) and they just don't look quite as good as some of the guys running the 9.5's or 10's. So my questions are:

1) Is it the offset that truly makes some of these cars look so much better in the wheel department? Or am I missing something else? Some of these cars are only running a wheel that is 0.5" wider, but they look WAY bigger and better than my current set up?

2) I run a set of Ohlin Flags, but I'm not "too low", there's still about a finger, maybe two, gap between my tire and wheel well. What's the widest wheel I can run without having to get crazy with spacers and/or rolling/trimming my fenders?

3) I've searched for pictures of 17x9.5 and 18x10 Evo IX comparisons, but I haven't had much luck. If any of you have any pictures of your Evo VIII/IX with RPF1 17x9.5 or 18x10's, could you share them with me? I'm definitely curious to see them side-by-side.

4) Last but not least: If you were in my situation, what wheel height/width/offset would you recommend, keeping in mind I don't want to roll/trim my fenders, get too crazy with spacers, or go much wider/bigger than a 255/35-40?

If there's any good threads I might have missed, please share them! I'm still learning the search function, so it's quite possible I missed something that pertains to these exact questions. My apologies in advance if I have.

Thanks for taking the time to read my Q's. I appreciate any help, anyone can throw my way while I learn more about wheels in general.

 

1) Is it the offset that truly makes some of these cars look so much better in the wheel department?
Shallow offsets in the +25 to +30 range allow more wheel poke which looks aggressive. But some of the members have gone too far w/that idea & run terrible offsets in the +15 to +22 range (down side is poor camber specs & rub)

2) What's the widest wheel I can run without having to get crazy with spacers and/or rolling/trimming my fenders?
You might be running that wheel now at the +38. You have to get out of the mind set that you dont want to roll or pull your rear fenders. Unfortunately, if you want to run the aggressive wheel / tire package you have to modify the rears

3) I've searched for pictures of 17x9.5 and 18x10 Evo IX comparisons, but I haven't had much luck. If any of you have any pictures of your Evo VIII/IX with RPF1 17x9.5 or 18x10's, could you share them with me? I'm definitely curious to see them side-by-side.
See attached pic of my ride (its in track day mode so excuse the decals) (17x9.5 +30 running Federal 265/40's. Rear fenders fully treated)

4) Last but not least: If you were in my situation, what wheel height/width/offset would you recommend, keeping in mind I don't want to roll/trim my fenders, or go much wider/bigger than a 255/35-40?
Go back to question no. 2 response

 

Thanks for the input my man! I actually just ran across this thread too:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...ei-rpf1-3.html

There's some good stuff on that thread!
I suppose you're probably right about having to get out of the "I don't want to treat my fenders" mentality if I want to run aggressive wheels. Personally I'm just a little freaked out by all of the horror stories I've read/heard when it comes to treating fenders. Especially when pulling rears. If I creased my quarter panel, I'd probably go into cardiac arrest. LOL

I appreciate the picture too! Thanks for sharing! This guy is running a 17x9.5+18 and it looks great too!

Here it is:

http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Meta...vo1-2.jpg.html

I also like this setup, he didn't mention a width or offset, just that they were 17's:

http://rs80.pbsrc.com/albums/j162/Ko...h=480&fit=clip

Honestly I think 18's might be a bit bigger than my eye personally likes. They're still beautiful, especially in the right fitment, but I'm thinking I prefer 17's.

 

I actually REALLY LOVE this setup:

http://rs497.pbsrc.com/albums/rr331/...h=480&fit=clip

http://rs497.pbsrc.com/albums/rr331/...h=480&fit=clip

He's running a 17x9.5 +18 w/ 255/40's. That's basically perfect. I'm just going to have to read more about if I'll need spacers and a mild fender treatment.

 

The standard set up, if Im not mistaken, is the RPF1 17x9.5 +38 in the rear & running a 20mm front spacer, leaving an effective +18 front offset

The pic of the RR EvO is running the 17x10 (if im not mistaken)

 

18x9.5 +35 Konig milligrams, 265/35r18 Re11's. 10mm spacer in the front to clear the strut.

 

Maybe it's just me, but..

When an Evo has some meat on its wheels, it makes it look like a completely different car. They just look so much more natural and "meaner" so to speak.

Nice Evo man! Thank you for sharing!

 

Let me first say that stanced wheel/tire size combos (very wide rims with relatively narrow tires) suck for handling, and you'll never get them to fit without roll and pull. Match the tire size to the rim. It can still look "aggresive". My personal experience is that 17x9 with 255s will fit without any rubbing at +32-35 mm with mild camber (-1.5f/-1.2r and +32 mm with more aggressive (-2.5f/-2r) camber. In my estimation for an Evo with coilovers, 9.5" wheels and 265s are the most that will fit without any fender mods, probably at +30-32 mm offset depending on camber.

 

My car has fully rolled and slightly pulled rear fenders, the rears would not clear if the fender was untouched. Front fenders are stock, just had to coax the fenders liners out of the way with a heat gun.

 

Interesting, I have absolutely no rubbing with 17x9, +32 mm, 255s, -2.5f/-2.0f. I'm surprised another 1/2" width and next size up on tire matters that much.

 

Well, if you have 1/4" of clearance, it won't rub, period. My package is 1/2" wider, so it takes up the 1/4" of room you have, and then some.