Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[Artsee]

Hello folks,

I have been doing quite a bit of reading regarding wheel/tire fitment and it appears that I will have to run staggered tires (245's front and 255's rear) to avoid having to pull my front fenders. I will be running GC camber plates with the Street/School coilover kit in addition to rolling the fenders all around.

Will I have to run a spacer for the front to clear the struts with 245/35's? Anyone have experience running this wheel/tire combo?

TIA.


FINAL RESULT @ post #26: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...0&postcount=26

[b1aze]

Offset is a huge factor in this equation.

[r0nd3L]

I will be running 18x8.5" ET48 with 255/35R18 RE11. Based on some fitments tests, I will need 5mm spacer to clear the strut tube. I will also need some camber to clear the fenders. It's close, but should work out. Looks like we will be runing same suspension setups as well

The following pics is of 5mm spacer and stock strut mounts:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rwq4h7y02x...2016.18.28.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/acsmj3w9kt...2016.26.18.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qk87zs6vl4...2016.26.26.jpg]

Obviously, 18x9" wheel will bring some more problems.

[Artsee]

Originally Posted by r0nd3L

I will be running 18x8.5" ET48 with 255/35R18 RE11. Based on some fitments tests, I will need 5mm spacer to clear the strut tube. I will also need some camber to clear the fenders. It's close, but should work out. Looks like we will be runing same suspension setups as well

The following pics is of 5mm spacer and stock strut mounts:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rwq4h7y02x...2016.18.28.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/acsmj3w9kt...2016.26.18.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qk87zs6vl4...2016.26.26.jpg]

Obviously, 18x9" wheel will bring some more problems.

Thanks for your reply. I went ahead and ordered a set of 5mm spacers today. I also ordered a set of PSS' in 245/35 F and 255/35 R. I really wanted to run Z2's, but they don't make them in 245/35.

The wheel/tire combo looks great on your car BTW.

Originally Posted by b1aze

Offset is a huge factor in this equation.

Indeed. Per my thread title, I am running ET45's all around. The fronts will now effectively be ET40. I am tempted to try and squeeze in a 3mm spacers in the rear as I want to keep the front to rear track ratio close to stock.

Cheers and any more input is greatly appreciated. I still have yet to see a square 18x9 setup.

[r0nd3L]

Originally Posted by Artsee

Thanks for your reply. I went ahead and ordered a set of 5mm spacers today. I also ordered a set of PSS' in 245/35 F and 255/35 R. I really wanted to run Z2's, but they don't make them in 245/35.

The wheel/tire combo looks great on your car BTW.




Indeed. Per my thread title, I am running ET45's all around. The fronts will now effectively be ET40. I am tempted to try and squeeze in a 3mm spacers in the rear as I want to keep the front to rear track ratio close.

Cheers and any more input or is greatly appreciated. I still have yet to see a square 18x9 setup.

Be careful with that 5mm spacer. I test fitted 18x8.5" ET40 245/35 Kumho XS and it was somewhat close to the strut. Your wheel would be yet 6mm closer.

I also purchased VAC hub extenders which are meant to work with up to 8mm spacers. I didn't want lug centric...

[Artsee]

Hmmm...that's disconcerting. Thanks for the heads up. I will definitely be watching the strut clearance closely. I am hoping that the PSS' run narrower than the XS (which is known to run very wide). Fingers crossed.

[r0nd3L]

Originally Posted by Artsee

Hmmm...that's disconcerting. Thanks for the heads up. I will definitely be watching the strut clearance closely. I am hoping that the PSS' run narrower than the XS (which is known to run very wide). Fingers crossed.

Let's hope it works, keep us updated.

[b1aze]

Can i ask why you want to run a square wheel but staggered tire setup? Why not just run 245 square? I know of a few people on here that run 245 square with some help from camber up front.

[Artsee]

Originally Posted by b1aze

Can i ask why you want to run a square wheel but staggered tire setup? Why not just run 245 square? I know of a few people on here that run 245 square with some help from camber up front.

No, you may not.

I have a set of 18x9 wheels and I'd like to take advantage of the width if possible. The rear is the logical place with a car like ours with a short wheel base and lots of power/torque. I think this setup, with a proper alignment and damping (tune) front to rear, will make for pretty balanced handling.

[b1aze]

I think, in my personal opinion, that I would rather be able to rotate the tires for even wear and life if I had the opportunity. I doubt you will be able to notice a difference from a 245 to 255 wide rear tire to negate the ability to rotate front to rear.

Just my .02

[Artsee]

Alrighty, so the setup is on the car!

I actually had to run a set of 10mm spacers up front.

The photo below shows the strut clearance with the 10mm spacer (excuse the dirty shock lol). An 8mm might have done the trick, but I didn't want to take any chances.



These photos of are of my current stance (1/4" fender gap up front and 1/2" in the rear). I added the 5mm spacers I was originally going to put up front to the rear. I have zero rubbing issues up front with -2.3 camber, rolled/pulled fenders, and shaved bumper tab. There is some rubbing in the rear, particularly on the right side. I rolled the rears a tiny bit, but not enough to clear the tire. A flat roll will sort this out--doing it tomorrow.

[Black128i]

That looks awesome! Nice job.

[631twentyeighteye]

Looks tough! glad it worked out for you.

[Eyeman]

That's impressive. Looks like you have it perfect right off the bat and made it look easy. I assume you can add some rear camber if the roll/pull doesn't fix your rub. Did you do the work yourself?

[r0nd3L]

Car looks awesome! Are you running GC street or race camber plates?

[Artsee]

Thanks for the props! I'm stoked with the outcome.

I discovered something interesting this morning. I removed the rear (5mm) spacers, as I didn't have the fender roller on me and the rubbing was annoying as heck. For whatever reason, I decided to replace the front 10mm spacers with the 5mm's, now that I had raised the front ride height (relative to when I originally test fitted the wheels).

I noticed that the tire just BARELY rubbed the strut when in the air. Then something awesome happened when I lowered the car and the suspension was loaded...the rubbing stopped and a 2mm gap opened up! I went for a brisk drive and threw the car into some hard transitions and NO RUBBING! Again, this is now with 18x9 et45 plus a 5mm spacer--effectively making it et40. I'll be rolling on this setup for now until I roll the rears and then I will be throwing the 10mm up front again with the 5mm out back as it fills the fenders in very well and the stance looks so darn hot!

Eyeman--Yeah, I did all the work myself.

R0nd3L--Cheers. I am running the race plates.

[strati1]

Looks great, spot on with the stance.

[blinded]

Nice car and backdrop!

I'm pretty set on getting GC/Koni too but with street plates. Did you buy from the Ground Control Store? Mind sharing spring choice and your first impressions? Also, what front spring length and how's the clearance to the perch? Thanks!

[r0nd3L]

Originally Posted by blinded

Nice car and backdrop!

I'm pretty set on getting GC/Koni too but with street plates. Did you buy from the Ground Control Store? Mind sharing spring choice and your first impressions? Also, what front spring length and how's the clearance to the perch? Thanks!

I'll add some of my info for better sample.

I installed this GC kit except with street plates: http://www.ground-control-store.com/.../II=903/CA=179

I went with 400/650 spring rates and I was able to lower the car quite a bit and still keep the perch above the tire for maximum clearance. Since the strut housings are shorter, there is still decent amount of travel even when running the car pretty low. Obviously it's not as comfortable as stock, but it rides well.

[blinded]

Originally Posted by r0nd3L

I'll add some of my info for better sample.

I installed this GC kit except with street plates: http://www.ground-control-store.com/.../II=903/CA=179

I went with 400/650 spring rates and I was able to lower the car quite a bit and still keep the perch above the tire for maximum clearance. Since the strut housings are shorter, there is still decent amount of travel even when running the car pretty low. Obviously it's not as comfortable as stock, but it rides well.

Thanks! Is that with 255/35/18? Do you know what spring length you have? Is there even a choice of spring length when ordering?

[r0nd3L]

Originally Posted by blinded

Thanks! Is that with 255/35/18? Do you know what spring length you have? Is there even a choice of spring length when ordering?

Yes, 255/35 RE11:

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/3q34wuol7z2ja1h/wh3OQDqqkj
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/9v0ayn829pmi0op/7scnpL1V-g
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/vb0plkpifnejdpb/9VsSEyGuuA

GC includes the correct spring length. The ones I have are 6" front and 8" rear. These are the optimal lengths, IMO. Before, I had TCK 10" rear spring and even at the lowest perch setting, car had stock ride height.

[blinded]

Originally Posted by r0nd3L

GC includes the correct spring length. The ones I have are 6" front and 8" rear. This the optimal lengths, IMO. Before, I had TCK 10" rear spring and even at the lowest perch setting, car had stock ride height.

Awesome, just what I was looking for. If you had to do it over again, would you change anything in your order? How much fender work did it take to fit 255 up front? I'll leave you alone after this. Thanks.