Wheels/spacers needed for test fitting in Brisbane / Gold Coast / Sunshine Coast

[135]

Does anyone have a set of wheels that I could use for a test fitting? I've done a lot of research to determine what street/R-comp tyres I can fit but nothing beats physically mounting them, so hopefully someone can help me out. I'm after 18x8.5 ET45 for the front and 18x9.5 ET58-62 for the rear - these are the specs of the APEX EC-7 and ARC-8 wheels but there are some other brands that have the same specs. Preferably, they would be fitted with 235/40 or 245/35 tyres on the front and 275/35 or 285/30 tyres on the rear - street or R-comp.

Feel free to PM me, even if you have anything close to this.

Also, a set of spacers (say 3mm, 5mm and/or 7mm) to aid in test fitting would be very handy. For example, I could use a 7mm spacer with an OEM rear wheel ET52 with the 245/35 runflat to yield an 18x8.5 ET45 to test fit on the front - but it's more likely that someone will already have the front wheel specs I'm after.

I'm in Brisbane but could travel to Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast - I'll be on the GC this Sunday afternoon and at Kings Beach on Easter Saturday.

[BMW86]

How low are you?

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by BMW86

How low are you?

[135]

Originally Posted by BMW86

How low are you?

Not very low. I've had my car corner balanced with me and half a tank of fuel but the only time I have been able to measured the heights is when I'm not in the car so it doesn't really reflect the correct heights (5-8mm difference L->R). In any case, here are the hub-to-guard heights:
Front L/R: 331/323mm
Rear L/R: 327/322mm
I've double checked the measurements and they are correct but they seem strange since I would have thought that it would have been higher on the right when I'm not in it but it was height adjusted to get the corner balancing and diagonals as close to 50/50 as possible (it was actually 50.1/49.9).

The current setup is about 1/2" to 3/4" higher than my previous setup, which had the front at 310mm and rear at 306mm. No scrubbing with 18x8 ET45 225/40 RE-11 and 18x9 ET48 255/35 RE-11. I'm now looking at either keeping the same wheels and fitting R-comps (and reverting to OEM wheels for the street) or going with wider wheels and R-comps (and keeping the current wheels for street duties).

[BMW86]

Really depends on the tyres as some run a lot more square than others. The RE-11 you mentioned is very rounded. I would stick with 225 in the front. The rear offsets are really weak you may be able to get away with it. I've tried PSS 265/35/19 on a 9.5 et50 but I scrubbed. I am pretty low though.

[135]

Yes, I think the roundness is the primary reason why the RE-11 tyres fit with my current widths/offsets (18x8 ET45, 18x9 ET48) and even the varying heights. All my research points to 18x8.5 ET45 being able to fit 245/35 - even 255/35 with the right camber (which I have) - and 18x9.5 ET62 with 285/30 with a little bit of room (with a possibility to fit 295/30). These wheel/tyre combinations are more so for street tyres - R-comps will likely be a size less due to their more-squared nature or being rounded but running wider than their nominated width.

Following are the calculations for tyre width and OD ratios (Rear/Front)

Fwidth(OD) / Rwidth(OD) --- Ratio widths(ODs) --- comments as a comparison to OEM
215(629.2) / 245(628.7) --- 1.139(0.999) --- OEM
225(637.2) / 255(635.7) --- 1.133(0.998) --- current
235(645.2) / 265(642.7) --- 1.128(0.996) --- close to standard
235(645.2) / 275(649.7) --- 1.170(1.007) --- rear width bias
245(628.7) / 265(642.7) --- 1.082(1.022) --- large front width bias, large additional rake to rear
245(628.7) / 275(649.7) --- 1.122(1.033) --- front width biased, large additional rake to rear
245(628.7) / 285(628.2) --- 1.163(0.999) --- rear width bias
255(635.7) / 285(628.2) --- 1.118(0.988) --- front width bias, reverse rake
255(635.7) / 295(634.2) --- 1.157(0.998) --- rear width bias

There's going to be slight differences between the tyre brands and street vs R-comps but it's a good starting point.

I'd like to run 245/285 R-comps but need to determine if they will fit. Otherwise it would be 235/275 R-comps. All this based on the correct wheel width and offsets.
If I were to use my existing wheels on the track, I could fit 225/255 R-comps and quite probably 235/265 R-comps (maybe needing spacers) and possibly 245/265 R-comps (maybe with spacers on the rear, definitely with spacers on the front). Too many variables, which is why I would like to do a test fitting with someone that has something similar.

Height-wise, the 265/35 on 19s you're running are MASSIVE!!! They have an OD of 668.1mm, which will add an extra 1/2" of height at the top of the rear inner guard. No wonder you scrubbed

[BMW86]

Sorry I meant 265/30/19

[135]

Ahh, that size makes a lot more sense - that OD is very close to a 265/35/18. I think the 265 PSS will run quite wide and ET50 probably doesn't help either.

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by 135

Ahh, that size makes a lot more sense - that OD is very close to a 265/35/18. I think the 265 PSS will run quite wide and ET50 probably doesn't help either.

Yes it scrubbed a bit when I had a passenger in the car. When Michelin released the PSS it initially came in limited sizes and 265 was the only option. Ive been through a few sets since then and will be sticking to 255's.

[ansch]

have a set of 12mm spacers if it ever comes to that

[flinchy]

ET45 w/5mm spacer (ie ET40) with a 235 fit me with miles @ 2deg camber

I haven't *really* looked, nor know the shape of the sidewall you'll have, but inner clearance on 245 should be fine (it's only the actual lip of the wheel that gets near the shock body for me), and i've got a fair amount of room outside, with plenty of spare camber.

9.5 ET62 on the rear really? wouldn't that get REALLY close to the inner wall of the well? if not actually contact the cables etc. there? Very interesting if that's good fitment for wide rubber *notes down*.. i know my ET45 is way too low, scrub on the mounting thing for bumper>body

[135]

Originally Posted by ansch

have a set of 12mm spacers if it ever comes to that

Don't laugh - it might come to that! I still have my OEM wheels: the rear is 18x8.5 ET52. Using the 12mm spacer would result in an ET40. It still has the 245/35 runflat mounted so it could be a good option to try out - at least I know it definitely won't scrub on the strut The guard is a different story but, by all accounts, it should actually comfortably clear that too with the right camber.

At least that will cover the fronts. The rears wih 12mm spacers... well I'm not too keen on poke

[135]

Originally Posted by flinchy

ET45 w/5mm spacer (ie ET40) with a 235 fit me with miles @ 2deg camber

I haven't *really* looked, nor know the shape of the sidewall you'll have, but inner clearance on 245 should be fine (it's only the actual lip of the wheel that gets near the shock body for me), and i've got a fair amount of room outside, with plenty of spare camber.

9.5 ET62 on the rear really? wouldn't that get REALLY close to the inner wall of the well? if not actually contact the cables etc. there? Very interesting if that's good fitment for wide rubber *notes down*.. i know my ET45 is way too low, scrub on the mounting thing for bumper>body

Is that an 18x8 or 18x8.5? And what brand tyres? If you get a chance, do you mind checking how much clearance you have to the strut and guard? Although every car is going to be different due to the suspension setups and tyres.

I think it's my tyre that will have clearance issues with the spring perch - for some reason, it's a bit lower than I would have expected. I really need to get back into a pit (or hoist with ramps) so I can look under the car again when it's fully laden and take some more measurements. But I think going from my existing 225/40 (637.2 OD) to a 245/35 (628.7 OD) will give an extra 4mm height clearance, which might make all the difference - it's a game of millimetres. Compared to the 235/40 (645.2 OD), the 245 would have an extra 8mm height clearance!

There's a number of threads regarding being able to fit 285/30 street tyres on 18x9.5 ET62. It's close everywhere!

[Nugget]

What tyres were you going to use that comes in 245/35/18?
Unfortunately all the tyres I want don't come in that size.

[TBestW]

I also have a set of spacers, never used. Think two are 10mm and two are 12mm

[135]

Originally Posted by Nugget

What tyres were you going to use that comes in 245/35/18?
Unfortunately all the tyres I want don't come in that size.

You're right, most tyres don't come in that size (at least not the street tyres that I would be interested in), which is a shame since it's a great match for the 285/30. But if your looking at R-comps then there is the Hankook Z214, Hoosier R6 and Kuhmo V710. And, while R-comps generally run wider, they may be fine since a 255/35 street tyre can be squeezed in with the right camber. So there is hope yet!

Hopefully all the research and testing pays off and I can share the ideal setup - I just need some help.

[135]

Originally Posted by TBestW

I also have a set of spacers, never used. Think two are 10mm and two are 12mm

What is it with all you people and your agressive fittments
But seriously, same as @ansch, I may take you up on your offer so I can test fit my fronts using the OEM rears.

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by 135

Is that an 18x8 or 18x8.5? And what brand tyres? If you get a chance, do you mind checking how much clearance you have to the strut and guard? Although every car is going to be different due to the suspension setups and tyres.

I think it's my tyre that will have clearance issues with the spring perch - for some reason, it's a bit lower than I would have expected. I really need to get back into a pit (or hoist with ramps) so I can look under the car again when it's fully laden and take some more measurements. But I think going from my existing 225/40 (637.2 OD) to a 245/35 (628.7 OD) will give an extra 4mm height clearance, which might make all the difference - it's a game of millimetres. Compared to the 235/40 (645.2 OD), the 245 would have an extra 8mm height clearance!

There's a number of threads regarding being able to fit 285/30 street tyres on 18x9.5 ET62. It's close everywhere!

18x8.5, Kumho KU31

i'll check clearance either side in a few mins when i go for a drive. ground to lowest point at front is ~120mm (haven't measured guard to wheel center)

the only clearance issue i had inside was wheel lip to spring perch (yes spring perch, got it wrong before) which is why i needed the spacer.

[135]

Originally Posted by flinchy

18x8.5, Kumho KU31

i'll check clearance either side in a few mins when i go for a drive. ground to lowest point at front is ~120mm (haven't measured guard to wheel center)

the only clearance issue i had inside was wheel lip to spring perch (yes spring perch, got it wrong before) which is why i needed the spacer.

The KU31 has a section width of 9.5" and tread width of 9.0", so it's more square (compared to an RE-11 at 9.5" & 8.5", respectively). The KU31 is only 2.5mm less wide than the same sized AD08R (9.6", 9.1") or an R888 (9.6", 9.0"). The KU31 is also only up to 5mm less wide than a Hankook Z214 (9.7", 9.1") - the Hankook Z221 is a more rounded tyre (9.6", 8.8"). So, all round, I think it would be a good comparison for some R-comps.

Did you get a chance to check your guard/strut clearance and hub-guard measurements?

Also, what are your rear wheel/tyre specs?

[ansch]

Originally Posted by 135

What is it with all you people and your agressive fittments
But seriously, same as @ansch, I may take you up on your offer so I can test fit my fronts using the OEM rears.

Just let me know if you want to try them mate. I had them on the car for a while with stock 261s and they do rub ever slightly at the rear under compression (large bumps only). I've had the rear guards rolled as well.

Running PSS 255/35 which has a more squared shoulder blocks. It looks good though but I didn't like the ride on them so took them off.

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by 135

The KU31 has a section width of 9.5" and tread width of 9.0", so it's more square (compared to an RE-11 at 9.5" & 8.5", respectively). The KU31 is only 2.5mm less wide than the same sized AD08R (9.6", 9.1") or an R888 (9.6", 9.0"). The KU31 is also only up to 5mm less wide than a Hankook Z214 (9.7", 9.1") - the Hankook Z221 is a more rounded tyre (9.6", 8.8"). So, all round, I think it would be a good comparison for some R-comps.

Did you get a chance to check your guard/strut clearance and hub-guard measurements?

Also, what are your rear wheel/tyre specs?

Just had a quick look - boatloads of room on the outside, but on my setup i wouldnt feel safe adding another 5mm of rubber inside. Definitely need another 5mm there

I'll try find a tape measure now

[135]

Originally Posted by ansch

Just let me know if you want to try them mate. I had them on the car for a while with stock 261s and they do rub ever slightly at the rear under compression (large bumps only). I've had the rear guards rolled as well.

Running PSS 255/35 which has a more squared shoulder blocks. It looks good though but I didn't like the ride on them so took them off.

Will do.

Are you lowered? Do you have your guards rolled?

Your 255/35 on 18x8.5 ET42 would stick out at least another 5mm compared to (i) my current setup (255/35 on 18x8.5 ET48) and (ii) a 285/30 on a 18x9.5 ET62! The main difference is the 285 on 9.5 is 30mm closer to the shock body compared to OEM and my current setup but supposedly still some clearance.

Those PSS run just as wide as an R888 in 255/35 & 265/35, although R888 runs wide in larger sizes.