Nemesis Guy
Trader
- Joined
- 10 July 2008
- Messages
- 124
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Age
- 37
- Location
- UK, Birmingham
- Website
- www.nemesisuk.com
Before I get flamed I would like to introduce you to my Wheel and Tyre thread. I have searched through the Ultimate Wheels Fitting Guide and found it very helpful but I am undecided on what tyre sizes to go for? I didn't just do this to get answers and hope you will find this a good read and should be helpful to other owners as well. Any help and comments will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks Guy
So goes,
There has been a particular set of wheels that have always been on my list ever since owning the car!
After talking with my supplier on what sizes and offset they have available in stock. I decided to place the order. A few days went by and look what turned up today!
I managed to get my hands on a set of TE37 in stock with no waiting from Japan! The only sizes that were available were 18x8.5 ET +30 and 18x9.5 +22 and 18x9.5 +12.
I knew there was no chance of the 18x9.5 + 12 fitting so I went for the 18x8.5 ET +30 for the fronts and 18x9.5 +22 for the rear.
So first things first I offered the front wheels up to the hubs to check the coilover clearance that I knew would be the first issue!
Guess What? They were only just touching!
As for arch clearance I didn't think it was too bad? Considering the wheel will tuck in more when on the ground with the camber.
(Please excuse the state of the car at the minute! The weather is not so good here and grittier’s are now hitting the roads! ) So, from the previous wheels that were on there they had spacers as they were only 7.5" wide with a +45 offset! Two cheap 6mm spacers infact!
When fitting the spacer it has just about cleared the coilover and I can turn with full lock without them touching.
Now unsure about the arch clearance if it will be a problem and stick out too far catching? Just hope it will be ok!
Moving onto the rears! This is now where it gets scary! All looks fine?
Not in the slightest!
This is my main concern. We had a set of 2 used identical 5zigen wheels in an 18x9.5 + 22 with stretched 225/40/18 tyres these would run fine on the car and didn't seem to touch the arches.
From reading the above what would be your thoughts tyre wise? I feel that there is no option than to stretch the tyres but don't know which way to go about it? I have come up with the following options?
Front 225/40/18 or 215/45/18
Rear 235/40/18 or 225/45/18
I'm trying to take into fact for the correct tyre rolling radiuses, comfort, applying maximum grip and being safe of all things!
Please let me know your thoughts and if you have any other tyre profile ideas?
Thanks for reading.
Thanks Guy
So goes,
There has been a particular set of wheels that have always been on my list ever since owning the car!
After talking with my supplier on what sizes and offset they have available in stock. I decided to place the order. A few days went by and look what turned up today!


I managed to get my hands on a set of TE37 in stock with no waiting from Japan! The only sizes that were available were 18x8.5 ET +30 and 18x9.5 +22 and 18x9.5 +12.
I knew there was no chance of the 18x9.5 + 12 fitting so I went for the 18x8.5 ET +30 for the fronts and 18x9.5 +22 for the rear.
So first things first I offered the front wheels up to the hubs to check the coilover clearance that I knew would be the first issue!

Guess What? They were only just touching!

As for arch clearance I didn't think it was too bad? Considering the wheel will tuck in more when on the ground with the camber.

(Please excuse the state of the car at the minute! The weather is not so good here and grittier’s are now hitting the roads! ) So, from the previous wheels that were on there they had spacers as they were only 7.5" wide with a +45 offset! Two cheap 6mm spacers infact!

When fitting the spacer it has just about cleared the coilover and I can turn with full lock without them touching.

Now unsure about the arch clearance if it will be a problem and stick out too far catching? Just hope it will be ok!

Moving onto the rears! This is now where it gets scary! All looks fine?

Not in the slightest!

This is my main concern. We had a set of 2 used identical 5zigen wheels in an 18x9.5 + 22 with stretched 225/40/18 tyres these would run fine on the car and didn't seem to touch the arches.
From reading the above what would be your thoughts tyre wise? I feel that there is no option than to stretch the tyres but don't know which way to go about it? I have come up with the following options?
Front 225/40/18 or 215/45/18
Rear 235/40/18 or 225/45/18
I'm trying to take into fact for the correct tyre rolling radiuses, comfort, applying maximum grip and being safe of all things!
Please let me know your thoughts and if you have any other tyre profile ideas?
Thanks for reading.