Q? : 8inch wide rims with a +35 offset

[Smithy79]

Question: Will 17x8's rims with a +35 offset fit ok on a NB, that's been lowered 1.5in??


I've found a set of rims I like and can them for a good price, but the offset sounds odd to me for a mx5.


Please feel free to share your thoughts/opions/advice??



What offset are the stock rims? and how little offset can you run before handling or clearance is affected?


btw, the car is fitted with a big 300mm (yes 300!) brake upgrade, so needs 17's the clear them.

[Muzdaman]

What size tyres?

15 x 8 +36 is very common and with 205/50 or 225/45 fits although some need to roll guards depending on ride height so offset will be fine.

[Jeo]

As above - wheels will fit, but whether the tyres do is entirely dependent on what tyres you run and exactly how low it is.

[Smithy79]

they're just rims, so I'll have buy tyres separate. I'll prob just run 205/40's.

I get what offset means, but how much difference does +25 vs +35 +40 have on wheel/guard clearance of a NB?

[Nevyn72]

Well the SE, which was the only model to have 17" wheels fitted standard, had 17x7 with a 40 offset and had 205/40 tyres.

So your option would have rims ~25mm wider with a 5mm greater offset, so.... the rim itself would poke out 5mm more but intrude 20mm further in although I get impression you understand this already.

What does this mean?
The biggest issue I think you may encounter would be clearance inside having dropped by ~40mm and poking 20mm further inwards into the wheel well.
Whether you would get rubbing is uncertain until you try it but tyre size would also play a role.
I think tyres wider than 205/40 would be appropriate on an 8" rim but you'd have to look at something like a 225/35 to maintain rolling diameter and a taller profile (40 or 45) would cause further issues with rubbing.
In all honesty I suspect even standard size tyres would struggle with that much drop!

Without actually trying it I would look at a bit more offset (add a 5 or 10mm spacer), lift the car a bit and possibly roll the guards and you should be ok.

It all come down to what you are trying to achieve?
- stance? -> more offset + heavy guard rolling + extra camber
- track? -> raise + roll + smaller rims and different brakes
- handling? -> see track

[Muzdaman]

^^^^ Your calculations are off.

he would have 8mm less inside clearance and 18 mm more extension on the outside than a stock SE setup.

also a spacer would reduce offset.

i assume you have 17s at the moment?? whats size tyre? What offset? are they the stock SE 17s??

[Nevyn72]

Oops!
Yep, I've not no idea, don't mind me.....

And yes, at this stage I've still got all factory wheels & suspension on my SE -> 205/40-17 on 17x7 +40 rims