Opinion: Is a 40mm offset to much?

Mac98SHO

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I am currently shopping for rims. I have searched and read the posts on offsets and know this is okay. But I am just looking to hear couple of opinions on the 40mm offset for 17x7 5-108. I know it will move the wheel out 14mm.

I am just looking to hear personal opinion on how the rim will look sticking out farther. Maybe a picture showing an offset like that or close to it.

Thanks.
 
Mac98SHO said:
I am currently shopping for rims. I have searched and read the posts on offsets and know this is okay. But I am just looking to hear couple of opinions on the 40mm offset for 17x7 5-108. I know it will move the wheel out 14mm.

I am just looking to hear personal opinion on how the rim will look sticking out farther. Maybe a picture showing an offset like that or close to it.

Thanks.
Mine are 47mm, but I have seen guys here use a little as 35mm offset. Someone chime in.
 
You have to consider rim width too. 38mm offset on a 7.5" rim isn't the same as 38mm on a 8.5" rim, the 8.5 rim will stick out a 1/4" more. Offset is the distance set back from the rim mounting surface to the center of the rim, a wider rim sticks out the more each way.
 
My LS is lowered with 18X8.5", 40mm offset, Voxx MGR wheels wearing 245/40/18 General UHPs. I get rear end rubbing with anything over 50lbs in the back seat or trunk when the suspension loads. I had 245/45/18 (well used) Michelins and rubbed most of the time. I wouldn't go less than ~47mm offset in the future with my lowered LS.
 
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC said:
You have to consider rim width too. 38mm offset on a 7.5" rim isn't the same as 38mm on a 8.5" rim, the 8.5 rim will stick out a 1/4" more. Offset is the distance set back from the rim mounting surface to the center of the rim, a wider rim sticks out the more each way.
From the suspension's perspective, a 38mm offset is a 38mm offset. That's 38mm off of the centerline of the wheel, so it doesn't matter what the width of the rim is--when you change the offset, you're changing the leverage and the resultant forces on the suspension.

Personally, I'd stay closer to the stock 60mm offset; there are plenty of wheels that are available that are closer to the LS's stock offset. Some people don't have any qualms about deviating far from stock, but I'm not one of them; YMMV.
 
I would love to stay close to stock chrome rims, but aside from buying new or remanufatured fatory rims. I can only seem to find 40mm-42mm offset for 17" rims. I am not looking to change to 18" or higher since I have new rubber on the car.

Any suggestion on where to look, short of custom rims?
 
Not really. I happen to like the stock 7-/14-spoke machined 17" wheels on my '04 Sport, so I really haven't looked. I also like the CDC wheels ( http://www.classicdesignconcepts.com/catalog/itemdisplay/528.html ), which should come in the LS's offset, since they were (IIRC) designed for the LS.

In the past, I've looked at wheels listed by custom wheel makers who'll make them in custom offsets, but they weren't at all inexpensive. I couldn't tell you who they were off the top of my head, but they were recognizable names.

I'm not saying that you'll go to hell for using wheels that are far off of the LS's stock 60mm offset, just that I'm not comfortable with the resulting changes in the forces on the suspension, so I'd neither do it nor recommend it. As I said above, YMMV--your mileage may vary.

Also, try talking to Ken (GrayGhost1) at LSKoncepts; he carries a line of wheels that has some decent looking models. He can tell you if there are any available in the LS's offset.
 
Thanks, for the info. I am one for keeping close to stock.. so I kinda know what you mean.

I may just buy for stock chrome at 375 a peice... who knows.

More searching. :D
 
LS4me said:
My LS is lowered with 18X8.5", 40mm offset, Voxx MGR wheels wearing 245/40/18 General UHPs. I get rear end rubbing with anything over 50lbs in the back seat or trunk when the suspension loads. I had 245/45/18 (well used) Michelins and rubbed most of the time. I wouldn't go less than ~47mm offset in the future with my lowered LS.


Not to bring up old news, but I'm looking to buy Voxx's Misano rims that are 18x8 w/ a 40mm offset. Car is not lowered.. and want to put on 245/45/18.

LS4me, are you saying that you get wheel rub if you put anything more than 50lbs in the back seat or trunk? So if I load up the kid in the back and the trunk for a trip to the grandparents, I'm going to have alot of rubbing?
 
my 18 inch rims are 42mm offset. With the stock sport suspension and 255/45, I had a slight rub at full wheel lock, under the fenderwell. under suspension load I rubbed the little flaps that sit ahead of the rear wheels completely off. I guess the tires would rub where they were mounted.

With 245 40 tires on the same rims/stock suspension. No rub at all. Now with the Eibach Pro's and stock shocks, still..no rubbing.
 
255's on a 8" 42mm wheel is even pushing it. You will rub unless you are on a 45mm+ wheel. 245's should be ok.
 
Thanks you two for the advice. I just don't want to move up and end up rubbin half my tread off due to my ignorance on clearances
 
I have 20x8.5 on my 01 LS with an 38mm offset. I'm running 245 35 series tires and don't have any problems. The wheels sit right under the fender. No rubbing or anything. Perfect fit. Even with two full size adults in the back, there is no rubbing.
 
It's also important to note...that there are variances in widths of tires of the same designated width. A 245 tire of one brand could be a couple mm wider or narrower than a different brand.
 

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