Offset Question/Advice for Aftermarket Wheels?

[Viking]

Ordering aftermarket wheels on Monday and have a question for anyone who has gone through this...

I am staying with the OEM size 18" diameter but am increasing the width slightly from the factory 7.5" to 8" wheels. The tire shop I am working with says that I can go with an offset of between 20mm and 50mm (the exact numbers may have been 21 to 51 but something close to this).

Ideally I would like a more aggressive offset where it is flush with the fender but doesn't rub. Factory offset is 39mm and he recommended 25mm. If I understand this correctly, that would be 14mm + .5" further out than my current OEM wheels (to account for the increase from 7.5" to 8").

It is hard to picture what that offset would look like. Anyone out there have a similar set-up that can comment or share pictures??

 

[TEF]

There is posting dealing with new wheels and snowtires, where Tirerack (a very good company) provided a forum member with wheels with an offset diffferent from his stock rims and there was some rubbing on his front suspsension. Tirerack then provided him wheels with another offset. Hopefully, you'll have the same return option as a set of wheels is generally expensive.

 

[Viking]

Thanks, TEF. Yes, I saw that post about Tirerack and the rubbing wheel. Tirerack is great - I have purchased tires from them before and was very happy with the transaction and pricing, but they don't sell the brand of wheels I am going with (Work Gnosis).

Work makes the wheels to the specs based on the order so I would not be able to return them. Hence my worry about getting the offset right. The shop I am working with provided the offset range that will prevent rubbing and I feel pretty good about that.

I am not as worried about the wheels rubbing as I am about how a 25mm offset on 8" wide wheels will look on the sedan in relation to the fender. Hopefully someone on this forum has wheels with a similar set-up that can provide a couple of pics.

 

[michaeldallen]

Hi Viking!
I had quite a time finding rims to fit. I wanted 18 inch x 8 inch. Discount tire, (America's Tire here in So. CA) worked with me to get some that fit. The offset wasn't the issue they said. Clearing that huge front caliper was the problem. Foose, TSW and others swore certain rims would fit, only to find out they wouldn't clear the caliper. I finally found some that fit and were still sporty, eligant & classy. I was just grateful to get some chromies on the car. So..... WARNING!!! Offset won't be the headache... caliper clearence will be. Best of luck, and please send us pix of the final design you made.

 

[DubaiRich]

Hi Viking!
I had quite a time finding rims to fit. I wanted 18 inch x 8 inch. Discount tire, (America's Tire here in So. CA) worked with me to get some that fit. The offset wasn't the issue they said. Clearing that huge front caliper was the problem. Foose, TSW and others swore certain rims would fit, only to find out they wouldn't clear the caliper. I finally found some that fit and were still sporty, eligant & classy. I was just grateful to get some chromies on the car. So..... WARNING!!! Offset won't be the headache... caliper clearence will be. Best of luck, and please send us pix of the final design you made.

Which brand of wheels did you get that cleared the calipers??

 

[mk1]

It was me who had the issue of the wheels scraping the tie rods. I purchased 8" wheels and they are just too big - Tire Rack subsequently pulled all of their 8" wheels off their website for the Genesis and will only sell 7.5" wheels.

 

[michaeldallen]

Which brand of wheels did you get that cleared the calipers??

I ended up choosing the TSW 'CADWELL' 18 X 8.

Click on my photo above, then the 'Genny in the Park' photo to see them.

I was so fortunate to have a tire dealer eager to keep re-ordering & fitting all of my rim choices for free, until we found a good fit!

 

[Viking]

Dubairich, MK1 and Michaeldallen - You all referenced problems with your rims clearing the large front brake calipers. Maybe this is more of an issue on the 4.6L V8? I am assuming those calipers are larger.

I just ordered my wheels - 18" x 8" - but didn't go as aggressive as I originally wanted (+25). I saw some pics of a Genesis with +34 and the rims were pretty much flush with the fender which is what I want, so I went with that offset. Based on the offset calculator, it will push the rims out just under .5" over the OEM setup.

 

[mk1]

Dubairich, MK1 and Michaeldallen - You all referenced problems with your rims clearing the large front brake calipers. Maybe this is more of an issue on the 4.6L V8? I am assuming those calipers are larger.

I just ordered my wheels - 18" x 8" - but didn't go as aggressive as I originally wanted (+25). I saw some pics of a Genesis with +34 and the rims were pretty much flush with the fender which is what I want, so I went with that offset. Based on the offset calculator, it will push the rims out just under .5" over the OEM setup.

Correct - I have a 4.6 so perhaps you are correct. The 8" wheels scraped the tie rods at full lock-to-lock. I had pictures to post but can't seem to lower the resolution to meet the requirements here. Will keep trying.