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Best Tire Size for 18x8.5 Wheels


phoenix96

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Here's the front-right wheel seen from above the fender:

 

You can really see how it protrudes.

 

:confused:

 

They look fine to me.

 

Maybe, It is one of those would need to see in real life situations?

 

Maybe, even the splash guards weren't there, it would be more noticeable?

 

 

Thanks for posting your pictures. That is the setup that I want next.

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:confused:

 

They look fine to me.

 

Maybe, It is one of those would need to see in real life situations?

 

Maybe, even the splash guards weren't there, it would be more noticeable?

 

 

Thanks for posting your pictures. That is the setup that I want next.

 

I'll get better overall pictures when I get the chance.

 

The protrusion isn't too bad looking... The splash guards do make it a little less obvious. I'm mostly concerned about the tires hitting the fenders as whitetiger mentioned. But I could have sworn that others have run this size without problems. :confused:

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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it also depends on how much you lowered the car. i have my car very low, and if i had not rolled the fenders, i would not have cleared the fenders.

 

Mine is not lowered at all - stock suspension.

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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Some more pictures:

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/539867856_drbMq-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/539868110_2ufCc-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/539867593_4TAAa-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/539867207_Po7ff-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/539867412_4Jcq4-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/539867046_GWzi8-L.jpg

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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What I don't understand is that this protrusion seems like more than it should be because of the size difference. If I'm not mistaken, the stock wheels are 17x7 +55. That should protrude 53.9mm outward from the hub. The 18x8.5 +48 wheels, on the other hand, should protrude just under 60mm outward. A 6mm difference is less than a quarter inch.

I should have taken pictures before putting the new wheels on, but it seems like they have to be sticking out a lot more than 1/4" past the stock wheels. Am I miscalculating somewhere?

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

 

Plugging your numbers in the above link,the outer wheel lip is 26mm further outward compared to the stock size.

 

I have the SVN in the same size as you,but the wheel spokes seem more flush to the rim edge.

 

Yep, the spokes on the G-forces definitely extend outward from the rim, but that shouldn't really be a problem (apart from being easier to damage on curbs I guess). The issue is that with the wheel and tire extending so far out from the fender, if the suspension bottomed out the tire might hit the fender - despite the overall diameter being about the same as stock. And rolling the fenders wouldn't do any good (for the fronts at least).

 

Your 235/40s should have an overall diameter of 25.4in (vs 24.75in for mine). You don't have any problems with the fenders?

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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Your 235/40s should have an overall diameter of 25.4in (vs 24.75in for mine). You don't have any problems with the fenders?

 

My fenders are stock,never been touched by a roller or baseball bat. Never has the rubber ever made contact with any of the sheet metal.

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My fenders are stock,never been touched by a roller or baseball bat. Never has the rubber ever made contact with any of the sheet metal.

 

Same 245/35/18 tire size???

 

 

 

Flavio Zanetti

Boston, MA

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^I run this size. fits fine.

 

Would I need to roll my fenders to run 245/35/18 without F/R rubbing?

 

I feel like it would not rub because my 235/40/18 hardly rub in the front with a mild alignment of -0.9 camber. With 245/35/18's and more aggressive camber (-1.5) I do not think it would be a problem.

 

Lemme know what you think

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Well I just finished the first real drive with the new wheels & tires (approximately 60 miles). The rears both rub on something when hitting dips - the right side more than the left. Taking a quick look at the fender lip, I don't see any obvious signs of rubbing, but that must be what it is. :(

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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Do you still have the little rubber fender protectors on, in the rear wheel well arches?

 

Are you still running the stock alignment?

 

Stock alignment. Just from eyeballing it, I seem to have a very slight negative camber in the rear and a pretty noticeable negative camber in the front, though how many degrees I don't know.

 

The little rubber fender protectors are still on, and examining the fender more closely, I can see that they have been chewed up a bit. They're not very thick, though, it's hard to imagine taking them off would improve the problem much.

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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I think some people have had success in curing mild rubbing by taking those strips off. From the way your describing things it sounds like you need more clearance.

 

I'll give it a shot. If that doesn't work, I guess the next step is rolling the fenders - that might help with the rears because they don't stick out as much as the fronts.

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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Well I think taking off the rubber strips helped a little bit, but it still rubs (although it makes a different sound rubbing against the metal instead of against the rubber).

 

That's with no other passengers in the car, too. I'd imagine it would be a lot worse if I was carrying other people. Looks like I'm left with no choice but to roll. :(

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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Yokohama S.drives in 245/35R18.

phoenix96

2006 Legacy GT Ltd · 2011 Outback 3.6R Ltd · 1992 SVX

2006 Outback 3.0R VDC · 2009 Forester 2.5X

2002 Outback VDC · 1996 Outback 2.5L · 1986 GL-10

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