quick fitment question:

[Graphite]

18x8 wheel: would i want a 35 or a 45 offset?

am i correct in stating that the lower the offset number, the further out the wheels sit? like the 35 would be more flush but could rub on the fender, and the 45 would eliminate rubbing but not really be flush?

sorry for the basic question but i asked on a few different forums but cant get a straight answer from anyone

[jw7313]

I am looking to get new wheels as well... I was told that: ex.) if you were to say get a rim that was 50 offset the tire would be mounted dead center. Then as the number gets smaller the rim is mounted more towards the outside lip causing the inside of the rim to get closer to your wheel wells and harness equipment which can cause problems. It really depends on how wide the rim is for your vehicle.... 7.5, 8, 8.5", ect...

I am looking at this package here for my BSP Scion 08 tC:

Wheelfire

With that I think I need to add a 1.5 inch drop kit so that this thing sits flush...

Please feel free to post comments, recommendations are more than welcome, and any other info. you can give me would be great.

[Graphite]

your link doesnt show a wheel. which one was it?

im starting to lean towards the ADR M Sport in hyper black 18x8. the tenzo is starting to look too aggressive for my taste.

[jw7313]

sorry about that. Go to wheelfire.com and check out the TSW 19" Thruxstons. I am looking to obtain a set of those along w/ getting a 1.5 drop from the Eibach Pro-Kit... I thing this setup will look slammin on my 08 tC BSP. I am going more for looks than speed.

I like your rims though, but it looks to me like it is race inspired. Do you have any experience w/ dropping cars and do you think 19"'s along w/ the drop would sit nice and flush w/out rubbing?

[Graphite]

I have plenty of experience dropping cars. 19s on a scion tc... you're most likely gonna rub. Depending on offset and wheel width it'll most likely be at full steering lock (turned all the way left or right) & possibly on the rear fenders (cured by rolling the fenders - I'm not a big fan of that). A 1.5 inch drop should take care of the pesky wheel gap with those big wheels.

I'm just not too good with wheel offsets and such, which is why I asked my original question.

Plus with a 1.5, you won't need a camber kit which is good, & it won't really adversly (sp?) affect your handling. I'd pair that with a bigger rear sway bar for good measure.

Since I'm posting from my fone ill check out your rims tomorrow while I'm bored at work yeah the DC-6 is a jdm race inspired wheel, and I thought that was a hot wheel (which it is...) but I thought about it... its not really me anymore. I'm 27 and want both tasteful and functional upgrades since my tc is a DD. I'm done with overly aggressive styling & would like a simpler approach that meets my visual needs, while maintaining the fun factor without giving me unwanted attention from the po-po.

[Graphite]

so i checked out the wheels

http://www.wheelfire.com/imagesprodu...hite-thumb.jpg

not bad... nice deep lip. 19s should sit well with a 1.5" drop

i personally like the sakata 5s
http://www.wheelfire.com/imagesprodu..._pop_white.jpg

im more of a multispoke guy, but to each his own. either way you cant go wrong with a deep lip

[jw7313]

yeah.... I can't wait to get this done... but I really want to know what the optimum level would be to lower my car so that the ride looks flush to the wheels while avoiding any rubberage... what do you think about a 1.25"... I really hope that I can leave the stock springs in bc this setup is already gonna put me back about $2000 w/ all included: Wheels and tires, lowering kit and all the installations to get her rollin. Which I don't think is a bad deal, do you?

[Graphite]

Well the hotchkis drops the front 1.7 and the rear 1.97, and with 18s the tires tuck slightly.

With your 1.5 & 19s the wheel gap should be very minimal if any. You won't need struts but I'd suggest an alignment along with the spring install.

Stock springs will leave 1 helluva gap. If you're into looks then its a given that you have to drop your ish. Would you consider doing it yourself? There are plenty of DIYs out there to walk you thru it. The 1st time I dropped a car (civic on ground controls) it took about 4 hours. Me and my friends got food, drinks, & music and went to work. It was fun and you learn a lot.

$2K for everything... mmmm... depending on how you want to approach it that seems about right. The rims are like $1500-1700, the springs are about $150ish, and install/alignment is about $300.

I still suggest the hotchkis setup since it has springs AND sway bars, getsome buddies and do it yourselves, and in the end just pat yourself on the back. It really isn't as hard as it looks. The tough part are compressing the springs (without power tools your arms will hurt).

Good luck... I'm gonna do my suspension before I order wheels. On the site you want to order from I saw some bomb azz Enkei FN-18s. So now I'm considering those... waaaaay too many choices...

[jw7313]

that's cool. yeah, I'm looking to get the car dropped before the wheels go on because of alignment issues that always arrive. Hey, do you know what the stock gap is between the oem wheel and the fender. 2.5 inch? Also, while going over bumps and other debris what is the average give of the stock struts. .75 inch, little more or less. I'm just concerned about the car giving too much and having some rubbing issues in the future.

[Graphite]

Wow, you're getting into specifics now. I don't know exact numbers but looks like the rear has about 2 inches and the front about 1.5-1.8. I'm basing this on how hotchkis springs fully seated show almost no gap.

The average compression/rebound of the struts? No idea...

You're starting to think too much into it haha. I tend to do the same thing. I overthink a project then I get nervous. Try going to cardomain.com and finding ppl with 19 &20" wheels, & asking them. I never went bigger than 18s and I don't want to give you wrong info.

But I know that when you're done with it all, you'll be the happiest mofo on the face of the planet.

[Soulbane]

The closer you stay to the oem offset (which is +48mm) the better off you'll be.

18x8 + a drop on +35mm offsets will cause you to rub for sure, no questions asked. I believe 35 is the minnimum offset required for the tC.

Stay as close to stock as possible.

It's not just for "looks" also the longevity of your wheel bearings.

[Graphite]

Thx soulbane. That's what I thought...

[jw7313]

I just realized now that the wheel I have been checkin out is a 35 offset, so I'm pretty much destined for some fender rubberage (the 8 inch width hurts me as well). I'm kinda gettin cold feet about the entire project now and it's pissin me off. What if I were to stick w/ 17's and drop the beast like 2 inches... would I remove any chance of rubbin anythin or anywhere??

[Graphite]

dude rock 18x7/7.5/8 with a 45-48 offste. you'll be fine.

the scion enkei upgrade is 18x7.5, and either a 45 or 48 offset. no rubbing.

[jw7313]

hey, I appreciate the info... You would think upgradin rims and tires would be easy, but there is always unknowns that you have to consider.