Originally Posted by HDDP
There's alot of variables in your question... The OEM wheel, or your new wheels ? And how much have you lowered the car from OEM spec ? What's the offset of your new wheels ? These are very key to answering your question...
There are three clearance issues to deal with on the front wheels / tires (1) the upper "A" frame bolt that MMZ mentioned. This is the most critical because it can't be changed (cheaply) and if you mount a tire that is too wide on a small offset wheel, the bolt will slice through the inside shoulder of the tire before you drive out of the shop. But, this clearance will always remain constant +/- a few mm when the tire flexes and the wheel turns. (2) The inside fender well which has a knife edge and retaining bolts for the wheel well liners that protrude into the well. This is a variable because of how much you lowered the car and what the offset of your new wheels are. The compression of the front suspension during turning and braking will vary the distance between these. So if you're sitting nice and pretty in a parking lot and you have a few mm clearance, that clearance may not be enough when you're driving, especially driving hard. The fenders can be rolled by a good shop and you can trim the ends of the bolts that hold your well liners. but you won't really know what the suspensions compression is going to do unless you have a couple a fat guys sit on your fender while you turn the wheels back and forth.
So, that being said what's the offset of your new wheels ? How much have you dropped the car ?
The offset of the new wheels are 35mm and they are 8.5X18's. The front of the car lowered around 1-1/4" to 1-1/2". If I thinking right, if both wheels are the same offset, that would mean that the inside of the wheel would be 1.5" farther in than the 7" OEM. So with that being said, last night I took a mirror and a flashlight, stuck it in above the tire to see how much clearance there was between the tire and the top A frame bolt. There was only 1/4" to 1/2", I couldn't believe it was that close. I also got some tire height measurements together yesterday 225/40 = 25.1, 235/40 = 25.4, 245/40 = 25.7, of course these heights would be split in half from the rim to the outside of the tire and the width should be split between the inner and outer sides if the rim. I really don't want to go to a 35 series, but a 255/35 is 25" witch is basically the same as the 225/40 in height, I feel I would be safe to go with a 235/40, but I would rather go with a 245/40. I may end up having to go with some spacers, I did find some that have the hub centric rings made on the spacer itself. Thanks for the input HDDP.
Steve