Thread: offset wheels?
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Old Mar 2, 2012 | 10:09 AM
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JHM2K
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Murfreesboro, TN
Default Re: offset wheels?

On the fronts, stick with an 8-8.5" wide wheel and as close to 32mm as you can get.

Anything numerically lower than a +32mm offset (30, for instance) will push the wheel out further and further from the suspension. This is great (to a point) but you will eventually run into interference with the fender during articulation.

Anything numerically higher than a +32mm offset in the front (35, 40, etc) will cause the wheel to sit inside too far and the inside sidewall of the tire risks contact with the upper suspension nut.

On the rears, the factory offset is +22mm on a 9" wheel.

Most TSW 19x9.5 wheels are +35 mm offest. This is doable, but your wheel will appear to be "tucked" into the fender. A 10mm Eibach/H&R spacer would fix this beautifully. Some TSW rims are cool enough to provide a +25 mm offset.

A 19x10" wheel can be run but the offset needs to be between +20mm and +25mm... So, a 19x10 +35mm offset can be used so long as you pair it with a 10-15mm spacer. The tire width on the rear will be the limiting factor. A 275 on a 10" rim could likely be pushed out to the +20mm range with no interference on the fender lip. A 285/295 might require you to stay closer to +25mm overall.

Last but not least, I'm sure you discovered that "lip size" is entirely dependant upon the style of the wheel, and the manufacturer.

My Mandrus wheels, for instance, are 19x9.5 with a +25mm offset. However, the lip is only 1.75"... The spokes on the Wilhelm come out further to accompany the wide 4-piston calipers on the Mercedes SL (what this wheel was built for, given the size/offset). The TSW Willow, Snetterton, etc all have a 3" rear lip because the offset (+35mm) is geared towards a different model and there's no need to clear larger calipers, therefore the wheel's spokes can be styled more aggressively, allowing for a bigger lip.

In your situation, if you don't plan on upgrading the rear calipers to the AMG 4-pots, your setup for widest lip/best fitment would be a 19x9.5 +35mm offset TSW (or comparable) wheel with the 3" lip, and a 10mm hub-centric spacer.

Hope this helps.
 
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