CrUZe

I am gonna put some 18 inchers on my RX, but the rim is 18 x 8.5 offset 114.3 E.T. +35. Gonna put some 255/45 rubbers.

Is the above rim specs gonna fit right?
I understand that some put in +30 and some +38........do we actually need spacers when the E.T. is of +35 and below??

Please help.

LexRX

I wish I could help you with that, but I don't quite understand offsets, +30, +35, etc.

What I can tell you is that if you have any clearance problems with new wheels/tires, it will be with the rear strut. There is very little clearance between the stock tire and strut. If anything you may need spacers in the rear only.

-Nick

XO119

hey,
can you post the picture of your 18" rim?? thanks

CrUZe

I will try and post some pics of it.

Well, +35 and +30 basically means how far the rims should protrude from the fender (in my own way of explanation.) Hence, if the smaller the value of E.T. the more protruding the rims become. BUt if its is way prtruding then your outer fender will rub the tyre.

I hope I can make you understand a bit better.
BTW, wouldn't spacers make the car braking abit more jittery?? Let me know more about spacers.

LexRX

Still having a little trouble with the +35 measurement. Does it have anything to do with the distance from where the wheel bolts on to the edge of the wheel. I don't know

As for spacers. Many will not use them, they can put stress on your suspension. As long as you don't get some that are too big I think you'd be okay. They just bolt onto the studs of your car and put the wheel further from the car - making a wider track allowing a wider wheel to fit. Check out http://www.rodmillenstore.com He has some spacers for the RX. I haven't used any myself. A CL member wwest has them on his RX. Hope that helps some.

-Nick

ronncat

I hope that the following info can be of assistance to you. This is a summary of a post that I submitted a couple of years ago regarding 18" rims.

I mounted a set of Yokohama AVS rims in 18X8.5 size with a 35 mm offset. These were shod in Pirelli Scorpion 255/55-18s. I found that it was necessary to use 15 mm H&R spacers in the rear and had to change to longer studs as well. With this setup, there was slightly less than 1/2" clearance between the tire and the spring perch. Since you are considering 45 series tires, there will be a little more clearance. In the front, at full lock, the inside of the tire would rub the inner fender well at the rear. This problem has slightly abated over the past couple of years as the tread has worn. I don't consider this a bad problem as I seldom do full lock turns at speed. .......(this goes on and on, maybe you can find the original post in the archives)

Hope this helps, Ron

LexRX

Maybe 18x8 instead of 8.5 width wheels would serve the RX better. Keep it from rubbing while still having 255-55 tires. Then again, the tires are the same width so that my not help. This may be where a different offset would come in handy

-Nick

CrUZe

Yes, I do agree. Given the right offset (E.T.), the RX 300 would run without any hiccups such as fender rubs.

At the same time, you do not have to meddle with spacers at all. So basically we must do some homework, get the right offset from some tire specialist and then specify the correct offset to the "Wheels/Tyres Shops" when we need to purchase new wheels.

I think we should let everyone in the forum know about the correct Offset.....so no more misleading issues.