Advice on OFFSET for ST185 wide body

[chrisGT4]

Hello everyone,
Could someone please tell me what would be the right offset when buying a set of wheels for my ST185? I have save enough (hopefully) and I don't want to get ripped off by sales people. I want to fill out the guards and I don't want to be forced into anything that I am not sure of. So please can anyone help me. Thank in advance.
Regards
Chris

[horse]

+35. might also depend on the rim you get, eg a 16x8 at +38 will only just fit the rears

[chrisGT4]

Thanks da_horse
I am looking at 17 x 7.5 secondhand. As you can see I don't have much on choices so at least I know what I'll be looking for when buying used.
Thanks again

[Matty P]

I run 17 x 8 with 35mm offset. 1" spacers on the rear. Looks a little like this:


Car needs some lowering, but very happy with the wheel specs

[Roundy]

Likewise, 17x8 +35 with a 25mm spacer on the rear



I needed to roll my rear guards, however mine is quite a bit lower than Matt.

It depends on how much you want to fill them as too what you really need

If you don't want to go spacers you will need to get staggered offsets front to rear.

[Matty P]

Roundys is a good example of how a wide body ST185 should sit.

For reference, this is how the rear looks without the spacers


Not pretty!

[twentyEight]

If a +35 is perfect fitment for an 8" rim, then you'd need a +29 to have the same fitment on a 7.5" rim.

[WDE_BDY]

Not true, your fitment will depend on tyre size. Going from +35 to +29 with the same size tyre (even with narrower rim) will push the tyre closer to the guard. Yes the face of the wheel will be further in if narrower and the same offset but the tyre will be in the same spot.

Callum

[twentyEight]

True. Should've have taken that into account.

[petergoudie]

Maximum legal offset is 12.5 mm per side that is, 25 mm overall increase in track. Spacers are illegal.

[twentyEight]

Maximum legal offset is 12.5 mm per side...

You obviously mean 12.5 decrease in offset? (ie. you decrease your offset which increases your track)

These cars come with a +38 offset from the factory I believe (base model).

[petergoudie]

I meant to indicate the rules only allow a change of 12.5 mm over the factory standard offset although you could decrease it but nobody normally does that unless possibly for a hot rod.

One of the issues is to try and find out what the factory offset is. I've never seen a workshop manual that lists an offset. I guess everyone measures a standard wheel or relies on the aftermarket wheel sellers.

[Roundy]

Standard wheels are 15x6.5 +39

Stamped on the wheel itself.

Don't the rules state you can't change the track by more than 25mm period? In or out?

Also tyre size plays a bit role in how good the car looks (imho)

I am running 235/40/17s and to me it looks a LOT meaner with the 20mm extra rubber compared to my 215s that were on there before.

[petergoudie]

Yes the 25 max is correct. In theory you could put much wider rims on but to keep to the maximum allowable track limit the extra width has to be even on either side. Unfortuneatly car manufacturers give little clearance from the rim to suspension so the only option is to go out and then get caught by the rules.

[mattysshop]

so +35 with a 1 inch (25.40mm) spacer on an 8 inch rim..

or a +35 offset 10 inch rim..

or +22 offset 9 inch rim

or +10 offset 8 inch rim

for the rears to fill the gaurds..

OR you can just harden the F$$k up and run a bolt on spacer like everyone else does..

i have to agree they look uber ghay with what seems like just the complete wrong offset wheel tucked all the way under the rear gaurds..