After much research, I chose to purchase a set of 18x7.5 from and 18x8.5 rear, WORK Emotion CR Kai wheels. I had all of my specs written down when I called to order. Most of the wheels I was interested in (BBS, VOLK, etc.) came in rear offsets in the +53 range, or higher. I wanted to use SO3, 255/35's in the rear. When I placed my order, I asked the rep what offsets the wheels came in. Instead of answering me in numbers, the rep responded that WORK "made this wheel size particularly for my car and that it would fit." I know now that I should have asked, but since the lowest offset I had come across was in the +53 range, I didn't pursue it. Well, the rear wheels came with only a +43 offset. As you can guess by now, my brand new $300/per tire SO3's stick out 1 cm past the fenders. Aside from being incredibly angry about how this distributor handled my order at the time of purchase and subsequently (their position is that it was my responsibility to ask), I have a couple of basic questions that I hope someone on the list can help me with. 1) Why does this aftermarket, performance wheel only come in such a low offset, obviously limiting the amount of rubber that can be used?, 2) Has anyone else had issues with this wheel? 3) Does anyone know the factory offset for the rear wheels on the '04/05 S2000s? 4) If I follow the distributor's recommendations, which are now obviously suspect in my mind, and buy TWO MORE SO3's in the 235/35 size, will they actually fit properly without rubbing?

 

Where did you order your rims from? Obviously the distributor didnt know that +43 with a 8.5" rim in the rear AND a 255 tire will make it stick out beyond the fender for a s2k. Narrowing your tire MAY be a solution but that honestly depends on the tire. Some tires have a more squared off edges which sticks out further than others. 235's probally will make it not rub but your also losing 20mm of contact patch on the tire.

BTW the factory offset is somewhere around +65 in the rear.

 

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=244639



Check the above thread out.

The owner of this GPwhite (loi) is a seller of those same rims. He told me that his rears were +43 offset and it would fit on the car without problem. Maybe you should contact him and ask him about the wheels.
I think the solution in your case would be to set the camber -2, if like you said, your wheels stick about 1cm out

Just my $0.02

 

Where did you buy those tires? I think you paid too much

 

Thank you for the lead. I would love to communicate with the owner of this car. Please forward his email address to me, or mine to him. I just want to speak to someone with first hand knowledge before I spend any more money.

The tires were about 300 each for the 255/35 size, including mounting/balancing/etc. (they will be for sale, by the way)....I got them at the BF Goodrich Tire place in Charlotte, NC.

Thanks again,
Perry
ncspyder550@carolina.rr.com

 

Well, like i said you can use that link and just pm him, right?

 

Where did you get your wheels from? If you dont mind me asking.

 

Thank you again, I got the phone number from the link and I will call tomorrow.. interesting to note that the information/spec sheet on his car indicates that he had a "custom offset."

I bought the wheels from AKH Trading/WORK USA.

I am a pretty laid back person and I don't get ruffled too easily, but the way that this went down really upset me. I tried to ask them to take the wheels back for a refund, and/or pay for part of my tire loss. Their attitude was that ALL of the responsibility was mine. So much for "the consumer is always right." If I had acted impulsively, or had not done my homework, I don't think that I would have a beef. But the rep who took my order was fairly caviler and essentially cut me off when I asked him about offset specs. He was quick to assured me that everything was kosher. I must have had a senior moment, because I took him at his word and did not pursue it.

Over the last 20 yrs, I have built a Beck 550 spyder, restored a 356 Carrera and an XKE, and built/raced a 911 RS America. In all of the dealings that I have had with probably 100+ after market venders, I have never had anything like this happen before.

The bottom line is, in my opinion, the way that this vendor's rep handled my order cost me $ 600 and there's nothing I can do about it...I wasn't going to name names, but you asked, so there it is..

 

And to think that it didnt come from some authorized dealer. IT WAS FROM THE IMPORTERS THEMSELVES

 

You seem to be knowledgable about these cars. I have owned my car (my first Honda) for 3 whole weeks... do you have any advice regarding how I should proceed? Do I have any options/recourse?