Hi Jim, I bought a set of Stern ST1 wheels on ebay: 18x8 fr/18x9.5 rr with 48mm offset, and had a set of 225/265-40 BF Goodrich G-Force Sports mounted on them.

The tires rub the rear fenders whenever I drive over a dip or train tracks. The wheels stick out 0.5 beyond the fender lip. The ebay seller "guarantees" on his posting that the wheels would fit my car. I tried having the seller exchange the rear wheels, but now he won't honor his "guarantee".

Instead, the ebay seller says that I need to mount 245-35s in the rear. He sent me a link to TireRack.com that shows your site recommending 245s on another set of 18x9.5 wheels.

I checked with two other professionals who tell me that the 48mm offset is wrong, and 245s are too narrow for 9.5 wheels --which compromises braking, cornering, etc. Besides, the 265s seem to fit the wheels perfectly.

I had to swap the stock wheels/tires back on so I can drive the car. Do you have any suggestions? Am I stuck with a brand-new set of wheels/tires that I cannot use?

Pease advise.

Aldo

 

From the wheel fitment guide sticky at the top of this forum;


4. What fits?

Many people have tried many different wheels and tires on the S2000. Along the way, a lot of people have had problems with rubbing. Some had a little rubbing, and some had none. With all of this experimentation, a few things were figured out. The information below is not the drop dead final word of what will and will not fit. Certain things can be done to make something fit that otherwise wouldn't, such as increasing negative camber, running narrow tires, and rolling fenders, but that adds a lot of variability to this equation and thus is difficult to predict. We'll assume the owner has had a proper alignment, uses tires recommended for the chosen wheel width, and hasn't modified their fenders.

Based on successes and failures from many S2000 owners, we can use an offset calculator to figure out what other offsets and tires will work. These are minimum recommended offsets. You can use a higher offset if you want, and you will get additional fender clearance.

For the front:
6.5

 

Thanks for the info, Mike.

Looks like I am stuck with these wheels and tires...ouch!

This is a lesson to never again buy expensive items on ebay, no matter the sellers' stated fitment "guarantees".

Aldo

 

with a 255 you should be able to fit, and if you are still rubbing roll your fenders, or get some negative camber

 

I REALLY hate to do this to my car, but does anyone know how much clearance I could gain by rolling the rear fenders?

 

It might be enough to fit. 245 on a 9.5" wheel will be super stretched out and look like arse. I vote roll the fenders and get an alignment.

I don't agree with your comment about buying stuff on eBay, though. You just have to make sure that you're dealing with a professional in situations like that!

 

I like the 255/35R18 better for the offset on those wheels and you are probably still going to need to run more negative camber and or roll the fender lips.

 

I managed to negotiate with the ebay seller a pair of 18x8.5 45mm offset, for under 1/2 of their price, to replace the rear 18x9.5 with 265s. I checked with ADR, the manufacturer, and they confirmed that these wheels will fit.

What is the widest tire I would be able to fit on these wheels w/o rolling the fenders or negative camber?

 

Sure ADR says they fit. You continue to get bad advice and it's going to end up costing you more than a decent set of wheels.

+45 is going the wrong way although you'll be able to get a narrower tire on the rear now because of the narrower wheel. Go with a 245 but I'd still recommend a fender roll and some increased negative camber.

 

[quote name='Ubetit' date='Mar 28 2007, 07:12 AM']Sure ADR says they fit.