I spoke with tirerack today and they will be getting 17" SSR Professor SP1's in around the 10th of July. The only size/stagger they are getting in for 17" is:

17x8 front et 49 with a 44mm lip
17x9.5 rear et 55 with a 70mm lip


Gruppe-S on the other hand, you can order whatever width/offset/lip size that you would like that SSR offers. I was planning on going with:

17x7.5 front et55 36mm lip
17x9 rear et62 44mm lip


So here is the dilemma. Go with tirerack since there is virtually no wait, but have to buy new tires also? Or order through Gruppe-S, wait 60-90 days, but have the ability to save money and run the stock tires on the new wheels for now? Tirerack is also about $30 cheaper per wheel, but that is a bit of a moot point since i'd have to spring for tires.

Which one should I go with? Any advantages/disadvantages one has over the other that I am not seeing? I think the tirerack setup would look badass with that huge lip in the rear...but I am leaning towards ordering the gruppe-s setup since I can use the stock tires.

 

You aren't required to buy both rims and tires from Tirerack. You can just buy the rims from Tirerack. However, you have to pay someone else to take the stock tires of the stock rims and move them onto the new wheels. If you bought tires with the rims from Tirerack, they would mount and balance them for you free of charge. Hope this helps.

 

Go with the 17x7.5 & 17x9 from Gruppe-S. With the offsets that tirerack offers on the SP1's, you'll have to run skinny tires which will look stretched on the wheels, else you'll be rubbing big time... especially if lowered.

 

Id choose the tire rack offsets.

 

Tirerack setup will have slight rubbing in the back depending on drop/tire selection but you get bigger lip from the wheels....while gruppe-s you will have no rubbing but lesser lip on the wheels and you have to wait a while for it........

 

sounds like gruppe-s is the way to go. I don't want to screw around with camber, rolling fenders, etc.. Thanks guys!

 

Gruppe-s are also forged wheels, while tire rack are cast. It makes a difference, go with gruppe-s.

 

17x9.5 rear et 55 with a 70mm lip

isnt true..

both companies sell the same offsets and lip sizes..

official sizes listed here.

http://202.164.225.248/lineup/ssr/index.html
17x8+49 =(46mm lip SL)(34mm NR)
17x9+55 =(59mm lip SL)(46mm NR)

17x7.5+55 =(34mm lip SL)
17x9+62 =(46mm lip SL)(34mm NR)

http://202.164.225.248/lineup/ssr/sp1/spec/17inch.html
^^17" sizes etc..




btw.. all SSR have cast centers.. just tire rack hoops are cast spun, whereas gruppeS SSr are semi solid forged.. u can tell the difference looking at the lips

 

u can use stock tires on either

gruppe-s takes longer.. but more colors avail and any offsets

Tirerack only sells whats in stock


id go gruppe-s and wait.. or pay extra like 1100$ and have em airfreighted

 

thats what the rep told me, he must have been confused.