dmwong

My 1999 GS400 is lowered with Eibach springs (about 1 inch lowered).

Does anybody have any idea what is the widest rims i can install (front & back) without hitting the (rims + tires) to the car. For example 17x 9

Appreciate any advice.....

-dw

mr who

i've seen gs's go as wide as 10" in the rear

SoCalSC4

9" wide front (max), 10" wide rear (10.5 requires heavy mods).

Make sure you get the correct offset- consult the wheel manufacturer, fitments vary.

dmwong

Thanks for all the advice. I am thinking about 17x8 on the front and 17x9 on the rear. For 17x9, what is the MINIMUM size of tires i can install on them.

Also does anybody know the manuf. offset on the stock rims 17 x 8. I don't think this kind of spec. is in the GS brochure.

Wheel Kinetics

235 for the minimum, but I would strongly recommend a 245.

tinygs

Wo, thats cutting it close. Ill second that , but, I can guarantee you will dislike the look of a 235 on a 9" wheel. I would say 245 is the min., but for the look I personally prefer, I wouldnt go below 255. Again, on paper and "in-person" are altogether different. In the past, Ive run a 245/40/18 on an 8" wheel(245mm tire, 200mm wheel), and a 265/35/18 on a 9" wheel(265mm tire, 225mm wheel) I liked the way 265 on a 9" wheel looked ALOT better. This shouldnt have been the case because in the two comparisons there is only a 5mm difference between tire and wheel width......MANY will disagree, but IMO, the best cosmetic look is a tire and wheel combo with a ttl. width difference of +30mm going to tire width.
For instance, I am about to run 245/35/19 on a 8.5" wheel(245mm tire, 212mm wheel=33mm diff.) and 285/30/19 on a 10" wheel (285mm tire, 250mm wheel=35mm diff.) The most popular CL size in a staggered set-up has tended to be 8.5" 245(212mm wheel, 245mm tire) and 9.5" 275(237mm wheel, 275mm tire)
If you keep the tire between 20 and 30-35mm wider than the wheel you will get the desired effect with the correct performance.
Over a 40mm difference starts to doughnut, and under a 20mm difference(this is where MANY will disagree) starts to look like a lowrider IMO....There are obvious exceptions, and if Im not mistaken, I think Ive heard of Supra guys cramming a 305 tire on the STOCK 9.5" SupraTT wheel. Maybe Dennis can confirm. Hope that helps your decision a bit...Tiny

SoCalSC4

That's mostly right...

What people don't realize is that (for example) an 8.5" wide wheel (215.9mm) is really 9.5" wide overall (241.3mm).
The specified rim width determines where the tire bead will seat, therefore, the tire manufacturers are concerned only with the dimension to the inside of the rim flange.

Once you consider the rim flange thickness (1/2" per flange) you end up with a rim that is a total of 1" wider than the 'specified' rim width.

Likewise, a 10" wide wheel is really 11" wide overall, and so on.

tinygs

Correct, and I agree. I also just learned something, thanks SoCal.(and sorry for not including TENTHS of mm's on my figures, heehee) But, I dont think that necessarily needs to be considered when matching a wheel/tire combo unless the 1" flange that you spoke of might possibly vary in size from one wheel manufacturer to another. Is that possible, or is it a standard amongst wheel manufacturers that the flange is 1"???
Only because, even in the novice world of wheels/tires, there are long standing mins/maxs associated with tire width as it relates to wheel width. For example, a 285 tire lines up ALMOST exactly with the edge of a 10" wheel. Now, I admit I have never thought about why this was, because in truth the #'s dont match up.(254mm wheel, 285mm tire=31mm diff) With the 1"(25.4mm) flange being considered, you just made it make sense. Tiny

Manaray

I agree with Tiny...I too HATE the over/under sized look....straight profiles look the best IMO...

Man, Tiny is a quick study!

SoCalSC4

This is why I am here!