Nixsun79

Anyone know the 18" tire sizes that will fit on a 18X8 wheel on a 1997 ES300. The only tire I can find listed on tirerack is a 215/45-18. I was hoping that there were some other sizes that would fit, due to the fact that the price of 215/45-18 tires are very expensive. Some other 18" tire sizes are up to $100 cheaper a tire.

Thanks

SoCalSC4

Our VP of Sales runs 225/40-18 on his '97 ES (18x8.5 +35) - works great.

Just be careful when choosing offset- an 18x8.5+40 or higher, 18x8 +46 or higher, or 18x7.5 +52 or higher will hit the rear strut tubes. If you go outboard too far, the tires will rub the inside of the rear fender lip.

Ideally, you'd want about 18x8 +35 to +38 to keep you off of the rear suspension and rear fenders.

Also, a 215/40-18 would be a good compromise, and give you more clearance inside the rear fender.

Do you know what the offset of the wheels you've chosen is?

-Bob

Brandon@TR

The 215/40 18 will work fine on that. I recommend the Yoko Parada Spec 2 at $137 ea plus shipping.

Yoko Parada Spec 2

Nixsun79

Ok, here is my problem. I am getting 18x8 inch rims with a +45 offset. I am also lowering my car with Tein S-Tech springs and KYB GR-2 Struts. The drop will be approximately 1.7" Front and 1.4" rear. I am highly concerned with rubbing. I went to a local wheel distrubuter, wheeltech, and they advised me to run a 225/35-18. That size tire will throw my spedo off 2.3 mph, at spedo reading of 60-actual 57.7. The guy there advised me that 2.3mph would not hurt my car, as in timing and gear ratio's, etc. He did say that he was not sure if I would still get any rub from that tire size, but the lower side wall would help. Do any of you have any suggestions to this? I was thinking that I could possibly get the Eibach springs that lower the car 1" front and rear. The only problem is I already have the Tein spings, they are not installed, but I have ordered them. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone out there put 18X8 inch rims with a +45 offset on there 97-01 ES3 with a lowering kit?

Thanks

SoCalSC4

18x8 +45 is pretty weak on the ES- in my experience, you'll almost certainly need to run a 3mm spacer on the rear (Brandon, your thoughts?) Here are the numbers:

18x8.5 +40
6.32" backspacing (interferes with rear strut tube, I've tried it)
3.18" frontspacing

18x8.0 +45
6.27" backspacing
2.73" frontspacing

This will keep you away from the fender, but will be too far inboard to work on the rear of the car.
Have two 3mm spacers handy!

I think Brandon's 215/40-18 Parada suggestion is fantastic- I'd prefer to have the additional sidewall height on a car like the ES versus the very short 225/35-18). Also, the narrower with will help if you are 'slamming' the car, in spite of the at that the 215 is a bit taller.

BTW, our VP runs the H&R spriungs in his ES- they drop the car nicely, but it is by no means 'slammed.'
If you really want to dump it, do the coilovers...

Nixsun79

SoCalSC4 could you break that down into laymans terms please, I have no idea what the frontspacing and rearspacing numbers will do for me.

Thanks

SoCalSC4

Sorry...

Backspacing is the distance from the wheels' mounting surface to the innermost part of the wheel.

Frontspacing is the distance from the wheels' mounting surface tom the outermost part of the wheel.

I was just trying to illustrate how these two wheels will fit, relative to each other. Basically, the 18x8.5 +40 sits the same to the inside of the car (relative to the suspension components) as your proposed 18x8 +45 will ("clank!").

Relative to the outer fender, the 18x8 +45 is tucked-in .450" (almost 1/2") more than the 18x8.5 +40.

The reality is: it's a moot point- the 18x8 +45 is not going to clear the rear strut tube unless you use a spacer. Can you get this wheel in somehting like 18x8 +38 or +40? Sounds like this is ideal for your proposed drop... will clear both the suspension and the fender.

Nixsun79

I wish I could get this wheel in another offset, unfortunately the only offset available is the +45.

I know that if I do not drop the car the +45 will fit with 225/40-18 tires. My question is, how much of a drop do you think I will be able to get away with if I put a 225/35-18.

Thanks