Aggressive Wheel Fitment Thread
Thread Starter
OMGITM!
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 6
From: Sunny Southern California
A 10" wide wheel is the max width you can use that sticks close to the factory offset and takes advantage of all the inboard wheel space @ 50 - 52mm offset. With a fat tire (285 or 295) it will fill out the fender and also look mean as hell with all that rubber under there. You also aren't going to experience handling and driveability issues that result from wheel offsets lower than factory.
If you want to run wider than 10" then you have no choice but to start lowering the offset because there is no more inboard space available without extreme mods like tubbing and major suspension relocation/redesign. With every width increment above a 10" width @ +50-52mm offset you'd have to move the offset out by half that amount.
So for 1/2" increase above 10" width (10.5") half that amount is 1/4" = 6.3mm or 7mm for practical purposes. At each 1.5" increase you could subtract 1mm to account for the fractions adding up to a whole number, but there aren't too many RX8s using 11.5" wide wheels let alone 13" wide, lol. At anything past 10.5" wide using this basis the fender will need pulling or flaring for an equally wide tire not to rub because it will be sticking too far outboard of the factory fender lip to clear. So the resulting size/offsets would be:
10.0" @ +50 to +52mm
10.5" @ +43 to +45mm
11.0" @ +36 to +38mm
11.5" @ +30 to +32mm
12.0" @ +23 to +25mm
Otherwise running undersize tires to accomplish this fails on several accounts. To make the tire sidewall lean for fender clearance means that it has to lean both on the inside and the outside. A ridiculously narrow tire is required the further outboard the wheel lip sits outside the fender lip. Way back when tire sidewalls lacked good support but todays performance tires are designed such that a wheel wider than the tread width/contact patch width accomplishes no performance benefit. So a wide wheel with a high positive offset just to put a skiny tire on it is pointless and silly. Some wheel width/tire size reference points are:
9" wheel @ 245 to 255 tire
10" wheel @ 275/285 tire
11" wheel @ 305/315 tire
12" wheel @ 335 tire
Some change in offset from the original +50mm (S1 models) is not going to have much impact, but as you continue to push it out the resulting scrub radius moment arm is creating a force that makes the tires want to turn out, putting the steering components in constant tension while driving in a straight line. As such a setup encounters uneven pavement, bumps, water puddles etc. that moment arm is going to try and rip the steering wheel out of your hand position. Even moreso for these conditions under braking because this same scrub radius moment arm is going to magnify the braking deceleration forces against the steering wheel as well.
So for me when I see someone running sub-10" wheels/tires with a high offset or otherwise not using the full inboard area of the available wheel well it is like people entering a body building contest. The wide wheel/narrow tire setup is like the skinn kid with smallish build puffing up and trying to look big and tough when in fact he is still just a silly looking runt to everyone who can see clearly. Leaving available space inboard is just like the person who has a big upper body with thin, skinny legs or vice versa. They simply are not fully developed. Ultimately it comes down to doing it right vs doing it wrong. Damn near everyone here is doing it wrong. What most of you are calling aggressive is the equivalent of carbon fiber vinyl applique wrapped over a steel part.
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If you want to run wider than 10" then you have no choice but to start lowering the offset because there is no more inboard space available without extreme mods like tubbing and major suspension relocation/redesign. With every width increment above a 10" width @ +50-52mm offset you'd have to move the offset out by half that amount.
So for 1/2" increase above 10" width (10.5") half that amount is 1/4" = 6.3mm or 7mm for practical purposes. At each 1.5" increase you could subtract 1mm to account for the fractions adding up to a whole number, but there aren't too many RX8s using 11.5" wide wheels let alone 13" wide, lol. At anything past 10.5" wide using this basis the fender will need pulling or flaring for an equally wide tire not to rub because it will be sticking too far outboard of the factory fender lip to clear. So the resulting size/offsets would be:
10.0" @ +50 to +52mm
10.5" @ +43 to +45mm
11.0" @ +36 to +38mm
11.5" @ +30 to +32mm
12.0" @ +23 to +25mm
Otherwise running undersize tires to accomplish this fails on several accounts. To make the tire sidewall lean for fender clearance means that it has to lean both on the inside and the outside. A ridiculously narrow tire is required the further outboard the wheel lip sits outside the fender lip. Way back when tire sidewalls lacked good support but todays performance tires are designed such that a wheel wider than the tread width/contact patch width accomplishes no performance benefit. So a wide wheel with a high positive offset just to put a skiny tire on it is pointless and silly. Some wheel width/tire size reference points are:
9" wheel @ 245 to 255 tire
10" wheel @ 275/285 tire
11" wheel @ 305/315 tire
12" wheel @ 335 tire
Some change in offset from the original +50mm (S1 models) is not going to have much impact, but as you continue to push it out the resulting scrub radius moment arm is creating a force that makes the tires want to turn out, putting the steering components in constant tension while driving in a straight line. As such a setup encounters uneven pavement, bumps, water puddles etc. that moment arm is going to try and rip the steering wheel out of your hand position. Even moreso for these conditions under braking because this same scrub radius moment arm is going to magnify the braking deceleration forces against the steering wheel as well.
So for me when I see someone running sub-10" wheels/tires with a high offset or otherwise not using the full inboard area of the available wheel well it is like people entering a body building contest. The wide wheel/narrow tire setup is like the skinn kid with smallish build puffing up and trying to look big and tough when in fact he is still just a silly looking runt to everyone who can see clearly. Leaving available space inboard is just like the person who has a big upper body with thin, skinny legs or vice versa. They simply are not fully developed. Ultimately it comes down to doing it right vs doing it wrong. Damn near everyone here is doing it wrong. What most of you are calling aggressive is the equivalent of carbon fiber vinyl applique wrapped over a steel part.
.
You seem mature enough in other respects, why can you not understand that others simply choose to do things differently (i.e. modify cars); this does not make them "wrong." I like to fall between the two extremes, but I know others slant more one way than the other.
You know your wheel fitment requirements, your numbers are spot on. My next setup is 19x11.5 ET31 all around. Looks like we have both done our homework in this respect, lol.
The car scene world would be boring as dirt if we all modified our cars strictly for performance sake. All of our cars would be clones of one another. Would that make everyone, "right?" Things should not be said so matter-of-factly. You aren't much of an artist, are you? In either case, different strokes for different folks, as always
Chad - That front looks sooooooo good. Let's trade, lol.
Hahaha Matt thanks 
I like your front as well but I think I'll hang on to my MS 
but if I ever decide to trade it I'll be sure to drop you a line :D
Oh and could you possibly let me know how to get better pictures by criticizing the ones I posted up? I'm not too camera savvy yet as you could have probably guessed lol.
I like your front as well but I think I'll hang on to my MS but if I ever decide to trade it I'll be sure to drop you a line :DOh and could you possibly let me know how to get better pictures by criticizing the ones I posted up? I'm not too camera savvy yet as you could have probably guessed lol.
It's your right to walk around with your pants top hanging around down around your knees with your underwear exposed to the world, just as it's everyone elses right to point and laugh at you for doing so. As for the maturity aspect, I think most people recognize which side of the practicality vs poseur side of argument is more mature.
It's your right to walk around with your pants top hanging around down around your knees with your underwear exposed to the world, just as it's everyone elses right to point and laugh at you for doing so. As for the maturity aspect, I think most people recognize which side of the practicality vs poseur side of argument is more mature.
need new coils thanks dude.
Yeah my friend mounted em for free couple weeks ago, 3 of them go the same way, doesn't really matter tho, almost time for a new set anyways. lol
![mike[piston eater]'s Avatar](https://www.rx8club.com/avatars/mike%5Bpiston-eater%5D-48728.gif?dateline=1334247180)
Thread Starter
OMGITM!
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 6
From: Sunny Southern California
It's your right to walk around with your pants top hanging around down around your knees with your underwear exposed to the world, just as it's everyone elses right to point and laugh at you for doing so. As for the maturity aspect, I think most people recognize which side of the practicality vs poseur side of argument is more mature.
Think what you will; different points of view are fine and should be encouraged. Same goes for music, painting, etc.; Nobody is 'posing' about anything.
As J mentioned, the mature aspect is not to argue. However, I really feel like it's a misunderstanding; nobody here claims to be a race car driver or be the fastest in town. Beyond that, why do you care?
Imputttt - Looks good on the equips, how much power you putting down? Probably faster than your 8 was?
Couple months ago.
Thanks dude.
221whp, 247wtq on a mustang dyno.
Yeah, its a LOT faster. lol
doesnt look as cool yet tho
Yeah, just ignore him, he's like a cockroach.
Oh boy, those of us who like flush fitment are such whippersnappers!
Think what you will; different points of view are fine and should be encouraged. Same goes for music, painting, etc.; Nobody is 'posing' about anything.
As J mentioned, the mature aspect is not to argue. However, I really feel like it's a misunderstanding; nobody here claims to be a race car driver or be the fastest in town. Beyond that, why do you care?
Imputttt - Looks good on the equips, how much power you putting down? Probably faster than your 8 was?
Think what you will; different points of view are fine and should be encouraged. Same goes for music, painting, etc.; Nobody is 'posing' about anything.
As J mentioned, the mature aspect is not to argue. However, I really feel like it's a misunderstanding; nobody here claims to be a race car driver or be the fastest in town. Beyond that, why do you care?
Imputttt - Looks good on the equips, how much power you putting down? Probably faster than your 8 was?
221whp, 247wtq on a mustang dyno.
Yeah, its a LOT faster. lol
doesnt look as cool yet tho
Yeah, just ignore him, he's like a cockroach.
haha! Not quite. I was rubbing hardcore over bumps so I had to take them out. I do plan on zip tying them back on. I guess those pictures were cheating 
Here's some I just went outside and took in my driveway. Constructive criticism welcome, I am by no means a photographer. Just a man with a D50 that was given to me by a friend
These are raw images by the way, they haven't been edited at all. Another thing I need to start learning to do lol.
Here's some I just went outside and took in my driveway. Constructive criticism welcome, I am by no means a photographer. Just a man with a D50 that was given to me by a friend
These are raw images by the way, they haven't been edited at all. Another thing I need to start learning to do lol.