theCATALYST

I did a search and found a million entries, but with different sizes, so here goes my question.

Will a set of wheels, 18" x 8.5
35 offset
5 lug 5x114.3
Fit on my 8 with no problems and possibly no rubbing? I am still at factory ride height and dont plan on changing that. Thank you in advance.

expo1

http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html

Your tire will stick out 21mm more than stock, rubbing could be an issue on the front.
45 or 42 offset would be better. This might work as a way to test the fit with the OEM wheel. Find some washers and make a spacer behind the OEM wheel that would be about 21mm and see if the fronts rub. Do this on jack stands, this would not be safe on the steets.

Sociopath

expo1 is right, if you run the current setup, you'll experience "rubbing" in the front wheels. You could get away with putting on tires that have a more "round" or "curve" edge that are designed so that it minimizes rubbing, such as the Falken Azenis ST115. I'm currently running a 8.5 in the front and 9.5 in the rear, with +42 offset. The Front was rubbing until I rolled the fenders.

Spin9k

What tire size do you have that rubs w/8.5" in front?

Sociopath

I am running 235/35/19 in the front, and 275/30/19 in the rear. If I drive in a straight line no rubbing. But certain time during moderate to aggressive turns, the tire was touching the inner wheel well. After the shop rolled the front fenders a bit, it fixed the problem.

Spin9k

That's depressing though, as your fronts are almost (.5" smaller diameter) the same size physically as stock according to http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html , and with only a 14mm extension due to offset (like ~1/2"), they rub - yikes there is virtually NO extra room there I guess, esp at the 10-12:00 position in the fender well!

theCATALYST

Ok, I appreciate everyones help, this should help me to decide on what size to get. Anyone have a size and offset that will make the 8 look more aggressive, and still not rub, is there an optimal size?

TexasKyle

Ok, help me Sociopath..."rolled the fenders"?

Sociopath

TexasKyle - let me see if I can explain this, forgive me if I'm not using the right verbiage.

Rolling the Fenders is just a mechanic term. Your front and rear fenders, there is a inner lip that sorta sticks flat out horizontally, about 1/2" to 3/4". Under normal setup, ie stock height, stock rims, and tires, nothing rubs. But when you lower your car and run bigger and wider rims, you eat away all the clearance under the normal setup, and your tire's side walls might rub against the fender. When that happens, you "roll" that inner lip by folding it up or cutting it or shave it away to increase clearance.

TracerRX-8

I dont know how much this helps but I didnt know crap about size and off-set so I trusted the tire guys at the shop I bought them at. They made a few phone calls. I told them I wanted 19" and as fat as I could get, did not want the speedometer to be off at all, and for the wheels not to rub. This is what I got....

Front wheels 19x8.5" w/34 offset. Tires: 245/35ZR19.

Rear wheels 19x9.5" w/40 offset. Tires: 275/30ZR19

.... and my car had been lowered an inch from the Tein springs and they still havent rubbed. Bad News is I can never rotate my tires.. : (

Sociopath

Your tire shop did a good job on the setup, although I think they were a bit too aggressive in the fronts: 8.5" width w/+34, wow

I do have to point out though, that by running 245/35/19 in the front, and 275/30/19 in the rear, your front tires side walls are 0.13" higher than the rear, and the overall front tire diameter is 0.26" bigger than the rear, which means you're about 1/4" higher in the front in terms of level.

I think what they should done was went with 235/35/19. With 235's in the front, the overall diameter and sidewall height between your front and rear is only off by 0.01" (lower in the front)