Opinions...

[Lownslowlsc]

Ok, that helps. Now I know what I can work with. 36 or 38 will work and tuck in if dropped. I just don't want to be messing with fender rolling and I don't feel right about spacers. Maybe they're ok and don't hurt anything. If they balance out right and are safe, what size spacer would be needed? 1/2" or is that too much? I'm also not going staggered, as much as I would like to. Just gonna keep all 4 the same.

Imho, if you're going to be spending the money I'd get a set that doesn't require any modification.

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

but they still have the same front spacing as the stock wheels have.

WRONG!


From TireRack:

The offset of a wheel is the distance from its hub mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. The offset can be one of three types (measured in millimeters).*

Zero Offset

The hub mounting surface is even with the centerline of the wheel.

Positive

The hub mounting surface is toward the front or wheel side of the wheel. Positive offset wheels are generally found on front wheel drive cars and newer rear drive cars.

Negative

The hub mounting surface is toward the back or brake side of the wheels centerline. "Deep dish" wheels are typically a negative offset.

If the offset of the wheel is not correct for the car, the handling can be adversely affected. When the width of the wheel changes, the offset also changes numerically. If the offset were to stay the same while you added width, the additional width would be split evenly between the inside and outside. For most cars, this won't work correctly

 

[NoLimit95]

Imho, if you're going to be spending the money I'd get a set that doesn't require any modification.

I agree. No hub swaps, no spacers, just 4 wheels and 4 tires that fit right to the edge and still tuck in. That damn 5X108 is what's hard to find. I understand why there are different back spacings but I wish they all had the same bolt pattern.

 

[keVIIIn]

Be careful with blank chrome. I've heard it comes off easily. The wheels are nice but I don't think you can use chrome polish on them.

There's no point in using chrome polish, just clean them as you normally would clean a wheel with soap and water..wash them often enough and you won't need any special wheel cleaner

And BTW these wheels look badass, not your typical 5 spoke rim that you see everyone use, but I like them and the extra lug holes wouldn't bother me at all.

 

[BlackLS06]

There's no point in using chrome polish, just clean them as you normally would clean a wheel with soap and water..wash them often enough and you won't need any special wheel cleaner

And BTW these role look badass, not your typical 5 spoke rim that you see everyone use, but I like them and the extra lug holes wouldn't bother me at all.

I use chrome polish on mine for a mirror finish. The polish I use keeps them shiny for a while too.

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

Ok, hold on. If this will make things easier, would a 9" wheel be the better way to go in an 18"? If so, all I need is some offset numbers to work with that will not be "sunk in" and look stupid but not stuck out and hitting my fender wells if dropped.

The ideal offset for aftermarket wheels on a Mark VIII is 36mm on a 9-inch wide wheel.

Since the offset number is the distance from the hub face to the centerline of the wheel, an 8 inch wheel would require a decrease in offset by 1/2". 1/2" equals about 13mm. Therefore, in order for the face (or the rim) of the wheel to be in the same spot (not sunken in or sticking out), the ideal offset for an 8-inch wheel would be about 23-24mm (36 minus 13).

 

[GMAN]

This wheel is 18X9 with a 25 offset. How would this look?

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

They would stick out about 1/2 an inch further than the speedstars you had...

I have 30mm offset 18x9's on the front of my 98, and I wouldn't want them to stick out any further than that. When I lower it with the Ray switch, the tire touches the plastic fender liner. With the 25mm offset, it would probably touch the fender if you ever had a problem with the air shocks...

 

[chris2523]

WRONG!


From TireRack:

sigh...
i know how this works thanks.

18x8 with 45 mm offset has a front spacing of 1.8 inches.

a stock wheel, 16x7 with a 36 mm offset has 1.6 inches of front space.

.1 inches difference in front spacing! the wheels will sit no farther in than a stock set of wheels!!!!!!!!!


THEY HAVE THE SAME FRONT SPACING!!!!!

actually a little more than stock wheels.

 

[chris2523]

This wheel is 18X9 with a 25 offset. How would this look?

They would stick out about 1/2 an inch further than the speedstars you had...

I have 30mm offset 18x9's on the front of my 98, and I wouldn't want them to stick out any further than that. When I lower it with the Ray switch, the tire touches the plastic fender liner. With the 25mm offset, it would probably touch the fender if you ever had a problem with the air shocks...

they'll rub if you have low/blown air bag. my 17x9s have a 26 mm offset, and when the air suspension is down, all four corners touch tire to fender. it wouldn't be driveable.

 

[NoLimit95]

The ideal offset for aftermarket wheels on a Mark VIII is 36mm on a 9-inch wide wheel.

Since the offset number is the distance from the hub face to the centerline of the wheel, an 8 inch wheel would require a decrease in offset by 1/2". 1/2" equals about 13mm. Therefore, in order for the face (or the rim) of the wheel to be in the same spot (not sunken in or sticking out), the ideal offset for an 8-inch wheel would be about 23-24mm (36 minus 13).

So, the wheel I have chosen is going to require a spacer of some sort because the wheel only comes in 18X8.0 with a 40mm offset. I would also have to get extended length lug nuts and none of this is no big deal, if it's safe and doesn't have any effect with the balancing. I'm assuming I'll need a set of 1/2" spacers in order for this wheel to fit right? The hub bore is 73.1 btw.

 

[NoLimit95]

sigh...
i know how this works thanks.

18x8 with 45 mm offset has a front spacing of 1.8 inches.

a stock wheel, 16x7 with a 36 mm offset has 1.6 inches of front space.

.1 inches difference in front spacing! the wheels will sit no farther in than a stock set of wheels!!!!!!!!!


THEY HAVE THE SAME FRONT SPACING!!!!!

actually a little more than stock wheels.

Wait, it looks like it's changing again. 45MM is the best I can do.

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Size: 18X8.0[/FONT] [FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Offset: 45MM+ [/FONT] [FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Bolt Pattern: 5x108MM [/FONT] [FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Part #: 10184BLKCH18X8.0/5x108 [/FONT]

Hub Bore: 73.1

​

Would spacers be safe with this much offset?
​

 

[chris2523]

i wouldn't use spacers ever. use the correct offset.
just get a 9 inch wheel with as close to a 36 mm offset as you can.
any higher you start to look sunk in, any lower you start getting close to that fender lip.

 

[NoLimit95]

i wouldn't use spacers ever. use the correct offset.
just get a 9 inch wheel with as close to a 36 mm offset as you can.
any higher you start to look sunk in, any lower you start getting close to that fender lip.

I guess that wheel is out of the question then. They do have a 38MM but wrong bolt pattern. 5X108 sucks!

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

sigh...
i know how this works thanks.

18x8 with 45 mm offset has a front spacing of 1.8 inches.

a stock wheel, 16x7 with a 36 mm offset has 1.6 inches of front space.

.1 inches difference in front spacing! the wheels will sit no farther in than a stock set of wheels!!!!!!!!!


THEY HAVE THE SAME FRONT SPACING!!!!!

actually a little more than stock wheels.

Sigh...

What math are you using to get 1.8 and 1.6 above?

My math gives me 3.08 inches front spacing on a 9-inch wheel with 36mm offset. 2.228 inches front spacing on an 8-inch wheel with 45mm offset.
2.08 inches offset on a 7-inch wheel with 36mm offset.

 

[chris2523]

I guess that wheel is out of the question then. They do have a 38MM but wrong bolt pattern. 5X108 sucks!

well, that's why the hub swap. 05+ wheels have a more favorable offset.

Sigh...

What math are you using to get 1.8 and 1.6 above?

My math gives me 3.08 inches front spacing on a 9-inch wheel with 36mm offset. 2.228 inches front spacing on an 8-inch wheel with 45mm offset.
2.08 inches offset on a 7-inch wheel with 36mm offset.

here. but all of there :q numbers may just be wrong.