18” wheels…8s, 9s,? Offset?

[blakshukvw]

I’m wanting to put 18’s on my X. Should I get 8” or 9”? I’d like a wheel with some dish but could compromise on that. What offset with either the 8 or 9 would I want to clear the upper control arm?

 

[tinman_72]

I bought a used set of 18x8's off someone who purchased them new for his 90's Jeep Cherokee. They fit my '98 Mounty with no issues.

 

[DannyW]

I’m wanting to put 18’s on my X. Should I get 8” or 9”? I’d like a wheel with some dish but could compromise on that. What offset with either the 8 or 9 would I want to clear the upper control arm?

The stock wheels had a 12mm pos offset. What size tire are you going to run?
A 265/60-18 tire on a 18" rim with +6mm offset will be about the same position on the inside.
An 8" wheel is plenty wide, up to a 12" wide tire (315 series territory). The 265/60 is a 10.3" wide 30 inch tall tire. Stock was generally a 235/70-15. That's a 28" x 9 tire. So, not much difference.
Hope that helps some.
-Dan

PS - I was running a 265/75-16, 0 offset and nothing rubbed. Tires just barely peaked out the leading edge of the front fenders.

 

[blakshukvw]

The stock wheels had a 12mm pos offset. What size tire are you going to run?
A 265/60-18 tire on a 18" rim with +6mm offset will be about the same position on the inside.
An 8" wheel is plenty wide, up to a 12" wide tire (315 series territory). The 265/60 is a 10.3" wide 30 inch tall tire. Stock was generally a 235/70-15. That's a 28" x 9 tire. So, not much difference.
Hope that helps some.
-Dan

PS - I was running a 265/75-16, 0 offset and nothing rubbed. Tires just barely peaked out the leading edge of the front fenders.

You ran an 18x8 with 0 offset and it cleared everything?

 

[DannyW]

You ran an 18x8 with 0 offset and it cleared everything?

No, I am running a 16x8 wheel, 0 offset. My profile picture is with the old K02s, 265/75-16's
I will update the pic later to the new look, winch/bumper and other goodies, running on 315/75-16 Nitto Trail Grapplers. I gotta get some fender flares now, the stick out about 2 inches. :/
-Dan

 

[blakshukvw]

No, I am running a 16x8 wheel, 0 offset. My profile picture is with the old K02s, 265/75-16's
I will update the pic later to the new look, winch/bumper and other goodies, running on 315/75-16 Nitto Trail Grapplers. I gotta get some fender flares now, the stick out about 2 inches. :/
-Dan

Oh ok. I’m looking for a lowered X to have a flush fit wheel.

 

[DintDobbs]

@blakshukvw I'd concern yourself more with backspacing than offset, although you can calculate both using either. Stock Ex's on the 7-wides had 3.75" of backspacing, which equals +0.25" offset. I ran that on 1.5" spacers at stock height with only a tiny scrub at right full lock in reverse. That's wider than 8" with 0 offset, so numbers say 8" at 0 offset will clear AT STOCK HEIGHT. Lowering will undoubtedly affect the geometry under there.

 

[blakshukvw]

I’ve found these late model explorer wheels that I’ve always liked. I know they are 18x8 ET 44 Which is a real high offset. I know I’ll need spacers. I’ve found a place that makes bolt on adapters made in USA with hub centric hubs on both sides. They make them in steel and aluminum. Any feedback from anyone that’s used a fwd offset like this with adapters? I can get these wheels for a couple hundred bucks so it makes the whole deal doable.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

not sure about those rims, but i run stock rims with 1" spacers and have noticed no ill effects (yet), i just recheck torque every oil change (3k) so all has been alright

 

[CDW6212R]

I’ve found these late model explorer wheels that I’ve always liked. I know they are 18x8 ET 44 Which is a real high offset. I know I’ll need spacers. I’ve found a place that makes bolt on adapters made in USA with hub centric hubs on both sides. They make them in steel and aluminum. Any feedback from anyone that’s used a fwd offset like this with adapters? I can get these wheels for a couple hundred bucks so it makes the whole deal doable.

Those wheels and 1" spacers would make them about a 20mm offset. For that price, it might not be too bad to test fit them and see where they end up. We can help to guess how the possibilities will place the tires etc, but each combination is different. You likely will have to install something to truly know what size/specs will be your ideal. The 8" and 9" wheels will fit much easier than 10" wheels, so try to stick with those.

 

[blakshukvw]

Those wheels and 1" spacers would make them about a 20mm offset. For that price, it might not be too bad to test fit them and see where they end up. We can help to guess how the possibilities will place the tires etc, but each combination is different. You likely will have to install something to truly know what size/specs will be your ideal. The 8" and 9" wheels will fit much easier than 10" wheels, so try to stick with those.

What do you think about a 9” wide wheel with a 26mm offset? Would that be just throw it on, no spacer necessary ya think?

 

[CDW6212R]

That would be very close on the inside to the BJ's, the tire is close on my Mercury with 8.5" wheels(18x8.5 and 29mm offset). I think that 9" may fit depending on the tire and how much it bulges on that wheel.

 

[blakshukvw]

That would be very close on the inside to the BJ's, the tire is close on my Mercury with 8.5" wheels(18x8.5 and 29mm offset). I think that 9" may fit depending on the tire and how much it bulges on that wheel.

 

[blakshukvw]

View attachment 428304

Does a 9” give me space on the outer side to run a small spacer if necessary without sticking out past the fender?

 

[CDW6212R]

I had 265/60/18's on these wheels first, then 255/60's, and now my 2nd set of 255/55/18 tires. None of them rubbed on the inside, but the first 30.5" tires rubbed with the tread on the inner fender liner(the top has plastic protruding down).

With those 275mm tires and the slight 3mm more offset, they will be close inside. I'd say it has a good chance to fit, but it's pushing the clearances in all directions; I think that will be closely centered in the best position.

My 275/55/17's will be tight too, but as I posted before, the 16mm offset will swing mine outside more, rubbing the front or back of the fender will be my tightest spot.

 

[blakshukvw]

I had 265/60/18's on these wheels first, then 255/60's, and now my 2nd set of 255/55/18 tires. None of them rubbed on the inside, but the first 30.5" tires rubbed with the tread on the inner fender liner(the top has plastic protruding down).

With those 275mm tires and the slight 3mm more offset, they will be close inside. I'd say it has a good chance to fit, but it's pushing the clearances in all directions; I think that will be closely centered in the best position.

My 275/55/17's will be tight too, but as I posted before, the 16mm offset will swing mine outside more, rubbing the front or back of the fender will be my tightest spot.

Ok. I can deal with them if they’re rubbing the ball joint with a small spacer, I just don’t want them poking out the fender. If they’re flush with a spacer that could be an issue too after lowering.
No concern on the rear ya think?

 

[CDW6212R]

The rear seems to have more room, but the inside clearance has to be much greater to allow for the movement of the rearend. The fifth shock helps a tiny amount with that, but the parking brake cable has to be secured inboard more/differently than stock. My Mercury is a V8 so it has the stock extra strut rods on the rearend, that connect under the frame. I disconnected the parking brake cable and rerouted it inboard of that bar, which kept it far enough away from the tire. That will rub if you don't tie it much more inboard, my white truck I used large zip ties when I had to use my 17" snow tires(on OEM 98 GT wheels).

You can tell that the rear tires are farther from the edge of the wheel well, they can be spaced out more than the front and look good. So back there the parking brake cable will likely be the only issue to handle.

 

[blakshukvw]

The rear seems to have more room, but the inside clearance has to be much greater to allow for the movement of the rearend. The fifth shock helps a tiny amount with that, but the parking brake cable has to be secured inboard more/differently than stock. My Mercury is a V8 so it has the stock extra strut rods on the rearend, that connect under the frame. I disconnected the parking brake cable and rerouted it inboard of that bar, which kept it far enough away from the tire. That will rub if you don't tie it much more inboard, my white truck I used large zip ties when I had to use my 17" snow tires(on OEM 98 GT wheels).

You can tell that the rear tires are farther from the edge of the wheel well, they can be spaced out more than the front and look good. So back there the parking brake cable will likely be the only issue to handle.

That’s what I figured. Mine is a V8 with the control arms too. I’m real concerned about the front fitment. Like I said if they’re not flush when bolted on and they need a spacer to clear the ball joint, as long as they don’t poke after a thin spacer, I’d be fine with them.

 

[CDW6212R]

Do post some pictures when you get them on, I like motivation to help push me along. My 17x9's have to be machined to fit better, and I haven't again searched for a competent wheel business. I had found a place in TX three years ago, but they were in a move process, and never got back with me(I only checked back once). It was going to be high, for machining and refinishing too. I think it was sounding like $600-$700, they wanted detailed pictures and dimensions of the cutting needed. Long story short, do it already.

 

[blakshukvw]

Do post some pictures when you get them on, I like motivation to help push me along. My 17x9's have to be machined to fit better, and I haven't again searched for a competent wheel business. I had found a place in TX three years ago, but they were in a move process, and never got back with me(I only checked back once). It was going to be high, for machining and refinishing too. I think it was sounding like $600-$700, they wanted detailed pictures and dimensions of the cutting needed. Long story short, do it already.

Do you know off hand what the measurement is from the wheel mounting face of the rotor to the bj? This 26mm offset 9 would make it 5.5” from the mounting pad to the inside lip and 3.5 to the outside lip. If you don’t know that measurement by memory, I’ll just measure it tomorrow.