rim sizing

[Twinkie]

no one make fun and no funny business
i am really illiterate when it comes to cars
especially mine!!

i need rims and ive already made the misatke once and bought rims that dont fit.
so i need to know what will fit my car and what do i neeed to know....

so far i have figured out i have 5 x 100 and 17 x 7 will fit but what size of tires is the maximum and what the hell is this offset...

[Twinkie]

one mroe thing if i have tires that are 225 but the suggested width is 215 any problems?? or ways to go around it

[tirebob]

Ummmmmmm... What is the exact vehicle?

[Twinkie]

haha 97 grand am se

[hondafetish]

If you want to go up to a 17x7", the recommended size is 215/45-17 assuming that your car came with 195/70-14 or 195/65-15 as stock. Your offset would be 40.

Visit CMS's website at www.shopcms.com and use their program to verify these numbers if you wish.

Hope this helps.

[tirebob]

Generally speaking on a car such as this, with a 17x7 you can run anywhere from an ET35 to and ET42 without issue (assuming the car is in good condition with no suspension issues or mods). ET38 to 40 is optimum fit...

Offset is simply the measurement which indicates how far out or how far in the wheel will position under the fender... The higher the number, the more the wheel will tuck into the car (towards the suspension side)... The lower the offset number, the more the wheel will push out towards the fender.

If the offset is too low or too high, you will experience rubbing problems either against the suspension, brakes, or fender (inner or outer)...

215/45R17 would definitely be the size to use (as per hondafetish's reccomendation) in 17 inch if either of those was your original tire size...

[Twinkie]

so 42 is okay then??

and if the rim i have has 225 on them could i slip on 215 with no issues and vice versa from 215 onto the rims that have 225

[rb25ceffy]

Here is a pic that describes offset a little better.
http://www.yokohamatire.com/images/CustomWheels_graph1.gif

It basically show where the wheel connects to the cars hub in relation to the wheels center.

[Twinkie]

hahah more confused then ever but hey its all good
i got rims got them istalled and there fine haha stillhave no clue but if it works it works