Wheels with low offset for GT86

[ChrisD]

OK so I've lowered my 86 and now the standard wheels are a bit too sunken in behind the bodywork for my liking (especially the rears, see picture below).



So I thought I could just get some spacers but apparently that's not a great idea because I'm going to be using this car for track days and drifting (and its going to need to be about a 20mm extension). So it seems like the better option is to get some wheels with a lower offset so that they stick further out... but I'm really struggling to find any that have a low enough offset and that are the right size and PCD etc.

It seems like the old generation Audi TTs had a 5x100 PCD and 17 inch wheels, but I've not been able to find any after market wheels for them with less than et35 offset, which is only 13mm further out than the stock car so not really enough.

So anyone got any suggestions for wheels to look at? Also if there's a better way of doing this than looking for a lower offset then I'm all ears!

EDIT: OK so I've realised I can get away with slightly wider wheels and keep the same tyres, say 7.5 inch rather than the 7 inch stock wheels. So that means I only need an offset of about 35mm, which is good as I can find plenty of them. However, that is good for the rear but will changing the width and offset on the front wheels upset things at all? Struggling to find many wheels that come in 17x7.5 and also have an offset that would extend the rear and keep the front's the same as they are now... but I'm not sure how important it is to try keep them the same...

[cjd]

Are you trying to keep the same wheel width and diameter as stock?

If it bugs you that much, get studs and use spacers when looks matter. Use different wheels when performance matters.

17x9+35 sits pretty flush all around with competitive camber settings...

[ChrisD]

Originally Posted by cjd

Are you trying to keep the same wheel width and diameter as stock?

If it bugs you that much, get studs and use spacers when looks matter. Use different wheels when performance matters.

17x9+35 sits pretty flush all around with competitive camber settings...

I'll be honest I'm a complete n00b when it comes to wheels, so I was trying to keep the same width and diameter as stock just to keep things simple and avoid having to buy new tyres too (especially as I only just bought some 2 weeks ago).

Could I go a little wider than stock (7.5 or 8 inch width) and keep the same tyres (215/45/17) ? If so then that makes things a lot easier as I can find plenty of wheels that with a combination of their offset and the extra width would give me what I want

[BlueDubbinTDI]

Originally Posted by ChrisD

I'll be honest I'm a complete n00b when it comes to wheels, so I was trying to keep the same width and diameter as stock just to keep things simple and avoid having to buy new tyres too (especially as I only just bought some 2 weeks ago).

Could I go a little wider than stock (7.5 or 8 inch width) and keep the same tyres (215/45/17) ? If so then that makes things a lot easier as I can find plenty of wheels that with a combination of their offset and the extra width would give me what I want

Go 17x8 et25. Should be what you're after

[cjd]

Don't remember which tire you got, but check the actual tread width to see how much stretch you might see (or not) on a 17x8. You can also double check that particular tire is OK on a 17x8.

I'm running (for better or worse) 205's on 17x7.5 for my winter setup, and it's just a little bit of stretch. I probably should have just gone 215 but...

[ChrisD]

OK so 215s on 7.5 should be fine then?

If I go for 7.5 inch wheels with say 35 offset, that should give me what I want on the rear but what about the front? Will changing the offset on the fronts cause any problems for the steering or general handling? Found plenty of tyres that are ok for the back now, but I don't know if I can put those same ones on the front as a lot of them don't seem to have different offset options so I'd be stuck with the same offset for the front too

[DuMa]

Originally Posted by BlueDubbinTDI

Go 17x8 et25. Should be what you're after

what wheel choices offer that size in low weight?

[cjd]

Originally Posted by ChrisD

OK so 215s on 7.5 should be fine then?

If I go for 7.5 inch wheels with say 35 offset, that should give me what I want on the rear but what about the front? Will changing the offset on the fronts cause any problems for the steering or general handling? Found plenty of tyres that are ok for the back now, but I don't know if I can put those same ones on the front as a lot of them don't seem to have different offset options so I'd be stuck with the same offset for the front too

You mention some things where performance matters, so... remember that this car seems to prefer a square setup - same tire and wheel widths all around (and, I presume, offset - though I've never seen that specifically noted.)

Since you typically want an extra half degree of negative camber up front, you may find that differences in poke/suck are almost normalized at the top of the tire - enough that the same all around doesn't look particularly out of place.

[DAEMANO]

If you're looking for low offset wheels that are inexpensive, XXR offers a full range that fit our car perfectly. Typical setup is 17x8.25 et35 . Many people install the stock tires onto the wheels and they seem to work ok. I'm not certain if XXRs are the same price in the UK. You can start here for reference http://www.nlmotoring.com/XXR-Wheels-s/32.htm

Otherwise you can do what many have mentioned and that's to add bolt on spacers with your stock wheels, and take them off for AutoX, track or whatever your motorsports choice is. Sizing is 20mm Front and 25mm-30mm rear with looks great (I used to have a 20mm/25mm setup on stock wheels, then later moved to aftermarket wheels).

Forum gallery is here for two styles of their wheels
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18661

[headlikeahole]

Wish companies made 7 or 7.5 width wheels in low offsets. I'd love to be able to run 205 or 215s but still have a flush look with concave face.

Someone get on this.

[BlueDubbinTDI]

Originally Posted by DuMa

what wheel choices offer that size in low weight?

XXR 527's. Many, MANY people here use them as either winter wheels or everydays. They are extremely common with the stock tires.

[boucher]

Didn't read thread. But here's a ton of pics/info on low offset wheels on our cars.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25171

[ChrisD]

Originally Posted by boucher

Didn't read thread. But here's a ton of pics/info on low offset wheels on our cars.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25171

Thanks, that's useful to see what other people have done in terms of offset and sizes

[adamg]

since when has et35 been a low offset for these cars

unless your running 10"+