I want 18x8.5" wheels, please help w/ tire size

[Lakitu]

Okay.. (deep breath)

I am getting 18x8.5" wheels and I want a straight lineup with the fender with a good quality tire, like Pilot Super Sports or Hankook v12.

After 6 hours of research, I still don't get tire size. And I don't get that when you are looking for the tire size that fits your wheels, they ask you what tire size you want for your wheel, which is exactly what I'm trying to find... Dog chases its tail. I punch in the calc and convert 8.5" to mm it comes out to be 215.9mm. I don't get how if this is the maximum fitment for a 8.5" wide wheel, how can there be tires 255 and 300 wide that also fit a 8.5" wide wheel? The rubber would be oozing off the sides of the wheel, wouldn't it?

I just want to find out the perfect tire size to use on 18x8.5 wheels, and the offset for perfect fender alignment (which Tirerack seems to only offer +45 so I might have to buy directly from Enkei). Any help much appreciated.

It's midnight and I feel like I wasted an entire day and learned absolutely nothing. Some day I might get it.

[churchx]

By manufacturers, on 8.5 wide wheel minimum tire width is 225, ideal 235-245, max tire width 255. Quick googling on best tire width for wheel width should turn out several charts/tire calculators suggesting that.
As stretching tire reduces tire sidewall flex, but fitting too wide for rim adds sidewall flex (don't go overboard with either to not cause issues, keep within numbers min-ideal-max above), i'd probably keep on narrower end for more steering sharpness with 225-235.

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Lakitu

Okay.. (deep breath)

I am getting 18x8.5" wheels and I want a straight lineup with the fender with a good quality tire, like Pilot Super Sports or Hankook v12.

After 6 hours of research, I still don't get tire size. And I don't get that when you are looking for the tire size that fits your wheels, they ask you what tire size you want for your wheel, which is exactly what I'm trying to find... Dog chases its tail. I punch in the calc and convert 8.5" to mm it comes out to be 215.9mm. I don't get how if this is the maximum fitment for a 8.5" wide wheel, how can there be tires 255 and 300 wide that also fit a 8.5" wide wheel? The rubber would be oozing off the sides of the wheel, wouldn't it?

I just want to find out the perfect tire size to use on 18x8.5 wheels, and the offset for perfect fender alignment (which Tirerack seems to only offer +45 so I might have to buy directly from Enkei). Any help much appreciated.

It's midnight and I feel like I wasted an entire day and learned absolutely nothing. Some day I might get it.

I'm running 18 x 8.5 +45. 1" lowered on RSR superdown springs. Camber bolts soon to be camber plates on front and LCA soon on rear.

Camber is sitting on around -1.5 front and -2.1 rear presently however I will be aiming for -2 front and -1 rear for street with new hardware.

Running 225's presently and they are "stretched" a bit but feel good on steering etc. Could probably run 235's without feeling any difference.

TLDR: 225's min, 255's max. 235-245's best as @churchx said

Pics below so you can see my current setup(also coz I love my wheels );