Need some clarification
 

So, I'm aware of the stickies I've read thru a good amount of the "will this fit" thread. It seems to be a bit less active than normal so I wanted to pose some questions here.

Still reading some mixed comments and I'd like to get some clarification. The setup I'm looking to run is as follows...

17x9 +42
245/40/R17 Hanook Ventus V12 Evo2 (Open to other options)
Stock Struts
Square Setup
Front Drop: 1.2"
Rear Drop: 1.4"
Front Camber: -1.5 Degrees
Rear Camber: -2.2 Degrees

If possible I'd like to run this setup with no spacers and no rubbing.

So the main concern is the front as everyone seems to have trouble clearing the spring perch with offset in the 40s on stock struts.

Since all tires are not created equally is it possible to select a 245/40/R17 tire that will help clear the struts, it would seem that way but I've seen people use the tread width as their reference? Isn't cross-sectional width the bigger concern since you'd be rubbing on the sidewall? For this size it seems like section widths vary from 9.7-9.8". However the tread widths seems to vary from 8.3-9.0" depending on the tire.

Section Width: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=200

Tread Width: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=201

Secondly does it really matter how lowered your car is for clearing the strut (assuming the same camber)? Does it matter if you're lowered .5" or 1.5", assuming that both cars are running the same amount of camber won't the clearance be the same? I understand that in lowering the car you get natural camber hence the clearance issue, but it also can be dialed in to whatever number you want.

Thanks gais.

Since all tires are not created equally is it possible to select a 245/40/R17 tire that will help clear the struts?

Yes. A narrower tire will help. Also a stiffer side wall. I have MPSS, which have stiff side walls. I ran 245/40/17 MPSS, now I have 245/35/18 MPSS. The 18's are wider by a noticeable amount.

Secondly does it really matter how lowered your car is for clearing the strut?

Yes. Lowering will add natural camber. The more you lower the more camber. You can't just "dial camber in". The car has no adjustment. You will need parts. And then there is a limitation to how much you can add or subtract.

Looking through the wheel guide: The specs you have chosen fit either with or without a 3mm spacer in the front. I can't say how much camber you will be able to achieve with camber bolts, but not that much. The setup you have chosen fits close to springs.

Gotcha...

I'm using tire rack to shop for tires as they seem to offer a good variety of specs to measure from.

So is tread width irrelevant? Doesn't that only determine the contact patch to the road? I've just seen a few people use it as reference.

How do you determine what tire has a stiffer sidewall is there anyway to determine that via a metric or just subjective?

Yeah I have camber bolts up front and I'm running -1.5 currently.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...t=28678&page=2

Here is a link with pictures that shows how tight the fit is. I was set on rota titans in 17x9 +42. But because I don't like poke, and don't have money for coilovers, I decided against 9 in the front, and went with 8.

Camber is added with the bolts by bringing the top of the wheel closer to the strut. But when there is no room, like with springs that are stock diameter, you can't add any. Coilovers give another almost inch of room.

Tire Rack is a good resource. Tread width listed on tire rack usually is accurate. The tire size stated on the tire is more of a general size. You are looking at the right information. I think I wasn't describing it well. I have had many brands and kinds of tires. I like my MPSS. Stiff sidewalls compared to some nitto motivos I had for a day.

Yeah I'm actually in the same boat - I'm shopping for Rota Titans. Do you have any pictures of your setup?

I'd like to go for a near flush setup...I'm currently running the OEM tire/wheel setup and the wheels are super sucked into the wells because I'm not running spacers.

My concern with the 17x8 Rota Titans is (I was originally going to purchase these but am now leaning more the 17x9) the weak offset of +45, I don't want to have to run 20mm spacers to get the wheel to flush. According to the fitment calculator at least... I can't tell the difference either but I also like a little bit of the concave look which a wider wheel should provide.

I like concave, but not poke. So I decided on a non-traditional setup. I have square tires and staggered wheels. Probably not ideal for track use, but still functional.

As far as putting 20mm spacers on a +45 8" wheel... MY fronts are 18x8 +45, doesn't look like there is 20mm. There is less room than my pinky finger between the tire and perch.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2392695