quick question 18x9.5+38 fitment/tire size

[BlaqkHavok]

Hey all, just got ahold of some Rota KBr's in 18x9.5+38 for a 2016 frs... poked around this forum a bit but havent seen a direct answer to my query...
but before i pull the trigger on some tires i want to be sure...

im looking at some 255/35/18 Pilot super sports all around, the car (suspention wise) is completely stock... and for the forseeable future the car will stay that way...

so i am asking if this combo will have any issues or needs for light supporting mods.. small spacers (5mm) or light wheel well rolling to keep everything kosher is ok.. but want to stay away from camber kits ( crash bolts or hats) or anything else...

from what i seen, looks like the 18x9.5 +38 with 255/35 tire is a pretty standard upgrade, but all exampls i seen was with modified suspension...

thank you in advace for any help given
Happy tuning!!

[Greenbean]

Originally Posted by BlaqkHavok

Hey all, just got ahold of some Rota KBr's in 18x9.5+38 for a 2016 frs... poked around this forum a bit but havent seen a direct answer to my query...
but before i pull the trigger on some tires i want to be sure...

im looking at some 255/35/18 Pilot super sports all around, the car (suspention wise) is completely stock... and for the forseeable future the car will stay that way...

so i am asking if this combo will have any issues or needs for light supporting mods.. small spacers (5mm) or light wheel well rolling to keep everything kosher is ok.. but want to stay away from camber kits ( crash bolts or hats) or anything else...

from what i seen, looks like the 18x9.5 +38 with 255/35 tire is a pretty standard upgrade, but all exampls i seen was with modified suspension...

thank you in advace for any help given
Happy tuning!!

some people run a 255 on stock but it will be pushing the limits, it all depends on the tire bc some run smaller than others and front what i have heard pss run big. 255 will fit fine in the back but up front a 245/35 is recommended on stock.

[BlaqkHavok]

thank you!!! been puring over the meaty tire thread, and seemse that it will work.. but as mentioned almost all on aftermarket coils (and more importantly the spring perch)..

thank you for the responce!!!

[Turbo]

May I ask how you will be using your car? Will it see any track time? Autocross? 1/4 mile?

If multi-use, how would you aportion it?

[Greenbean]

Originally Posted by BlaqkHavok

thank you!!! been puring over the meaty tire thread, and seemse that it will work.. but as mentioned almost all on aftermarket coils (and more importantly the spring perch)..

thank you for the responce!!!

Im on 255/35 but with coils you can look at my build thread to see the fitment i have.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by BlaqkHavok

Hey all, just got ahold of some Rota KBr's in 18x9.5+38 for a 2016 frs... poked around this forum a bit but havent seen a direct answer to my query...
but before i pull the trigger on some tires i want to be sure...

im looking at some 255/35/18 Pilot super sports all around, the car (suspention wise) is completely stock... and for the forseeable future the car will stay that way...

so i am asking if this combo will have any issues or needs for light supporting mods.. small spacers (5mm) or light wheel well rolling to keep everything kosher is ok.. but want to stay away from camber kits ( crash bolts or hats) or anything else...

from what i seen, looks like the 18x9.5 +38 with 255/35 tire is a pretty standard upgrade, but all exampls i seen was with modified suspension...

thank you in advace for any help given
Happy tuning!!

I was going to put 18X9.5 +38 Work Emotion Kiwami on my 2013 FRS on stock suspension but you need to run 235 40 R18 or else you will rub. It is a slight stretch but 235 can fit a 9.5 properly.

I decided to run coilovers (Tein Flex A) because the stock spring perch might rub on 18X9.5 and I didn't want this to happen on my 2000 dollar rims lol. You will also have major poke on stock suspension unless you run camber bolts to dial in some negative camber. The wheels will stick out past the fender.

The rears you will fit no problem, mostly it's the front with the tire size.

[gbula8]

I'm interested in this as well. I'd like to know if you can get no rub with a 5 mm spacer. Let us know!

[JoeeStacks]

I run 17x9 +38 with 245/40r17s. The rears don’t have a problem on stock struts, but the fronts are pretty close. I can’t imagine another .5 rim width and 255 tires on stocks without spacers and by that time you’re sticking out the wheel well.
I run eibach pro kit lowering springs on my stock 2015 struts, no spacers and no rub. The fronts have 0 camber and rears have slight camber (i think around 1-2 degrees).

[carlovestela]

http://imgur.com/a/1oibIrE

Rays 57cr
17x9+38
245/40/17 hankook ventus
Trd springs
Stock struts
-0.4 front camber
-2.2 rear camber

[BlaqkHavok]

Originally Posted by Turbo

May I ask how you will be using your car? Will it see any track time? Autocross? 1/4 mile?

If multi-use, how would you aportion it?

thank you, this is not for my car, but my friends.. she has had her car for a bit over two years and trying to get her to do some autoX perhaps a few drg pulls, and maybe even some HPDE events.. but it would be sparse at best and 95% street use.

[BlaqkHavok]

Originally Posted by N1rve

I was going to put 18X9.5 +38 Work Emotion Kiwami on my 2013 FRS on stock suspension but you need to run 235 40 R18 or else you will rub. It is a slight stretch but 235 can fit a 9.5 properly.

I decided to run coilovers (Tein Flex A) because the stock spring perch might rub on 18X9.5 and I didn't want this to happen on my 2000 dollar rims lol. You will also have major poke on stock suspension unless you run camber bolts to dial in some negative camber. The wheels will stick out past the fender.

The rears you will fit no problem, mostly it's the front with the tire size.

what is it that will rub on the front? the inside close to the stock perch? a bit of poke out the sides is fine as long as it does not rub under full compression... she is ok if we have to do a bit of grinding of the perch to take off a few mm and use a set of skinny spacers, and maybe a light fender roll.. .. just not much more than that..

my cencern is the inner side wall flexing into the perch during cornering under full load.. which of course would be solved by a set of coil-overs, but she does not want to do any suspension work at all right now.. perhaps after i get her to enjoy a few race events she will change her mind...

just want her to enjoy the car with the sence of security that some new (better) rubber will give with the wider foot print.

[BlaqkHavok]

Originally Posted by gbula8

I'm interested in this as well. I'd like to know if you can get no rub with a 5 mm spacer. Let us know!

ill post results as soon as we get them mounted/sorted

[BlaqkHavok]

Originally Posted by carlovestela

http://imgur.com/a/1oibIrE

Rays 57cr
17x9+38
245/40/17 hankook ventus
Trd springs
Stock struts
-0.4 front camber
-2.2 rear camber

thank you! great point of reference for when tha car gets taken in to get alignment done!

[Turbo]

My (honest) thoughts would be to ditch the 18's in favor of some 17's, and have her run a 245 or 255/40R17 tire.

You'll be able to buy higher quality rubber for the same $$ as the 18's PLUS it will be 10x more resistant to damage from potholes, etc. The last thing you want when you're doing 100MPH at the track is an egg on your car!


The women in my life have been notoriously bad at that part of driving, and in general most women appear to lack heavily in the whole 'detail' end of driving. That means lots of curbed, oval-shaped wheels. And that's not just my experience, but also matches what's been relayed to me by 3 mechanics that are clients of mine. An added benefit of the 255/40R17 on a 17x9" is you'll have a decent amount of bulge to protect the rim from curbs