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So I've moved to Jersey City where the roads are inhospitable and I decided to try out 18's with a fatter sidewall. That being said, I spotted a few good deals and I'm locked onto these SSR GTX01's (18x9.5):
I have a few questions before pulling the trigger on this setup:
1. I'm not lowered, nor do I really want to go that route. What are the best tire specs to ensure an accurate speedo (priority) and minimize wheel gap/ride height(secondary)? I'm planning to buy Indy500's for these wheels and 235/55-18's are by far the cheapest option. Will I have any issues with rubbing?
2. Does anyone have recommendations for hub centric rings? I believe it will be a 66.1 to 73.0mm kit.
3. What aftermarket lugs will I need to use? This has always puzzled me as I've stuck to OEM wheels up to this point.
Lastly, if anyone has tried these wheels on stock suspension, photos/links would be highly appreciated!
EDIT: I have a voodoo13 camber kit so I could always made adjustments if the proper setup is too wide. 275/40-18 seems like a good match but the tire width seems like overkill.
Last edited by kickintheglass; Jan 22, 2018 at 02:25 PM.
I would go with 245/45R18 or 275/40R18 as those are exact matches to the OEM diameter. The Indy 500s should be fairly cheap in these sizes, and you shouldn't have any issues with rubbing with either.
The +38 offset will result in a slightly sunken in look if you're lowered, but decent if you're not. The hub centric rings are of course a good idea. Get some aluminum ones in the size that you listed and you'll be golden. (66.1-73.0)
You will need aftermarket conical lugs. Forged steel are preferred. Something like these will do.
I love the look of the SSRs, and they're a reputable brand with a history in motorsport. I believe those are a relatively lightweight cast wheel. I don't believe you will have any issues with clearance, but I would shoot an email to SSR/some vendor with a brake template to make sure.
Bought the GTX01's last month. The previous owner had 235/40-18 Federal's and there was, as to be expected, enough wheel gap in the front to fit my head. The rear wasn't too bad, and to be honest the tires were stickier than I expected. I planned to roast them in an empty lot but they held traction even in freezing weather.
Nevertheless, this wasn't the setup that I planned on running. I've had my eyes on the Indy 500's for the past year now so it was time to pull the trigger.
*Note that the pics have been flipped to provide a better comparison.
The much thicker sidewall closed up the gap - there's still some space in the front but Jersey City has some nasty bumps and potholes, so the extra travel is needed. After all, I switched to 18's for the comfort (and cheaper tires!). I've never had such wide and sticky tires before, only 275's in the rear from my last summer setup, so this is quite an experience. Any testing on these tires can be thrown in the trash because it's still 30-40 degree weather outside. However, I can say that the soft compound picks up EVERY piece of debris on the road. Bumps are marginally easier to handle, and I feel more reassured that the sidewall gives my wheels more protection. The car still feels skittish at highway speeds but that's most likely because of low temps and my alignment.
