Lets talk square wheel setup..

Xshadows

Corporal
Nov 4, 2016
122
72
0
Sanford NC
So long story short my car took some damage to the passenger side VIA a rogue trampoline. It scratched pretty much every panel on it's way over and messed up the front quarter panel. I'm going to be purchasing the N5Tuner front fenders that are 15mm wider in each corner and was really wanting to do a 18x9 265 square setup. I'm in no way a wheel or tire expert. Looking for some opinions on offsets and if it's possible, etc. Also looking for a nice set of 18x9 wheels... to much stuff comes in 18x9.5 but I doubt I'll be able to fit that on the front? I don't know! Fitment guys, help meh!
 

Bnks334

Lieutenant
Dec 1, 2016
524
340
0
New York
I have the +15mm kersher fenders. I have only fit a square 255 setup though. My problem isn't rubbing on the fender. The problem is body roll causing rubbing on the bumper when cornering. I am not sure whether or not it would be a problem for someone else starting off with less body roll (it was bad with 255s and stock suspension).

Specs:

Alignment: -1.5* camber (m3 arms and alignment pins pulled). 0 front toe. 7.6* caster. More camber coming now that i havr ycw coilovers installed, but rubbing the top of the fender isn't even an issue.

Wheels: square kosei k8r et45 17x9 with 255/40/17. et38 front (7mm spacer). The strut body of the ycw is thicker that stock so I'll have to move to 10mm spacers (et35) this spring.

Here is a pic showing where the wheel rubbed... it's not noticeable at all but you can see where sone of the bumper is worn away if you look for it. This happened at lime rock all in one afternoon due to body roll on rock suspension:

4szgcj.jpg


I'd think a 265/35 on a 17x9 might work well if I wanted to try it. I think you need to move to a 9.5" wheel to support 275s correctly.

I think 265/275 on 17x9.5 might fight square. It would be very agressive fitment up front though. Here is the minimum you'd need to even try it:

Front - et30 or lower and make sure you have adjustable camber plates.

Rear - et52 - et58 or higher (careful not to go too high with high camber or you'll rub the fuel filler neck)

I have my doubts that 275 would fit right up front though because that puts you at +20mm more poke whereas the Kerscher fenders are only +15mm. The fenders also taper back to stock sides skirts and bumper so it's less than a 15mm flare in places...

Basically, 255s fit stock as a maximum. Then +15mm allows for 265s and the extra 3mm poke I need to clear the ycw strut body (268mm total).

Also consider that 18's and 265/275 tires will have a larger diameter than stock further pushing you toward rubbing. You'll need a lower profile tire like a 30 series. Even 18/265/35 will result in a significant increase in tire height. This is why I suggested 17's. Problem with 17's is that you cant find any street legal tires that come in 275/35/17. The ones they do make are crazy expensive. Pricing on the tires alone alone makes 255/40/17 a way more ideal fitment!
 
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Dennis

Specialist
Nov 5, 2016
65
37
0
Bay
275 square fits easily with OEM 1M fenders in the front with a 9.5" ET22 wheel and nothing done in the rear with a 9.5" ET58 wheel. Apex has a couple styles with these offsets. See build in my sig for more info
 

Bnks334

Lieutenant
Dec 1, 2016
524
340
0
New York
Oem 1m fenders flare more than +15mm. Also, they must be used with a 1m bumpers and side skirts which are wider than stock and allow for bigger tires.

Kerscher/n5tuner fenders only flare +15mm and taper back down to the stock side skirts and bumper. You have to physically bend the front bumper out a bit to get the fender to line up right.
 

Dennis

Specialist
Nov 5, 2016
65
37
0
Bay
Oem 1m fenders flare more than +15mm. Also, they must be used with a 1m bumpers and side skirts which are wider than stock and allow for bigger tires.

Kerscher/n5tuner fenders only flare +15mm and taper back down to the stock side skirts and bumper. You have to physically bend the front bumper out a bit to get the fender to line up right.

You do need an oem 1m bumper (which is a good thing ;) ) but you don't need 1m side skirts. You do need to do a bunch of other things for the front end conversion -- headlight brackets, underbody tray, windshield washer reservoir, etc, etc. Several options exist for the side skirt though:
  • Do the rear end conversion as well and use 1m side skirts
  • Graft 1m side skirts (front) with 135i side skirts (rear)
  • Use a heatgun to bend the 135i side skirts so they lineup (this is a "close enough" type deal)
  • Just leave the 135i side skirts alone (this is what I went with, it looks fine on a black car)