I rarely start any threads as I've always found my answers by searching, but this time around I couldn't find anything specific for my (small) problem. I was just curious (and in my eyes in a slight dilemma) about a mismatched size steelie that I just purchased at my local pick-a-part.

I like to go in-depth with my explanations to get precise answers, so please bear with me.

Here's the story...

The steelies that came with my '95 EX Coupe 4 years ago were all stock and OEM, at least I assumed. Upon further inspection after I bought it, one of the steelies was a different shape/design. Therefore, the OEM hubcap was not sitting perfectly snug and tight against the face of the steelie, and even with those plastic retaining rings on the lug nuts to hold it in place, the hubcap would still be able to move around.

It never bothered me until a couple of days ago when I finally decided to buy one from the local junkyard just to make it "perfect". I managed to find a 92 Si and a 94-95 EX, but they were missing the steelies. I then found a 94-95 Integra RS Sedan and it had one steelie remaining, missing the hubcap.

I have always assumed that steelies from 92-95 Civic SI/EX's and Integra steelies were the same size (diameter, width), and I knew they were pretty much the same design. I tried looking for the wheel specs on the steelie front and back JUST to make sure, but it was getting dark out and it was covered in brake dust and grease, so I bought it anyways based on my assumptions.

I take it home, but it's too dark already to clean them up to find the size and too late to mount the current tire on my current mismatched shaped steelie at the tire shop.

Next morning I head to the tire shop to get the tire mounted onto this new steelie (had to replace my valve stems anyways).

*** Keep in mind that while at the shop, I still assumed it was the exact same size as my current steelies. The only difference I knew was that the tire was slightly bigger (195/60/14). ***

I get home and finally clean them and this new steelie just seemed a bit bigger to me with the tire now mounted on it. I finally see the specs AFTER cleaning them that this new steelie off the Integra is 14x5.5 and NOT 14x5 like the ones off my Civic.

***Footnotes***

- buy steelie at junkyard off Integra
- assumed same size as steelies off Civic, before and at tire shop
- find out AFTER mounting tire that steelie is different WIDTH, 5.5" NOT 5"

SO, my greatest concern is, with 3 of my steelies sized 14x5, and this one steelie at 14x5.5 (on the passenger side), will the handling characteristics, gas mileage, tire wear, etc. be GREATLY affected at all, even though it is only 1/2 an inch difference?

All 4 tires are 185/60/14 BTW and if you look closely, the tire on the new steelie is just a HAIR stretched.

Also, does anybody know the exact offset of 92-95 Civic EX/Si steelies (14x5) and 94-95 Integra steelies (14x5.5)? I'm hoping it won't stick out a tad further out compared to the other 3 steelies. That would annoy me even more.

Again, sorry for the novel-length post about a steelie. I'm just annoyed by now having a different sized steelie over a different shaped steelie

Any insight would be great. Thanks for your time.

 

With the same tires, I would expect no significant difference in handling due to the half-inch difference in wheel width. Incidentally, most 185/60-14 tires are approved for mounting on wheels 5.0-6.5 inches wide, so there are no worries about "stretching".

I don't know what the offsets are - maybe someone else does - but I wouldn't expect them to be significantly different (other than due to the small difference in width).

Use 'em and enjoy 'em.

 

I appreciate the response nsxtasy

I found a couple of threads asking what the offsets were for 14" steelies, but weren't specific to which 14" steelie (15.5" or 5" width), and people gave different answers for the offset.

Some said it could be +45, others said it could be +42, so I'm not sure. I'm sure now that it probably isn't that much different or they're maybe even the same, but if anyone positively knows I'd appreciate it.

 

bump once more for the offset of the two steelies. Anybody know?