^My inspiration for changing things up, this ep looks wonderful.

Whats up, my current wheel and tire set up on my 05 EP3 is as follows:

Wheels: Enkei RPF1
17x7, 5x114.3, +45 MM offset

Tires: Toyo Extensa HP
215/45/17

*Car is lowered down to zero finger gap and rear fenders are rolled.

So as i was looking at my car, I thought that my current wheel and tire set up looks dinky...well more narrow than dinky since the wheels are 17s. But the ish is narrow as hell. What wheel/tire size and offset do you guys suggest for a street driven EP3? I want the car to look more beafed up. Now bear in mind I dont want anything drastic...just something that looks good for the streets and will handle nicely for spirited driving. Also someone correct me if I am wrong but is it true that going to an offset more than 10 (either + or -) puts more stress on the wheel bearing/hub? So if the EP3's stock offset is +45...and I go down to +35 the wheel bearing/hub will wear out faster than the normal? Please offer your suggestions...I am just worried that rear wheel will rub the lower control arm. I am running stock size/offset spec wheels and looking at my passenger side rear wheel, the inner part of the wheel is already pretty close to the LCA so I cant imagine a wider wheel fitting...well of course the offset would have to be changed to accommodate the wider wheel. So help a dude out.

Suggestions:

Wheel size:

Offset:

Tire size:

*Also seems like 17x8 or 17x9 are pretty popular...also what offset? Should I go staggered? I dont mind how staggered looks on FWD btw....looks very purpose driven. Thanks for the input.

 

I think you should just switch to 225 tires instead of 215. RPF1s are baws and theres no need to go wider than 7 or 7.5

 

Whats baws? lol

So you suggest 225s...with the 45 profile? (225/45/17)

Thanks for the input sir.

 

with zero finger gaps, if you go 7.5+ wide with tires bigger than 215, you'll def. rub. The rear, YES also. I have 17x8, +35 with 225/45/17's on the front with 1.25" drop and they're fine. But, by the looks of them, if I lowered to no gap stance, they'll most def. rub! As for the rear, 17x7, +35 with 225/45/17's, they rub slightly with passengers in the back seat going over small imperfections on the road. I would just go with little wider tires like 225's on your rpf's. They are wonderful wheels and looks clean and classy as well. BTW, I have no issue with wheel bearing/hub.

 

post a pic of your car.

and yes, thats what I have.

 

Thanks so much for the input guys.

And unfortunately I don't have any pics of my car on the RPF1s.