I know this has probably already been posted, but I have searched and haven't found anything even close to definitive, so I am looking for people with personal experiences. I have been in the market for wheels for a while and it is finally time to buy. Discount Tire Direct is holding a $100 mail-in rebate on a set of four wheels promotion until July 5th, so I am ordering before that deadline. I have a 91 DX Hatchback lowered on Tein S Tech's with Koni Oranges. I have adjustable camber upper ball joints in the front, but I want to run around neg. 1 camber, nothing too crazy. This is a functional car that I want good grip in and the tire I want to run (Firehawk Indy 500's) only come in a 205/45r16. I will be running a 16x7 inch wheel (if they will fit with the tire) with 40 offset. I don't mind pulling and rolling, but the car is daily driven and built for function, so I don't want crazy camber or rubbing. If this wheel setup won't work I will be running a 15x6.5 Konig Helium with S. Drive's.

 

I have a set of wheels with that tire size and offset but they are tied up on another civic ATM so I can't test fit them for you before your deadline. I might be able to test fit a 205/40/17 17x7 40 offset.

 

Using this image when I searched for "Tein S Tech EF Civic", you may have issues in the front when you are near full lock and the suspension compresses (ie. uneven parking lots).
Without knowing how stiff they are, it's hard to say but quick reading suggests they are on the soft side of things.

If you also have DA rear trailing arms, your car WILL rub if you car can tuck tire when the suspension compresses.
Regardless of what trailing arms you have, a fairly aggressive fender roll would be suggested.

I ran into those issues with 195 tires on a +38 offset wheel running Tanabe DF210 springs which seem to be comparable to the S Tech springs in drop and stiffness.

 

Thanks for the feedback so far. I should also add that I am running 195/60r14's now on 14x6 30mm offset wheels with no issues. I am thinking that the offset difference will eat up most of the width change (10 mm for both) and due to the aspect ratio's, the OD won't be changing much either. The thing I am worried about though is that the car has more neg. camber than I am going to run right now, so I am afraid with my alignment where I want it, things will get tighter. Again though, I am NOT opposed to fender rolling.

 

Run some camber, their is nothing wrong with it. It's just those guys out there running ridiculous -9 camber that make it look bad.

If you want optimal turning performance, -3-4 camber is going to do it. At -1 your stock. Also the camber will help fit rims like those.

 

And if we are really getting into function. The question would be why 16's? That's going to take away a good part of function on your car right there.

Weight, speed, and turning is what you are taking away with that size of a wheel. But then again it's all down to preference. IMO you shouldn't run anything more than a 15' on these cars, if you want performance.

 

I want to run a 16 because I was having to shift into 5th in my Integra, which I took the drivetrain out of and swapped it (a lot heavier of a car) if I got moving on a 1/4 and I am afraid of where the tire market may be heading if I get 15's. There are already a lot of summer tires not made in a 15 and as more production cars come with 16s and 17s I think they will be fazed out even moreso. Also, I may run something like 2 deg. camber, but even 3-4 seems like a bit much for me because I don't want to eat through tires, its my daily after all. When I was talking about function that's part of what I meant, not just going fast.

 

You don't need to worry about 15" tires going away. 2 deg camber or even 2.5 deg with proper toe settings, you will not see any adverse tire wear.

 

205/45/16 on a 16x7 should fit without any rubbing. I had that exact set up but 38 offset and wasn't even close to rubbing. I can post pics if you like.