0utlier

Hello,

I've got a 1990 s4 auto and the rear wheels seem way too tucked into the fender well. Below are some pics. What is the best way to move the wheels out a little to fill up the space? Spacers? Bigger tires?

sublimate

Spacer, bigger wheels, or wheels w/ more offset.

morganabowen

I have a '91 S-4 and I have 18x10 rear wheels with a 65mm offset. The tires are 265x35x18. I put some 19mm spacers and I think the car looks more aggressive My next set of tires will be 285x30x18 and I'll remove the spacers

bigs

Here are a couple of pics of my car with wider tires and Mille Miglia rims which have more offset, requiring spacers.

0utlier

I'll be keeping the rims for now so I guess to be more specific... Will bigger tires take up some of that room, and if so what size can/should you run back there to fill up the space? Or...

If spacers are needed, does anyone know what size and where to purchase to increase the offset from stock? Or...

If I need both tires and spacers does anyone know the magic combination?

Please forgive me if I'm asking to be spoon fed. I just don't want to make a several hundred dollar mistake. Thanks.

morganabowen

It looks like you have the stock 16" wheels, so no question wider tires will definately fill the wheel wells. What size tires do you have on your car right now Are those 225x45x16 ??? I think with those wheels the widest you can go is 245x40x16 or you will need a wider wheel I think your rear wheel is 16x8.5.

0utlier

The rear tires are 245x45x16. I can't imagine a 40 series tire would make that big of a difference huh?

If 245x40x16 is the largest tire, and I'm already running 245x45x16, then the next least expensive option is spacers. Are _just_ spacers even feasable to accomplish a more aggressive stance? Or, am I living in fantasyland and will simply have to get bigger rims and tires all the way around?

What I initially thought would be relatively easy is turning out not to be quite so. Thank you for your time.

dr bob

Start off with spacers and see if that does the job for you. Then if you decide to go wider/bigger later on, you'll have the spacers to adjust the track to just right.

Tire options for the 16" rims are getting fewer. Seems like 17" is the minimum for anr real performance tire these days. 16" wheels used to be huge; Now, they are standard on econo-boxes and old LeSabres.

Mongoose

Just a shot in the dark here, but it looks like you have some negative camber issues. Obviously some negative camber is desired for stability, but not more than about 1/2 to 1 degree of negative camber. Unless you track your car.

It looks to me from the pictures that the top of your tire/wheel is much farther in than the bottom. i.e. you have too much negative camber. When is the last time you had an alignment?

Might be an easy fix...

Cheers,
Jason

0utlier

I was thinking the same thing... 245x45x16 was enormous back in the day. Now it looks puny. I'll happily try spacers though. I looked at the Big 3, and they do sell spacers, but I don't have a clue as to what to buy.

Has anyone bought spacers for stock wheels before? Of course if you have I would love to see what your rear wheels look like now. Thank you everyone for your time.

PorKen

225's/7" rim all 'round with factory 21mm rear spacers, versus 245's/8" rim all round and 21mm bolt on spacers.



There's about 10mm clearance to the top of the rear fender with the 245 Kumho 712's.

0utlier

I just recently had all 4 wheels aligned on a DSP 400, but I see what you mean. From the pictures it does appear the wheel is tilted. I think that may be an optical illusion though, but I will definitely check that out in the morning.

dfroelicher

Look twins!!

I have 225 50 16 with the stock 16x9 flat dish wheels. The front looks pretty aggresive but the back are actually 245 50(?) 16, and look way narrow.

The fronts are the same Kuhmo 712 and the backs are Cooper Cobra from PO that needed something cheap. When I get new tires the back will match the front.

gruffalo

go with 21mm spacers. Since they were an original option, you can always refer to that... :-)

Art_Z

wider is always "more gooder"