Let me say at the outset that I have read almost all posts in the wheels fitments sticky. They got me even more curious (or perhaps confused is the right word).
The facts:
1. My stock rim is 16 inches in diameter and 7.5 inches wide. Stock offset is 51 mm.
Stock tire size is 235/60/16.
2. My car was delivered to me with staggered AMGs in 18 inch. Fronts are 8", rears are 9" wide.
Offset is 30 mm front and 33 mm rear.
Tires sizes 245/40/18 and 265/35/18 -- very close to each other but undersized relative to the stock (equivalence is nearly perfect for 255/45/18)
My questions are:
1. In the back, the difference in the offset alone moves the rim 18 mm OUT towards the fender edge. To this we need to add another 18 mm from the 1.5 inch difference in the wheel width. This means that the AMG rim (18x9, ET33) should be almost flush, but it is NOT. Check the picture, I've got at least 20, possibly 30 mm to go.
I suspected that the camber could be way off, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
What is going on? Many in the sticky warn against rims with offset in the low 30s, but it looks like I can go in the 20s and still be fine, at least in the rear.
2. The tires are Vredestein and have very unique tread pattern.
There is a wall that has INSIDE embossed on each. All tires based on this appear to be mounted correctly.
I suppose these tires should be called directional, although there are no arrows indicating rotation.
They are not asymmetric (i.e., no left and right). Notice that the deep grove that runs along the circumference of the tire is always on the inside, but the "curved lines" in the tread patterns are obviously not rotating in the same way.
What am I missing? There is video on YouTube that glorifies this "aggressive" look, and offers some kind of explanation, but I am not ashamed to admit that don't get this schematics:
Opinions will vary, most likely, and I'd love to hear them all.
Best regards,
Steve
The facts:
1. My stock rim is 16 inches in diameter and 7.5 inches wide. Stock offset is 51 mm.
Stock tire size is 235/60/16.
2. My car was delivered to me with staggered AMGs in 18 inch. Fronts are 8", rears are 9" wide.
Offset is 30 mm front and 33 mm rear.
Tires sizes 245/40/18 and 265/35/18 -- very close to each other but undersized relative to the stock (equivalence is nearly perfect for 255/45/18)
My questions are:
1. In the back, the difference in the offset alone moves the rim 18 mm OUT towards the fender edge. To this we need to add another 18 mm from the 1.5 inch difference in the wheel width. This means that the AMG rim (18x9, ET33) should be almost flush, but it is NOT. Check the picture, I've got at least 20, possibly 30 mm to go.
I suspected that the camber could be way off, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
What is going on? Many in the sticky warn against rims with offset in the low 30s, but it looks like I can go in the 20s and still be fine, at least in the rear.
2. The tires are Vredestein and have very unique tread pattern.
There is a wall that has INSIDE embossed on each. All tires based on this appear to be mounted correctly.
I suppose these tires should be called directional, although there are no arrows indicating rotation.
They are not asymmetric (i.e., no left and right). Notice that the deep grove that runs along the circumference of the tire is always on the inside, but the "curved lines" in the tread patterns are obviously not rotating in the same way.
What am I missing? There is video on YouTube that glorifies this "aggressive" look, and offers some kind of explanation, but I am not ashamed to admit that don't get this schematics:
Opinions will vary, most likely, and I'd love to hear them all.
Best regards,
Steve