Wheel Offset Help

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Contest_Winner1 - 21 Dec 2005 21:56 GMT

Hello,
My wife and I have been having trouble for several years with the
wheels on her 2002 Sebring Limited Convertible. When we bought the car
it had 17"American Racing Vortec rims which are not made for that
vehicle. The tires stick out beneath the wheel well and everytime we
hit a bump the tires rub badly. We are trying to buy new rims to
correct this, but we are having a hard time getting a straight answer
from the tire places locally. According to something I found on the
internet the OEM offset is +50 on this vehicle. According to what I
could find the AR Vortec wheels have a +40 offset. Can anybody give me
a suggestion as to what a reasonable offset would be that probably
would not stick out far enough to rub? I am totally ignorant when it
comes to wheels.

Thanks

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Nate Nagel - 22 Dec 2005 00:09 GMT

> Hello,
> My wife and I have been having trouble for several years with the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks

I would call someone like the Tire Rack and ask them; obviously they
will want to *sell* you the wheels, but they ought to be able to provide
specs. In fact they may have them on their web site. Alternately, you
could just check your local junkyard and see if they have any stock rims
for your car; you can often pick up a complete set for $100 or less for
regular steel wheels.

good luck,

nate

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Nate Nagel - 22 Dec 2005 01:58 GMT

>> Hello,
>> My wife and I have been having trouble for several years with the
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> nate

http://www.ronalusa.com/cars/chry_sebring.html

from that page:

Chrysler Sebring Convertible
15x6", 5x100, ET. 45, 205/65/15, CB 57.1

an explanation of terms:

http://www.ronalusa.com/shopping/index.html

scroll about halfway down and they explain bolt circle, offset, center
bore, etc.

HTH

nate

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Dan Beaton - 22 Dec 2005 13:54 GMT

> Hello,
> My wife and I have been having trouble for several years with the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks

Offset is only half of the equation. The other half is rim width. If
the OEM wheel had a 6" width, and the installed wheel a 7" width, then
the wheel will extend out 1/2" further, even if the wheel has the same
offset.

Unless you really like the big wheel look, I would suggest you go for
OEM wheels. The best situation would be to find someone who took their
OEM wheels off to fit larger ones. Wrecking yards can be a good source,
although you need to be sure that the wheels weren't badly damaged.
Check eBay as well. As you aren't in a hurry, you can wait for a good
deal.

Dan

(This account is not use for email.)

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N8N - 22 Dec 2005 13:59 GMT

> > Hello,
> > My wife and I have been having trouble for several years with the
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> (This account is not use for email.)

The above is true... however, offset will also affect scrub radius so I
would tend to stay close to the stock offset unless you have clearance
issues.

http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel/55coupe7.html

what's wrong with the "big wheel" look anyway? <G>

nate

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