Staggered wheel setup for the FX35

R

rodmillen

Member
Location
tucson, az
Name
Nate
Alright,
Im looking at getting a staggered wheel setup for my 2005 RWD FX35. I have been looking at the Varrstoen ES1 20x9 +25mm (front) and 20x10 +35mm (back). I was wondering if any of you have any suggestions for me.

The other wheel sizes they have are
20x9 +15
20x9 +25
20x9 +35

20x10 +15
20x10 +25
20x10 +35
 
What shadow asked is important information.

But at stock the two offsets and widths you have chosen will not be flush by any means. To get close to flush you should be looking at that 20x10 ET15 setup. That should be really close to flush. (by my definition of flush, they will sit about 2-5mm inboard of a stock vehicle.
 
Also, what is the look you're going for? You can fit a 10" wheel up front easily. And typically, with most of the cast wheel companies, width determines lip size and concavity. So if you ran 10" all around, you'd have a bigger lip in the front than if you went with 9". Usually people run a smaller width in front because if you go too wide, you run into issues turning. But the FX has no issues at 10" up front. Less understeer if you run a square setup as well. Finally, I'd re-consider your wheel choice. The ES1 is a step lip which basically makes the face look like a 19" wheel so it will look really small on the FX. Totally up to you, but it's something to consider.
 
I was thinking about putting a set of lowering springs on it. I really just want a flush look to it. I was throwing around the idea of a 20x10 square set up too, but its a rwd and I want it to look kind of like the G35/350z staggered flush setups
 
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Offsets make my head spin. Finding someone who has a setup you like and try to copy their specs might be a good option. The GTR wheels would be a good base point since the rear fits great with a lowered FX and the front does as well with a 20 or 25mm spacer.

Front 20 x 9.5 45 offset (but actually 20 or 25 with the spacer I think)
Rear 20 x 10.5 25 offset

Only thing is it's based on width and offset, so if you are looking at 9 and 10" wide wheels it throws off the offset I think. Plus the whole using mm and inches #thanksobama
 
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StuLax18 said:
Offsets make my head spin. Finding someone who has a setup you like and try to copy their specs might be a good option. The GTR wheels would be a good base point since the rear fits great with a lowered FX and the front does as well with a 20 or 25mm spacer.

Front 20 x 9.5 45 offset
Rear 20 x 10.5 25 offset

Only thing is it's based on width and offset, so if you are looking at 9 and 10" wide wheels it throws off the offset I think. Plus the whole using mm and inches #thanksobama
Click to expand...

Yeah was actually going to get a set of GTRs for the FX but I want it to have a custom look and I am very apprehensive to run spacers on it.
 
You're never going to get the look of the G35 guys who are flush/aggressive with a 9" and 10" wheel. Lots of those guys are running 11" and 12" rear wheels. Each offset you posted is going to be sunken with lowering springs. If you got the 10" +15 offset in rear, it would be flush unless you slammed it at which point it would tuck. In the front, you can go with a 10" +35 or if you really want the 9", +25 would be close to that offset. Basic math is that for a given offset, every inch you go wider in wheel with is another 12.5mm. And inch is 25.4mm and it's added to each side of the wheel. So a 9" +15 would be the same as a 10" +27. Here's a pic of an old setup. This is 10.5" +25 with a 305 tire and it's still not "flush" IMAG0066.jpg
rodmillen said:
I was thinking about putting a set of lowering springs on it. I really just want a flush look to it. I was throwing around the idea of a 20x10 square set up too, but its a rwd and I want it to look kind of like the G35/350z staggered flush setups
Click to expand...
 

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I really like the way that looks though. That is pretty attractive. I dont mean exactly like the G35 guys. Obviously I wont be able to do that, but I want a look like that.
 
Then the 10" +25 or 15 would be your best bet in the rear. Probably +25 if you don't want to mod the fenders. In front, a 9" +25 will be kind of flush if you're not too low. I'm running 9"+25 in front right now and with a 265 tire, it's sort of flush without camber. If the camber matches the rear, it's tucked.
 
As Stu pointed out, you should start with the GTR rear wheels as a base point to get a flush set up (this applies to both the front wheels and rear wheels). My vehicle is on GTR wheels, and on the rear it is perfectly flush with the rear rim. If I take that rear rim and put it on the front I need about a 5mm spacer to make it flush.

So taking that as your reference point the GTR rear rim is a 20x10.5 ET25. For every 1/2" you go down in width you need to lower your offset by about 13mm.

That should allow you to calculate a flush setup for almost every wheel combination.

EDIT: uh shadow that front rim by any calculation would be tucked by an inch.
 
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1/2" coincides with ~6.5mm in offset. Remember, the width is added or subtracted from each side. So a 1/2" drop is only 1/4" on each side which is 6.35mm. And 10.5" +25 is about the furthest you can go without modifying the fender if you're dropped on springs. When I had H&R's, I never rubbed with a 285 tire. Got coilovers and rubbed all day long.
 
Ahh didn't know ET was at the rims edge, thought it was the from the hub. Shadow is correct then.

But I still think you could go a bit wider up front.
 
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ET is from the hub to center of wheel. But the only part you care about is whether the edge of the rim clears your fender or suspension. So every 1/2" you go up in width, you just have to factor in that it's 6.5mm more in width for clearance purposes.
 
Wait I just looked at it again and I am confused yet again.

http://www.minimania.com/imagesbig/wheel offset.jpg

Have a look at that image, if you modify the offset dimension as it is drawn there. It equally affects both the face and rear of the wheel in equal amount to the delta of the change at the hub...

EDIT: NVM sorry shadow & OP. I got confused looking at your post. I didnt realize you meant a 1/2 reduction in width..
 
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shadow191 said:
Then the 10" +25 or 15 would be your best bet in the rear. Probably +25 if you don't want to mod the fenders. In front, a 9" +25 will be kind of flush if you're not too low. I'm running 9"+25 in front right now and with a 265 tire, it's sort of flush without camber. If the camber matches the rear, it's tucked.
Click to expand...

So Shadow, you recommend a 20x9 et25 up front and a 20x10 et25 out back?
 
If you don't want to mess with your fenders, that is about as flush as you can go without rubbing if you have a mild drop. If you ever slam, you'll need to do some work to the fenders. I'm currently running 9"+25 in front with a 265 tire and it rubbed off the fender tabs that hold the wheel liner up because it's very low and I never pinched them. Didn't happen with H&R's though. If you want a more aggressive look, you can always go with 9" + 15 in front and 10" +15 in rear, but it might rub. Depends on what you're willing to live with.
 
So I think I found the wheel set I really want. I believe I'm going to get some TSW Monaco wheels. I think I decided on 20x9 et20 up front and some 20x10.5 et25 out back. I just can't decide if I want black or hyper silver.
 
here's my GTR setup on my old FX.

rear wheels are +25, front are +45 but I had (15mm?) spacers on there. rear tires 295/35

This is with eibach lowering springs which sag a little lower than the H&Rs

DSC02326.jpg
DSC02345.jpg
 

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