Questioning the Recommended Tyre Widths based on Offset - Toyota Yaris Forums

Energiser · 02-24-2012, 04:53 AM

I've been researching for a new set of wheels, currently looking at Enkei SC24s, and have been heavily referencing the Official Wheel and Tyre Guide.

My current wheels/tyres are 205/50/16 on 16x7 +42. According to the guide, +42 is the lowest offset for which 205mm wide tyres are recommended. When I lowered my car on TRD springs, a tiny amount of rubbing developed on the front inside edge of the tyre, but only when the wheel is turned in at full lock. When the wheels are pointed straight ahead, the tyres are almost perfectly in-line with the outside edge of the fenders.

The Enkei's only come in +40 offset (-2 relative to my old wheels), otherwise I intend to keep everything identical. According to the guide I should reduce the tyre width to 195 for this offset, but I'm struggling to understand why. If anything, this reduction in offset should reduce rubbing on the inside edge... the only downside I can see is that the tyre would stick slightly outside the fenders.

Does anyone know why the guide recommends the lower widths at these offsets? My best guess is that it's based on when the tyre will protrude from the fenders, rather than rubbing.

02-24-2012, 04:53 AM	#1
Energiser Oh, Shiny... View User's Garage Drives: 2005 Toyota Yaris YR Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wollongong, Australia Posts: 6	Questioning the Recommended Tyre Widths based on Offset I've been researching for a new set of wheels, currently looking at Enkei SC24s, and have been heavily referencing the Official Wheel and Tyre Guide. My current wheels/tyres are 205/50/16 on 16x7 +42. According to the guide, +42 is the lowest offset for which 205mm wide tyres are recommended. When I lowered my car on TRD springs, a tiny amount of rubbing developed on the front inside edge of the tyre, but only when the wheel is turned in at full lock. When the wheels are pointed straight ahead, the tyres are almost perfectly in-line with the outside edge of the fenders. The Enkei's only come in +40 offset (-2 relative to my old wheels), otherwise I intend to keep everything identical. According to the guide I should reduce the tyre width to 195 for this offset, but I'm struggling to understand why. If anything, this reduction in offset should reduce rubbing on the inside edge... the only downside I can see is that the tyre would stick slightly outside the fenders. Does anyone know why the guide recommends the lower widths at these offsets? My best guess is that it's based on when the tyre will protrude from the fenders, rather than rubbing.