Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires Offset for SVT stock wheels?

I'm sorry if this has already been discussed, but I'm wanting a definitive answer on the offset of the SVT wheel. I called SVT and the best they could do was tell me that the backspacing is 4.75 inches. From this knowledge, and from knowing the wheel is 6.5" wide, I deduced that the offset is 38mm (I can show you the calculations, but I'll spare you for now). I've seen 49mm tossed around some, but I don't know where those people were getting their info. And I don't know if the SVT guy really knew what he was talking about. So does anyone know for sure?

The reason I ask is because my E1 SVT is lowered and I'm looking at some aftermarket wheel possibilities. I know lots of wheels will fit, but I also know that some of those wheels will rub the rear fender lip on my car.

Phil
E1 SVT - Koni/Eibach, etc.

Phil,

You are dead on with your calculations of a offset of 38 mm. I have no idea where the 49.5 mm offset figure is coming from, but it is the number I have heard for some time now. The only other piece of information I have is that the ST200 wheels sold by BAT (17 x 7), supposedly have an offset of 38 mm, which would now make more sense if the stock SVT wheels have an offset of 38 and not 49.5. Like you, I want to get to the bottom of this before I purchase new wheels.


Andy

the 49 was from people checking the back of the rims i think. The offset should be stamped on there. Maybe they have 2000's and the other wheels were different. Ford had a problem with the tires rubbing the inner fender lining. By going to a greater offset the wheels stick out more.

Anyways It seems to be agreed upon that the best offset is 42mm... go with a 7"wide rim and a 215 tire and you should have no problems

Okay, I've got one for and one against.

First of all, an offset of 49.5mm would bring the wheel Inward more; the greater the offset, the further the mounting surface from the center of the wheel, hence the further inward the wheel will sit. This would increase the rubbing issue, not lessen it.

Secondly, I don't think SVT changed the wheel any time in the model run (other than from the E0 to E1 wheels). Anyone know if there are different part numbers for different years?

It does sound like a 7" wide wheel with a 42 offset would be a good choice, and would make sense; the greater offset would bring the wheel inward just a bit, compensating for the wider overall width. What I want to avoid is rubbing on the fender lip in back. I can deal with a bit of rubbing on the wheel well liner.

Now if we could just get tirerack to list offsets with the wheels like discount tire direct does. . .

Phil
E1 SVT

yeah sorry that's right... i looked at that forever. I thought it was wrong but couldn't think why. Funny thing is I had it the other way around before. Originaly i thought the 49 offset was on the old wheels and then the got new wheels with 38 to stop the finder liner rubbing. I should have kept with that reasoning.

I agree that they should show offset. And do they even show bolt pattern??? And there website sucks for me. Every other click i get a page not found error. That's why i'd prob. buy from Discount Tire.... that and the fact that Discount has the 18" Konir Tantrums that I want

[This message has been edited by 95seped (edited November 10, 2000).]

This was discussed on this forum Sep 19, if you're interested in reading.

The answer is 49.5mm. It was published in an SVT Enthusiast newsletter and was confirmed by a phone call to SVT. The offset was not changed between E0 and E1; only the spoke design was changed. I have no idea why BAT lists different offsets.

In terms of the rub issue, the tire can rub inwards on the strut or on the fender liner, OR it can rub outwards on the fender. So it can rub either inwards OR outwards. Contours have really weird offsets with marginal, if any, clearance wider than stock.

Also remember to not judge width of a tire based solely on the width number of the tire. Tires' geometries are different from tire to tire. Luke @ TR can tell you overall widths of each tire, so be sure to check before you buy. (there are "wide" and "narrow" 215's, etc.)

[This message has been edited by 1funsvt (edited November 11, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by 1funsvt (edited November 11, 2000).]

I'm still not convinced. Keep in mind the original SVT brochure noted the stock front brakes as both 10.88" and 10.94" depending on where you looked. So published figures are not the gospel. And obviously what they tell people on the phone can be inaccurate, as they both confirmed a 49.5mm offset to someone else and told me the backspacing was 4.75" (which calculates to be a 38mm offset). Both of those statements cannot be true.

Regarding the rubbing issue, many people have aftermarket wheels that don't rub at all, so clearly there is some room under there to go either direction. And as for the BAT wheels being a 38mm offset, they are also 7" wide rather than 6.5", so I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not saying I'm right about 38mm, I'm just saying that I don't think we have solid proof of what the offset is. Which is the whole point of me posting this topic.

I think I'll just buy some used stock wheels off of contour.org and call it good. This is getting to be too much of a PITA!

Phil
E1 SVT w/unknown wheel offset

Phil, I am 100% certain I remember reading in an SVT Enthusiast newsletter that the offset was 49.5mm. You may be able to check archives to see for yourself. It was under the Q&A section maybe 1+ yr ago.

Can't someone just look on the back of one of their rims? It's supposed to be stamped on the wheel.

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