Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires A question for anyone with 18 inch wheels

I want to get some 18's really bad for my 97 tour..For the people that do have 18's do you have any rubbing problems? In addition are your cars lowered as well...Can I have 18's and lower my car?

my car is dropped with Eibachs and I have a set of 18"s with 225 40 18 rubber on'em. I rub nicely in the rear (prolly need new struts oh well) But some peopl dont rub at all with 18"s it just depends on your wheel offset (which I have no idea which is correct) also if you got lowering springs and some good struts ie Koni. then you should be doin fine! My friend has a '98 SE V6 with Eibachs,18"s, and no rubbing so try it what can you loose.....

Okay, in order to not rub, you cannot go wider than 7.5 inches, and the offset cannot be greater (numerically lower) than 42mm. This should keep the tires off the fenders, but I cannot guarantee this. It's just from experience.

I have Team Dynamics DTM's, 18x8's with a 40mm offset, 225/40-18's, it rubs slightly in the rear, even though I had the rear fenderlips trimmed. Another person on this board had Axis TC's, 18x7.5 with a 42mm offset, with 225/40-18's, he didn't rub at all and his rear fenderlips were not trimmed/rolled. Both his car and mine are lowered on H&R springs, I'm also running with Koni's. It still rubs with this setup, but it's lessened because the shocks can hold the car up a little better.

Dion
98 SVT

It's important to note that some changes were made to the SVT wheel wells, that allowed them to accept larger tires. The 95-97 Tour has a different liner. Of course, the liner can be altered.

I have E1 wheels with 215/50 and I have NO more room between the tire and the strut. No rubbing though, and I'm lowered 2 inches

go with 215/40/18 no rubbing what so ever

I disagree, go with 225/40/18

I know this makes me retarded but what do the 2 first numbers stand for?

The numbers are"
section width/profile/rim diameter

Section width is the width of the widest
part of the mounted tyre.
Profile is a percentage of the section width,
ie. 40 is 40% high as it is wide.

you can do a 235/35 19 40mm offset if you do a coil over conversion. without the coil overs you can do a 225/40 18 40-42 mm offset

I have the axis se7en 19x8's on my cougar and have a set of 18x7.5 alba blazes on my girlfriends contour. i have her car dropped 2.5" and rub occasionally in the front when the roads are really bumpy. i am gonna crank it back up to a 1.75" drop and she will be fine with zero rubing. it never rubs in the rear