Fitment: 16" down to 15" and Offset

[TheGreenDragon]

Ok, I have a potentially stupid question.

I know the sonic comes with 15" rims on most models, but because the model I have is the LT and it came with 16" rims, if I were to go back to a 15" aftermarket rim, would the brakes fit inside? Everything on the car is stock right now.

I was using this website to check some fitment concerns, and it flagged the brakes as a potential problem.

http://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?whe...2=205-60-15X8ET-19&fcl=50mm&wcl=30mm&scl=50mm

As a side note, the rims I am looking at are 15x8 with an offset of -19 with 3.75 backspace. They will most definitely need to be re-drilled to 5x105mm http://www.americanracing.com/wheels/AR61/AR0613/techsheet

Additionally, it would seem that there is some debate on whether a 205/60r15 tire will safely fit on a 15x8 rim. Other forums (yes I visited the Honda forums to see what they were doing, and I'm still cleaning V-Tec out of my ears) suggest the smallest tire that can be safely mounted to a 15x8 is a 225 width. So I wanted to get some ideas on that as well.

Are there any potential issues I should be aware of? I've done a lot of homework, and all indications suggest the rims+tires would fit and would be quite flush to boot.

 

[oldslowchevy]

It should as the brakes are same from the ls -ltz.

May I ask why are going to 15" vs staying with the 16" or going larger?

 

[TheGreenDragon]

May I ask why are going to 15" vs staying with the 16" or going larger?

Well, for one tires are slightly cheaper. But that is actually the secondary reason.

I was really wanting to put a set of American Racing AR61 Outlaw I's on the car because they have a nice offset and an aggressive full-face design. Plus they look like they'd be relatively simple to re-drill. (I would be removing/replacing the bulbous center cap and painting them a nice gloss black, btw.)

Unfortunately the largest diameter they come in is 15".

If you know of any full-face wheels of a similar design that are 16", feel free to share. I know Centerline makes a similar Drag style, but again, only to 15".

 

[oldslowchevy]

I believe the outlaw 1 wheels are a rwd only rim.nor sure if they would work on a fwd car.

 

[TheGreenDragon]

Uhhh... wait, what?

The only potential difficulty I could see is that the wheel sticks out too far for the tire to clear the wheel well when turning, which I have tried to take into account.

Granted, these are usually seen on big off-road trucks with meaty off-road tires, but there are a few pictures of mustangs and other cars sporting them on all four corners.

I guess don't see what you mean by it being a RWD only rim.

 

[oldslowchevy]

I always thought that wheel was designed for rear wheel drive vehicles. It's like the old Chevrolet corvette rally wheels, I've never seen them on a front wheel drive car.

 

[TheGreenDragon]

Oh. Well then you don't know me very well.

I'm all about breaking molds. And I have a feeling that those rims in a gloss black color against the green of my car would look amazing.

 

[The Champ]

Ok, I have a potentially stupid question.

I know the sonic comes with 15" rims on most models, but because the model I have is the LT and it came with 16" rims, if I were to go back to a 15" aftermarket rim, would the brakes fit inside? Everything on the car is stock right now.

I was using this website to check some fitment concerns, and it flagged the brakes as a potential problem.

Rim & Tire Size Calculator. Custom Offsets - Wheel-Size.com

As a side note, the rims I am looking at are 15x8 with an offset of -19 with 3.75 backspace. They will most definitely need to be re-drilled to 5x105mm American Racing - Wheels

Additionally, it would seem that there is some debate on whether a 205/60r15 tire will safely fit on a 15x8 rim. Other forums (yes I visited the Honda forums to see what they were doing, and I'm still cleaning V-Tec out of my ears) suggest the smallest tire that can be safely mounted to a 15x8 is a 225 width. So I wanted to get some ideas on that as well.

Are there any potential issues I should be aware of? I've done a lot of homework, and all indications suggest the rims+tires would fit and would be quite flush to boot.

Based on my wheel fitment knowledge, those wheels just aren't even close to working.

Your stock 16x6" rims have 39mm offset - or 5.04" BS. http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...ic-wheels-dimensions-weights-offsets-etc.html

An 8" wide rim needs 1" more BS (so 6.04") to put the rim and tire in the same position.

Those AR Outlaw rims only have 3.75" BS, so the 205/60/15's will be sticking out 2.3" more than your current 205/55/16's.

You'd probably like the wheels on my wife's '72 Camaro. They are 16x7.5" Centerline X's with 5" BS with a 5x4.75" bolt pattern. That would get you a lot closer to fitting - and these rims could be for sale. We've been thinking about going to 17's.

 

[MaD]

When I got my new rims... I was only going to go with 17"s... but it was only 100 buck diff to go to 18"s and 18"s have more choices and the rubber is cheaper due to popularity, I paid 1600 for rims (custom drilled for sonic) and tires with warranty.

 

[TheGreenDragon]

Well, I haven't sold myself on the 15" just yet.

I've had several different ideas, but that was just the latest one to see if it would even begin to work.

This is kinda what I had in mind. Deep dish black rims with tires slightly stretched over them. Would look better with the car lowered.

At any rate, I may still end up going with a set of 17" ASA GT06, Enkei RSF5, Focal F10, Sparco Assetto Gara's, Sport Tuning T9, or change my mind completely and go for a set of 18" Enkei EV5 in matte bronze.

I've still got to save up the money, so I have time to mull it over.opcorn: