Another Wheel Question

[93camryv6]

Yes it's an offset question, and please don't say "do a search" because I did. However alot of posts seemed to contradict one another.
I am thinking of getting 17"x7" rims but they are 38 offset. Alot of the posts I read said to get a 42 offset. I also read 35-40 but it was for a different width rim.
I am also thinking of 215/50 tires.
If I get that setup (17x7, ET38, 215/50)will there be much chance of rubbing. (I have a totally stock suspension but am thinking of a 1.25" drop).
If anyone has this offset please let me know.

Thanks

[CamryXLE]

to play safe 42-45 are the best offset, but
38 you might have problem specially at the back fender you might feel a little rubbing.

[SpectraBlueCam]

This will the most comprehensive and understandable answer you'll get from anyone here. If you still don't understand by the time I'm done, don't buy wheels and don't lower the car.

First, let's try to understand what we are talking about before we say things that don't make any sense.

Simply put, offset is how far a wheel's mounting surface (the part that sits against the hub) is from the mid-point of a rim's width.

Taking your 17"x7" rim as an example. The mid-point of the rim's width is 3.5". The mounting surface of a 7" rim with 0 offset would be right at the 3.5" point. The higher you move in the offset, the further out the mounting surface moves. A +40mm offset on a 7" wide rim's means that its mounting surface is 40mm from the 3.5" mid point in the direction of the outside of the rim.

Still with me???

With picking an offset and "rubbing" you need to figure out what kind of rubbing you are talking about. The rim and/or tire can rub the fender or the strut. Applying what we've learned about offset, rubbing the strut means your offset is too hight (i.e. +50mm) and rubbing the fender means that your offset is too low (i.e. +25mm).

If you are lowering the car, you only need to worry about rubbing the fender because lowering the car does not change the distance from your wheel to the strut - the strut stays in the same distance from your wheel in relation to your wheel no matter how far you lower it. It's only the fender that's coming down, similar to carrying a few heavy passengers in the back seat.

Practically speaking, picking an offset for a 7" rim is not rocket science because is not wide enough to create a tight margin of error. Anything from 35 to 45 would be fine with a 1.25 drop.

Hope that helps.

[93camryv6]

Thanks very much for the response. Since posting this I have ordered H&R's and Tokico's. So I may not be getting rims as soon as I thought.

[camcar]

That was an awesome response that does help alot so for an 18x7.5 wheel around a 40mm offset would be good on a gen3 camry is there anyway i could get a 235/40R18 on a my car thanks