Low offsets .. 42 and under
 

I know the recipe but have a question for anyone running low offsets on a ES or Protege5. 42 and under down to 38 or so.

I am not concerned with rubbing but do want to know if the tire/wheel sticks out past the fender at all. ( Meaning: if you dropped a line or ruler or whatever down from the edge of the fender, would the tire get in the way? )

I think for +40 and +42 it'll still be ok (not talking about rubbing tho)... but as for lower offsets, I'm not sure.

Rowan, you can easily measure it yourself, as long as you know MP3 wheel offset. Given same wheel width just ADD to the outside difference:(stock offset-alternative offset)
I almost bought +38 in 7.5 width. Stooopid! I took some measurments-with PR5 +50 mm stock wheel there's about 10mm to the edge. If we talk about sticking PAST fender, then you have 20-25 mm, but it will not only rub, it will shred your tire.

What are you plan on doing? Wide body? Monster MP3? Put some 9"goldplated wire wheels with spinners?

Yeah I've seen +40 and a guy who has those on a Protege5 and he can still tuck the tires with his coilovers for shows.

Hmm .. time for a ruler and whatnot to try and measure. eek.

-- time passes --

Well, after checking .. it looks like 1" space between the edge of the fender and the edge of the stock wheels. Which gives 25mm to work with. So, 30mm would be the absolute lowest for a 7.0" wheel.

If a 7.5" wheel has a +43mm offset, that is roughly equivalent to a 7.0" wheel with a +37mm offset.

Yes? No? It will be a very close fit but should make it.

Alex: I missed your post the first time when I replied .. posted at the exact same time. haha

I am planning on putting a 15x7.5" wheel on for competition. with a +43mm offset. I might end up starting off with 205/50-15 tires which are about a whole 1 inch smaller than my stock tires so there is extra room....

Maybe I should just call the whole thing off and stick to a 15x7.0 wheel with +44

But I know there was one guy last year with a Yellow P5 and he put his old Volkswagen wheels on and they did stick out .. they must've been in the mid +30's offset then.

Sucks that the only 7.5" wheels that will fit properly are also 17 inchers!

seems that nicholas13 (from toprotege) is running 17x7.5 +38 offset only! he says the rub (obviously) but don't stick out past the fender. hmm perhaps good news.

i mean according to what i measured yesterday, you could go as low as a +30 offset on a 7.0" wheel and still have it be inside the fender.

hmmmm