Need advice 18x8.5 +44

[Azzo28]

Hi guys,
I have a set of wheels, 18x8.5 +44. They poke out like crazy on my 2001 liberty. I spoke to people, some say flare the guards, big $. Others say run more camber, about 2 degrees, I'm thinking excessive tyre wear. What are your thoughts, if you have fitted similar size tyres, did you have this issue and are you running more camber?

Your thoughts are appreciated.
Matt

[augo]

Shouldn't have much trouble with +44. What tyres are you running? 225 is heaps for 8.5.
Definitely would not flare the guards, at the most maybe roll the lip. Bit of camber...done!

[Azzo28]

Thanks Augo.
Do you think 2 degrees camber will be enough? And will I chew through tyres. I'll rotate them everytime I service the car.

[HyRax]

I have the exact same sized wheels and offset as you and opted to put on 225/45/18 rubber. The 225 stretches a little on an 8.5" rim. 245 rubber fits perfectly square on the same rim, but I doubt that will fit your car even with camber!

I find only the front sticks out a bit - the rears just fit with rolled guards, but that's on an MY08, not an MY01.

Got any pics of how the wheels fit on your car so we can have a look?

[Azzo28]

I'm only on my phone so no pics right now. I'll get one tomorrow. Are the newer models a bit more accepting of larger wheels? What camber are you running?

[HyRax]

Generally the newer the car, the greater the allowance for bigger wheels as they become standard equipment.

I'm not running any camber at the moment amd just today had my rear guards rolled to stop the light rubbing I was getting under load or yumps at speed. See my profile for pics of my car (link on the right under my avatar).

[Azzo28]

Took me long enough to finally put pictures up. Need to lower the car and pain my calipers or something to make it look a bit better in there.

[t.renshaw34]

They stick out a little man... But not "heaps" maybe 3-4 cm's?

2 degrees of camber should help alot. Wouldn't go much more than that for daily driving.

[Azzo28]

They dont even poke that much. I got a told they would stick out. the thing was that they were telling me when the car was still up in the air. So as you probably know once you drop the car down they tuck in a lot. So I only had to roll the rear guards. All that stress for no reason!

[t.renshaw34]

Haha nice work. Glad it worked out for you in the end .
I'm fair sure I'm going to flare my guard 10-20mm each side on the front to fit my 18x8.5's +44 offset.
Another week and I will know for sure.

[Azzo28]

Thats the same as what I've got on. With a newer model you shouldnt have to flare, as i would think you'd have more clearance than me. Maybe a little bit of guard rolling in the back because mine would rub when I went over a bump. (they still will if i go too fast over a speed bump or something). Or are you lowered and they're going to tuck a little?

[t.renshaw34]

I'm 45mm lower than stock atm. Going back to 35mm. 35mm is good for handles. At 45 mm lower it starts to get worse again. Guards are already getting rolled. Flaring 10-20mm I will wait until after the test fit to make a choice. Will probs do it in the end anyways just to make the front end look even tougher.

[Azzo28]

Sounds good mate. I reckon that'll look pretty tough once it's done.

[kiks]

35mm lower than stock is anything but good for handling in a gen3,.

8.5 +44 is also way too wide for a gen 3.

Gen3's can carry a lot less tyre than a gen 4, and also have a different wheel bearing internal arrangement and cant handle the extra leverage...(based on the fact they changed the design within 5 years I'd say its a likely connection to make...). Other prob with a gen3 is the rear trailing arms sit proud of the wheel well severly limiting tyre width on an 18. You can run 15mm wider inside clearance on a 17" rim. Once again changed within 5 years.

[neni]

8.5 +44 is also way too wide for a gen 3.

not wide enough, lookin at a 17or18X10 for next setup. offset is to be calculated