Help with fitment on 2000 SE

grob23 · Post by **grob23** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:59 am

I'm finally to the point where I'm ready to start looking for a set of wheels and tires for my car... I don't have funds yet, im just at the planning stages...

My question is: What wheels will fit on my STOCK SE? I've heard of people having to swap struts/coilovers to clear wheels, and I know some people have to cut inner fenders (not necessarily on a neon)... but I've got a STOCK car... and suspension changes will never happen... I don't need a car that handles perfect, It just needs to be a tad bit better looking than stock...

so how big can I go? I've been hopping around the internet and have come up with a nice set of 18's I like (prolly wont fit huh?), but at the same time, I kinda like the look of 16's on 2nd gen neons... and I've found a few sets of 16's that look good as well...

like I said, all I'm doing to my car is visual stuff (and audio...), so I wont be changing/upgrading the suspension any...

if there's anything else I should be watching out for (backspacing, width, etc.) feel free to chime in and let me know...

or call me an idiot for wanting to throw wheels on a stock neon

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:03 pm

Try TireRack.com, DiscountTireDirect.com, etc. They will all tell you exactly what will or will not fit. I'm not sure about the 18s on stock struts, but the 17s will fit.

03_SXT · Post by **03_SXT** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:09 pm

You can run 18" rims, but the width and offset must be correct in order to run this size. You will also have to run some very small rubber, 215/35R18 or 225/35R18.

The major thing you should be concerned about is offset. This is what will decide whether you are going to rub on the spring perch or not.

If I were you, I'd go with some nice 16" (50 series tire) or 17" (40 series tire) rims so you can run a good about of tire sidewall. You won't be as worried about bending a rim...

~Amit

grob23 · Post by **grob23** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:26 pm

I've decided that since I drive my car daily, don't want issues, need durability/ easily found tires, and don't want the "ricer" look, I've decided to get 16" wheels...

I figure an inch larger than stock, better looks, but yet very easy to mess with/ fit: can't go wrong

I'll wory about tires later... I DO need some gaps filled in though...

I know nothing other than diameter and lug pattern... what about backspacing or offset? I just want to make sure that what I order will fit...

thanks for the replies... I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one throwing wheels on a stock neon... (I know there's more people...

)

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:42 am

You may want to worry about tires now. 16" tires are getting harder to find in many sizes, and it will only get worse as time goes on. I just did a quick Tire Rack check on some 16" sizes. There is still a good selection of 205/50/16's out there, but not a lot in other sizes

King Crab · Post by **King Crab** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:00 pm

I can say from personal experience that with stock struts you can safely run on 17x7.5 (offset 35) 205/40/ZR17. This setup on stock struts is fantastic. The handling over the stock set-up was like night and day. And now that I've upgraded the suspension to Tokico struts and H&R sport springs, all I can say is WOW.

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:29 pm

Idiot

i kid

grob23 · Post by **grob23** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:13 am

17's is what I'd like to go with... that's what all my friends run...

I'm not TOO worried about bending/thrashing a wheel... I live in town so that helps...

and I know I could find a set of 17's that I like... I had no luck finding wheels in 16's...

OK... I change my mind way too much, but I think I'm after a set of 17's now... is there anything else I should know? offset was mentioned... I think I'm set?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:08 am

With what has been thrown out there you should have all the info you need

King Crab · Post by **King Crab** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:51 pm

Thanks a lot Frank...... I love you too.

grob23 · Post by **grob23** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:45 pm

ok... I'm going with 15's... they're cheap and yeah... im getting 15's... what backspacing will I need? or does it matter...

and yeah, I'm getting gay ass 15's...

but if I got 16's, what backspacing would I need... or does it differ any? (from 35)

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:03 pm

King Crab wrote:Thanks a lot Frank...... I love you too.

I was referring to this statement in the original post...

grob23 wrote:or call me an idiot for wanting to throw wheels on a stock neon

King Crab · Post by **King Crab** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:58 pm

racer12306 wrote:
King Crab wrote:Thanks a lot Frank...... I love you too.
I was referring to this statement in the original post...

Oooops..... I guess I've been in " the person above you thread" too much. My bad.

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:57 am

oye, you should know that ^^^ signifies that the statement refers to the above poster. damn n00bs never learn