[88esprit]

Help.....
I have a 88 esprit (U.S.) and am trying to put some after market wheels on it and keep getting confused with the spacer, adapter size. The wheels I am trying to install are 17x8.25/5-114.3{+35mm} front, and 18x9.75/5-114.3{+20mm} rear. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I remember reading a thread on this but could not locate it, can't remember where it was recommended to get the adapters made. :shrug:

Thanks

 

[sleekgt]

Help.....
I have a 88 esprit (U.S.) and am trying to put some after market wheels on it and keep getting confused with the spacer, adapter size. The wheels I am trying to install are 17x8.25/5-114.3{+35mm} front, and 18x9.75/5-114.3{+20mm} rear. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I remember reading a thread on this but could not locate it, can't remember where it was recommended to get the adapters made. :shrug:

Thanks

88 has 5x108 bolt pattern
OEM front is 15x7 23 mm
OEM rear is 15x8 -20mm

If you are keeping stock offsets, you would need 40mm rear adapter, but note that 18x9.75 takes a 285mm tire (at least) - that 25 mm (1 inch ) wider on EACH side of the wheel. My measurements on the 88 say that is workable, but is dependent on 100% factory offset maintained.

The front may be harder - to maintain 23mm offset, you have a 17x8.25 wheel 35mm - there is likely no 5x108 to 5x114.3 adapter that is only 12mm thick.
And if you decide to forgo factory offset, the 8.25 wheel may rub since the wheel well is fairly small for 8" wheels (the S4 was the year they widened it a bit).

FYI I'm assuming you're looking for wheels that fit, not taking into account the heavier wheels affecting handling, etc. That's what hold me back - the forged wheels are the best solutions (custom without adapters) but very pricey.

This site below is where I calculated much of my 'what if' for wheels.

Custom rims, wheel tire packages for your ride - RIMSnTIRES.com

I don't have a recommendation for adapters, but there are plenty of choices for sure on eBay.

The least expensive route that I like is the Voxx MG3 with a 5x108 17x8 20mm wheel (front and rear). You could use a simple spacer (3mm) in front) and a 40 mm adapter in rear.

They have bigger 18x8 but with 40mm offset - not sure how safe a 60mm adapter would be on an 88.

Note that the 88 rear wheel is unique ONLY to 88 Esprit - 5x108 -20mm. Even the 80-87 G Esprit is 5x120 -20mm. So choose your adapter carefully.

Disclaimer - all this is info I gleaned from the web - I haven't done a hands on install yet.

 

[MRDANGERUS]

Very accurate information above.
I have SE wheels on my X180.
225/50-15 FRONT , no adapters
and
255/50-16 REAR w/60mm thick TUW spacers/adapters
Front and rear accept M14x1.5mm lugs.

Check the thread size, 5x120 may be M12x1.5mm

 

[sleekgt]

[snip]60mm thick TUW spacers/adapters
[snip]

Sounds like the 60mm adapter isn't an issue - just make sure you get the proper length bolt to attach (I saw a reference somewhere that the bolt must stick into the hub Xmm for proper strength?)

 

[MRDANGERUS]

10-15 threads, and material should be aluminum 7075.

 

[LantanaTX]

Seems like you would have to find a wheel with a ton of +mm offset to use a 60mm spacer in the front and keep the wheels and tire from sticking out too far. I have found 5x108 - 5x114 adaptors in 1 inch (25mm) on Ebay. Maybe you can find these and contact the seller and see if they can make them with 60mm center bore to be hub centric. Even with these I think you will need at least a +40mm offset wheel to locate the wheel and tire in the proper posision (inside the fender).

 

[MRDANGERUS]

Front wheels do not take any spacers.
To use 5x120 one has to drill and tap new holes in the hub (in between existing 5x108 holes).

 

[sleekgt]

Front wheels do not take any spacers.
To use 5x120 one has to drill and tap new holes in the hub (in between existing 5x108 holes).

I don't this is possible - the hub on my 88 has no meat behind the spaces of the existing holes - presumably to save weight. The only possible way I can see is to arc weld the existing holes closed and rethread. But that probably causing other metallurgical weakening of sorts.

 

[sleekgt]

Seems like you would have to find a wheel with a ton of +mm offset to use a 60mm spacer in the front and keep the wheels and tire from sticking out too far. I have found 5x108 - 5x114 adaptors in 1 inch (25mm) on Ebay. Maybe you can find these and contact the seller and see if they can make them with 60mm center bore to be hub centric. Even with these I think you will need at least a +40mm offset wheel to locate the wheel and tire in the proper posision (inside the fender).

No - the 60mm is for the REAR (due to factory OEM of -20mm). The front OEM offset is 23mm and much more manageable. For the front, adding 25mm (1 inch adapter 5x114.3) plus factory 23mm means the front wheel should be 5x114.3 and 48mm offset (a Mustang-type of wheel dimension).