Ideal offset size for rims

[Ares]

+38 or +40.

+38 - the wheel and tire is more outside the car
+40 - the wheel and tire is more inside the car

with a 195 tire, either of these will work.

I currently have a 205-55-15 with 15x6.5 + 38 and I am rubbing the rear tires (on the fender vs outer tire wall) when I have passengers OR when the car dips.

If you downgrade to 195-50-15 the 195-50 is going to be: shorter and narrower so I'm fairly confident no matter how much the car dips no rubbing should happen.

[Ares]

@maverick:

I have noticed that the rubber "protector" of the rear shocks have some wheel rubbing signs with +38 and 205-55.

I'm going to say that it might be safer to do +37 with 195-50-15 because you can always do a "fender roll" on your fenders if you feel like you're rubbing. But if you do a +43 and you hit the rear shocks, there's nothing you can do to compensate for that.

P.S. I just thought about this: you could always add spacers if you do a +43 and it's rubbing in the shocks.

[Rival Autosport]

After fitting my wheel/tyre combo, I've come to the conclusion that a 15x7 wheel with a +41 offset is as good as it gets before you use spacers and modifying the body. This is running a 195/50-15 tyre. I have maybe 4-7mm gap on the inside rear and almost flush on the outside rear. The front seems full clear as I haven't found any signs of rubbing yet. Quote "yet". I still have to drive some more and see what's what.
Further more, I am slammed on TEIN Basis coilovers with a 80mm drop all round and I find that I only rub the outside rear fender on hard bumps or dips. Regardless, the car will be raised 20 mm all round this weekend when I have time again. I also believe that running a 6-6.5" wide wheel would suck in the side walls more, allowing more clearance inside and out.
Here are some pictures:
Passenger
Driver

[Rival Autosport]

Let me know if you have any questions about my setup and I'll try to get the information for you if I don't have it already.

[MetroMPG]

Dumb question, unrelated to wheels: what colour is your car? Is it just the camera that makes it look different? I don't recognize it.

PS: thanks for the additional info & pics.

[Rival Autosport]

Dumb question, unrelated to wheels: what colour is your car? Is it just the camera that makes it look different? I don't recognize it.

PS: thanks for the additional info & pics.

It's the factory Infrared. But without sunlight, it looks darker than normal with a bronze hue.

[Ares]

Have you had passengers in the car and dips on the road?

My 205-55-15 +38 are rubbing when I have passengers.

[Rival Autosport]

No passengers yet. But for sure the rear is rubbing on the outside now.

[Ares]

Yup, there we go. I was expecting some...

It may (or may not) be rubbing on the lower rear part of the wheel well... Not really the fender...

I'm scared to put new tires in the wheel if it will still be rubbing...

Sigh.

[Rival Autosport]

Yup, there we go. I was expecting some...

It may (or may not) be rubbing on the lower rear part of the wheel well... Not really the fender...

I'm scared to put new tires in the wheel if it will still be rubbing...

Sigh.

Aye. And worse yet, I found paint rubbed out in the inside of the wheel well in front of the damper. It seems spacers are required. Also, raising the car another 10mm might be necessary. I say go with 185 on a 6.5" wide wheel with a +41 offset. 10mm slimmer and the thinner wheel will suck in the tyre sidewalls.