What did you do to your connect today?

[Kent Discos]

i had that problem with my 225/40/18s ... very close and got worried, a sharp turn on a steep hill gave it a bit of rub.... ended up getting 5mm spacers and 5mm longer studs.

[Lefty64]

[quote="paul2012]

Also 18" Rims are far bigger & wider than 17" rims

Yes the new tyres are the same circumference / Rolling Radius, so the speedometer reading remains the same. But they are low profile & 30mm wider than the old 195 65 15 tyres[/quote]

My mistake as I'd forgotten you need 2" wider rims - 225/40/R18 take 7.5" to 9" I think.

The 235/45/R17 need 8" to 9.5" rims so might end up wider still. Got it now.

[Telemark]

My 235/45-17 are on 7,5" rims, as listed and delivered by Ford, part 1512980. I know some list 8" or wider for that tire. There is not much clearance to the suspension strut. The suspension strut is angeled, so less room for smaller diameter rim, I would not go any wider than 7,5" for 17" rims, if you want the correct offset. The circumference is 1% greater than for 225/40-18 so no problem.

[paul2012]

Yes my 18" ST rims are 9" wide, Very close to the front suspention legs.

I do not have any problems with them with 225/40/18 Tyres. The van handles a lot better & sticks to the road like glue !

[dieselboy1978]

Very strange as my 18" Genuine for wheels are 7.5

[Mylee]

Very strange as my 18" Genuine for wheels are 7.5

Mine to.

[valetech]

Funny you say that my factor fitted 18" are 7.5 to
But think focus ST alloys are 8

Well I test fitted the first of my strut braces today.has made the steering pin Sharpe and corners even better.

[dieselboy1978]

And goes like stink even with a split intercooler pipe!

[SWtechnologies]

Funny you say that my factor fitted 18" are 7.5 to
But think focus ST alloys are 8

Well I test fitted the first of my strut braces today.has made the steering pin Sharpe and corners even better.

like the suggestion i made had bin put in to action! the R&D department at valetech sounds very busy!!

[SWtechnologies]

so got a sun strip done on my van and the rear lights smoked out at Zerosevengraphics in glasgow.

[paul2012]

Funny you say that my factor fitted 18" are 7.5 to
But think focus ST alloys are 8

Well I test fitted the first of my strut braces today.has made the steering pin Sharpe and corners even better.

I will measure my rims tomorrow, but I am certain they are 9" wide. Ford Part Number on the rims is 6M5J 1007-AB

They where factory fitted on a 2007 Focus ST 3





I know that some after market / replicas are not as wide, theres a replica set on ebay that are 8" wide

& my original steel rim are only 7" wide

[valetech]

6m5j 1007-ab is 8j (8x18)

[Lefty64]

These exchanges are very interesting, but the rim widths don't agree with the 'recommended' tyre tread/profile widths that I can find. I don't know what's right or safe, so have used trade websites.

Surely it doesn't matter whether the rims are genuine Ford or not. The supplier can't know what size of tyre someone might choose to put on. So why is there a difference between the guidance and what's fitted by posters? Can someone explain?

[Mod your Transit]

Your right,it doesn't matter if ST copies or real as they are both 8j

When fords put on 18" alloys at the factory they use 7.5jon a connect as the clearance is close.
But 8j is the normal size for 18" alloys and do fit a connect.some people have said in the past they have had to fit a spaces.

Standard tyre size for 7.5 & 8 j wheels is 225/40/18

[Telemark]

These exchanges are very interesting, but the rim widths don't agree with the 'recommended' tyre tread/profile widths that I can find. I don't know what's right or safe, so have used trade websites.

Surely it doesn't matter whether the rims are genuine Ford or not. The supplier can't know what size of tyre someone might choose to put on. So why is there a difference between the guidance and what's fitted by posters? Can someone explain?

If you are thinking about my 235/45-17 tires thay you said earlier should have wider rims, they were not fitted by me, they were fitted by Ford before deliverey of a new car. The only size tire they give for that rim, in the material I found, part number in previous post. If Ford strayed from your guidance, I can only hope it's still OK.

http://www.fordshop.cz/produkt/30-17-ko ... litin.html