Hey everyone! I have an MK3.5 and I'm looking to get a new set of wheels and I dont want to run spacers. Would 18X9.5 fit flush? I have my fenders rolled and the car is lowered 1.5". Some of the wheel sets that I'm looking at are either 18X9.5 +22 or +35. I'm guessing +35 is what I need with 9.5?

Also, let's say.. If I were to go with 8.5 then would +30 or +35 would be out of the picture? I know that +40 to +45 would be perfect with 8.5. What size spacers would I need with 8.5? 20mm? There's one wheel set that I'm kinda interested in that's 18X9 +35. Would that be a good fitment?

If anyone here has some pics of 18X8.5 +30 and 35 spec wheels on their ST and could show some pics? I'd appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

The picture of my previous Focus MK3 below shows 8Jx18 Inch wheels with an offset of 40 mm (offset of 48 mm with 8 mm spacers = offset of 40 mm). The tyre size was 225-40-18 and the car was lowered 35 mm using Eibach springs.

In the Netherlands where I live this setup was just within the legal limits regarding an increased tracking width.

 

Compared to this picture:

A 8.5Jx18 Inch wheel with an offset of 40 mm will come approximately 7 mm further to the outside.

This should fit without rubbing.  


A 9.5Jx18 Inch wheel with an offset of 40 mm will come 19 mm further to the outside. 
A 9.5Jx18 Inch wheel with an offset of 35 mm will come 24 mm further to the outside.

I am quite sure that this is not going to fit without rubbing. 


The width of the wheel also directly relates to the width of the tyre. A 9.5 Inch wide wheel can have 245 mm to 275 mm wide tyres where 255 mm and 265 mm wide tyres are the most optimal choice.

On a 9.5 Inch wide wheel the optimal tyre size For a Focus MK3/MK3.5 will be 265-35-18. This will result in the closest deviation in diameter/circumference in relation to the original tyre size of 235-40-18.

In my opinion this is too wide for a Focus MK3/MK3.5. I do not know were you live but in many European countries these tyre sizes are not even legal since they are not included in the European type approval of the vehicle.

43 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

The picture of my previous Focus MK3 below shows 8Jx18 Inch wheels with an offset of 40 mm (offset of 48 mm with 8 mm spacers = offset of 40 mm). The tyre size was 225-40-18 and the car was lowered 35 mm using Eibach springs.

In the Netherlands where I live this setup was just within the legal limits regarding an increased tracking width.

 

Compared to this picture:

A 8.5Jx18 Inch wheel with an offset of 40 mm will come approximately 7 mm further to the outside.

This should fit without rubbing.  


A 9.5Jx18 Inch wheel with an offset of 40 mm will come 19 mm further to the outside. 
A 9.5Jx18 Inch wheel with an offset of 35 mm will come 24 mm further to the outside.

I am quite sure that this is not going to fit without rubbing. 


The width of the wheel also directly relates to the width of the tyre. A 9.5 Inch wide wheel can have 245 mm to 275 mm wide tyres where 255 mm and 265 mm wide tyres are the most optimal choice.

On a 9.5 Inch wide wheel the optimal tyre size For a Focus MK3/MK3.5 will be 265-35-18. This will result in the closest deviation in diameter/circumference in relation to the original tyre size of 235-40-18.

In my opinion this is too wide for a Focus MK3/MK3.5. I do not know were you live but in many European countries these tyre sizes are not even legal since they are not included in the European type approval of the vehicle.

Thanks for the explanation! I guess my best option is to go with 18X8.5 of my choice + spacers.

So 18X8.5 +30 or +35 would stick out A LOT outside of fender then? The best looking wheels to me are all in these sizes...

Tires sizes and car being slammed all the way to the ground is really okay with where I live (Denver, CO, US). I've had cops give me tickets for my tint being too dark and exhaust being too loud.. but I've never been pulled over for tires being too wide or car being too low. Both times when I got pulled over for exhaust and tint my old car was lowered 3" (cops don't care about that here... there are so many cars on bags here scraping the ground with their oil pans, lol). You can get pulled over for tires being bald though.. happened to me before.

Use this calculator to compare Width/Diameter/Profile/Offset:

https://www.willtheyfit.com/