I need to get new wheels and tires for my '03 V8 Limited 4WD. The stock 17" wheels are badly corroded, so I'm replacing them. I want to stick as close to the OEM geometry as possible, to avoid any possible issues. I'm not going to do a lift and I won't use spacers. My use is highway plus the beach. My priorities are ride comfort and durability -- we have awful potholes here in the Boston area, so I want to stick with 17" wheels that give me a nice, tall sidewall that will protect the wheels from getting bent. I also like that the OEM size gives some protection of the wheels from getting curbed. Also, 17" wheels and tires are typically cheaper than 18" wheels and tires.
As near as I can tell by searching here, the OEM wheels are 17" x 7.5", with about a +30mm offset. Of course, aftermarket wheels never have exactly the same geometry, so I'm trying understand what are reasonable guidelines. What are the advantages and disadvantages to going with 17" x 8" or 17" x 9"? It seems to me that the wider the wheel, the greater the chance of curbing. If I go with a wider wheel, should I look for something with a similar offset -- does that keep the geometry closest to OEM, or would a different offset keep the geometry closest to OEM?
Sorry for all the questions, but there are just too many choices here for me to understand what is best.
As near as I can tell by searching here, the OEM wheels are 17" x 7.5", with about a +30mm offset. Of course, aftermarket wheels never have exactly the same geometry, so I'm trying understand what are reasonable guidelines. What are the advantages and disadvantages to going with 17" x 8" or 17" x 9"? It seems to me that the wider the wheel, the greater the chance of curbing. If I go with a wider wheel, should I look for something with a similar offset -- does that keep the geometry closest to OEM, or would a different offset keep the geometry closest to OEM?
Sorry for all the questions, but there are just too many choices here for me to understand what is best.
