ok,I'm having a hard time finding wheels that I like for my 4-lug accord. I really want to get those r1 racing gtr-9's. the 18x7.5's come with a +40 offset. i know that another member on this forum has some 18x7.5's with a +43 offset and as far as I know he's doing fine. My car has an eibach pro-kit(1.5" drop) and i have camber kit(currently not installed) which will be straightening out the new wheels once they're on. How far will these wheels,stick out?? could rolling the fender edge's prevent rubbing?? or will I be ok with only a 1.5 drop??

 

Just my 2 cents you would want to get atleast a 45 offset so you wont have any rubbing issues. 40 will definately rub and the 43 probably would rub with passengers in the back.

 

The problem is finding wheels in our 4x114 lug pattern with a high enough offset. Most manufacturers seem to make them in the 40 or 42 offset, but 45-48 would be more ideal. I've had two sets of 18s, both with 45 offset (18x7.5 with 225/40s) and with uncorrected camber and a 1.5-1.75" drop I never rubbed. Under suspension compression the wheels and tires cleared the fenders and were able to tuck without rubbing (esp in the rear where most people have the problem).

Then when I corrected my camber in the rear only, I did rub on the rear bumper tab and slightly on the fender itself. So I dialed the camber to right on the spec limit, that combined with grinding some plastic off the rear bumper tab basically alleveiated the rubbing to now it's only occasionally, only under a hard corner with passengers in the back, or a big smooth bump in the road driving over 30 mph, etc.

All rubbing could be eliminated with rolling the fenders.

So the answer is: 48 would be ideal, 45 is better, 42 is liveable (a lot of my friends have them) and 40 I'd avoid unless you are willing to roll your fenders.

 

dumb question, don't flame... how do you "roll the fenders"?
I took out the black wheel well plastic in my fronts a long time ago, and when I changed my suspension this weekend I had to take a hammer to the fender tabs that are there because I kept rubbing against them on bumps and somewhat hard turns. I also bent in the "lip" on the inside of the fender, so tabs and all are at an upward angle. No more rubbing. My rear tires barely tuck and I'm at over 2 degrees neg camber. I think I have enough room to maybe add one washer to the rears and bring it to less then 2 neg. Which I think will rule out any chance of noticable tire wearing. My front camber is at -.6

 

Well you pretty much rolled them yourself then lol.

There are some other methods. They make a tool designed to do it controlled. You secure it to the lugs and adjust the tension of a small skateboard like wheel on the fender lip, and you "roll" it back it forth to slowly bend the lip upwards.

Some people do a more DIY method with a baseball bat and a jack, lowering the car with the bat between the tire and fender and rolling the bat along the tire to uniformly bend the fender lip.

 

I'm running a 42mm offset and a camber kit on my 6th gen coupe, the only time I've ever had a rubbing issue was when I was carving the hills of the Dragon's Tail in the Smokey Mt.'s I'm willing to bet most owners have never tried this in a Honda Accord so I'd say with this offset you'd be safe. But I'd bet a 40mm would rub.

If I had Schmiddy's 45mm offset I might not have rubbed at all.

Personnally if I have to ever replace my rims in the future, I'd much rather have a 45-50mm offset on a 17" rim with some more sidewall for a tad more bit on some softer tires. I'd look into a set of light weight 17" at the Tirerack if it were me. I have RacingHarts and they are totally all show no go, save for the sticky meats I have.