Why would you expect a tire 23.77" in diameter on 45 mm offset wheels to rub?
Any tire not greater than the original tire diameter on 45 mm offset works well even if lowered a bit. (that doesn't include riding on the bump stops). For stock ride height you can go down to 42 mm if the tire is less than 23.4" diameter and you stick with205 max width..

 

With what tires?215/50x16 and the like? .
Any tire with no more than original tire diameter will not rub on 45 mm offset wheels and unless lowered isn't likely to rub on 42 mm wheels..

 

I've noticed in pictures that the front wheels tend to be more flush than the back.

Would it be better to use maybe a 45 offset in front and a 42/43 in back to make both flush?

 

Use up to a 5 mm spacer in the rear to get your rear wheels to sit a bit more flush.... that way you can still rotate your tires and wheels ( since they will be the same size and offset )...

 

I think using 3MM spacers on the rear would be a better way to do that. or 5 MM
Wont make a wheels selection more complicated and you will still have the tire rotation available as an option.

[edit] Dave beat me to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Would a 5mm spacer require longer studs? I know for 3mm you can get away with the stock studs.

 

actually because I read your posts...and many others saying that 205/40/17's would rub on anything approaching 42 offset, and a few people even suggested a 47 off...I read every post in this thread, and it all lead me to believe that I was cutting it close.....

 

You`ll be fine.. anything more and you`ll need longer studs.

 

Dave more than likely gave you the answer. But wheel mounting pad thickness can vary. There is a formula, of how much stud penetration should go into a lug nut (or so many turns) cant remember, but if you google you will find it.
Also you can test it out by test fitting your wheels with 3mm and 5mm stacks of washers on the studs. That way you can check the 'look' and to see if you got enough stud so you dont buy spacers twice. (obviously the washers are not safe for driving)

 

Its any offset LESS than 42 mm and thats cutting it close. Any offset more than 42 mm up to 55 mm is good for any tire that has a diameter equal to or LESS than the stock tire thats not lowered.

Thats just for anyone else I didn't make it clear enough. Glad you got it right.

 

The rule is you need 8 turns of the wheel nut on a 12 mm lug bolt with 1.5 pitch
to assure enough strength. You find that out by tightening the bolts to 80 lb-ft, then unscrewing the nut. The number of turns before the nut falls off is the engagement. Engagement is specified by the number of turns it takes to engage the number of threads equal to the diameter of the bolt.(per SAE)

But the real question is why do you want spacers? Spacers subtract from the offset. If you wabnt to go from 55 to 50 mm offset, great, but not if you want to go from 42 to 37 mm.
Flush is not necessarily OK. Its easy to test though.

 

bump again for this is a thread everyone shoudl fully read although remember a lot of the old stuff at the front is all being said without bing lowered. Once you lower our cars, then negative camber comes into play and changed a lot

 

im on df210 on a 16 inch wheel with a +40 offset no rubbing still about a inch or more from the top of the tire and fine when turning also. on a side note i am running factory tires

 

yo i have a question. i bought some springs from tanabe. that will drop my new 09 sport fit 1.0 front and 1.5 rear. and was wondering if i get some rims that are 16.7 with 45-50 offset will anything happen? and what tires really?

 

with a 205/50? If so you will be fine.

 

yea 205/50/r16s. no rubbing at all though?

 

what about a 16.5? with 205/50 and lowered f1.0 r1.5? with 42offset?

i dont really know the difference from 16.5 and 16.7...

 

Well nothing in life is forsure although we assume you went with the nf srpings in your case. Now these are hardly at all more stiff then oem with a very minimal drop. If you want safety simply run a 195-50-16 tire and you will not have issues on a 45-50mm x7 wide wheel, But only god know you still could get the odd rub in the front on 45mm on a REALLy hard dip or turn but this will not be touching the fender itself, just its liner.

I say your gonna be fine, now have fun trying to find a rim lol :P

Ill be dropped on a 43-45mm rim x7 wide and ill run the 195 ( if I go 16) and 205 if I go 17, I wont worrie about rubbing :P

 

thanks for the advice. lol.

now i need some rims any one want to help me look? haha.

 

NO, Im SICK to death on looking, I just dont want to spend 2g's to get the wheels I want :S