Ok so right now I have stock OEM rims (16x7, 40mm offset) on my 2002 Xterra. I am thinking about getting some Mickey Thompson Classic III Black Wheels in the 16x8 size so i can keep my new tires. However they have a 0mm offset and because of that they will stick out approximately 2 inches further than what is there now if I'm correct. With the tire sticking out 2 inches further, i was wondering will their be any obstructions between the tire and the body of the car. Im afraid if i hit a bump or anything the tire will rub on the fenders because they are out further. I currently do not have a Body lift or Suspension lift as the car is at its stock height for now. Please give me your thoughts. THANK YOU!!![h=1]Mickey Thompson Classic III Black Wheels[/h]
The amount of clearance is more related to the backspacing (BS) than to the offset itself, as offset's im pact is dictated by the rim's width, but BS is independent of rim width.
You say your current tires are only teeny weenie 265/70/16, or ~ 31 x 10.5 nominal size.
They currently fit, because you could fit 265/75/16 for example on a stock 2000 - 2004 X, with stock BS. (Those would be ~ 32 x 10.5 nominal equivalents)
On an IFS, when you decrease the BS, it makes the tires swing in a wider arc. When you swing a longer baseball bat, you hit stuff farther away than with a shorter bat...and, when you swing that tire though that wider arc, it also hits more stuff.
On your X, that means the front (Only the front) tires will hit stuff they would have missed with the correct BS.
To use rims with too little BS, you therefore need to remove the stuff you don't want hit by the tire.
You can bash the metal back with a BFH, sawzall, etc...but, no matter what you do, for the same work, you could have mounted a larger tire...with 5.5" of BS.
The tire is a functional part of your rig, and, using a smaller tire than you could have generally makes it work less well. A wider stance is more stable off camber, and improves your center of gravity....
...and there's two ways to get that:
1) Use a fatter tire, trim only plastic.
2) Use a skinnier tire on an out rigger, like a training wheel, etc....and cut off metal and plastic.
Your current plan is for the training wheels, so, you'll need to bash back and cut off the parts of the truck (Just in the front wells) that the tires hit....just to use your current wee baby tires.
So, if afraid that the tire might rub...yes, it will....and you just get rid of what it rubs on.
BTW - W/o knowing the width of the rim you want, the offset doesn't really tell us much.
For example, 40 mm of offset on a 7" nominal rim width = 5.5" of BS.
Zero off set on a 10" nominal rim = 5.5" of BS....which would work as far as clearance, but be too wide for the wee tire.
And so forth.
