Wedge

The wheel size on my Touring 6 speed manual is 18x8JJ with a 30 offset, both front and rear. While under the car installing my Borla True Dual, I noticed that on the back of one spoke of each wheel was a marking. This marking indicated the rim size, offset and also was marked "Front" on two of the wheels, and "Rear" on the other two.

My question is this. If the rims are the same size and offset, why do you think they are marked front or rear?

The reason for my question is that the two marked "front" are on the right side of the car, and the two marked "rear" are on the left side of the car. (Yes, the tire sizes were correct for front and rear)

If anyone can shed light on this.....particularly if it will cause a problem, I would appreciate your input.

Thanks,
Wedge

aproy

they are not the same size, the rears are wider.

Wedge

I know the tires are wider in the back, but the rims are the same size front and back on the touring. The Track model has wider rims in the back however.

I checked this in the owners manual and also the repair manual.

Thanks for the response!

sparky3Z

Perhaps the wheel markings are there to help the tire/wheel installers at the factory to help make sure the right size tire gets on the front or rear, even though the wheel sizes are all the same on the Touring.

Also I seem to recall someone asking about a pin near the studs on the front wheels and was it OK to remove it for aftermarket wheels. (It was.) Don't know if this pin is also on the rear wheels, but if it isn't that might also explain the wheel markings.

Wedge

Thanks Sparky,

That makes sense.

ChinaClipper

iTrader: (2)

Wheels are marked front and rear because of differences in hub design. This is only related though, to the fact that the front hub is designed to allow for the front rotor stud. Once this stud is removed, the rear rims will fit the front suspension. With the OEM configuration from the factory with the front stud installed on the rotor, only rims marked FRONT will fit over that stud. If you compare the design of the Touring wheels marked front and rear, the difference is in the hub that mates to the brake rotor.
HTH