49 Offset Alloys on 960

[jonnyf90]

Hi Guys

Recently got myself a set of Tethys alloys from an S60 for my 1996 960 (with FWD 43 offset).
Looking at the Tethys - they have an offset of 49, rather than 43. Will there be any clearance issues with their 225/45r17s on my 960 or will I need a small spacer (like 3 or 5mm)?

(I used to have 17" Canistos on my 940 but that's whole different ball game with 25mm beafy spacers)

Anyone fitted "modern" alloys to their 960 at all?

Cheers

[XCR]

Hopefully this will help Jonny.
https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/

[Forrest]

If the Tethys are going to fit I’d be surprised if they needed much of a spacer. Maybe a shim to stop the inside edge rubbing. I think they are an inch wider than the standard 16 inch rims on the 960 so if my calculations are correct, which they may not be, the equivalent offset to 6.5J ET43 on 7.5J wheels would ET55. Hence at ET49 these would already stick out 6mm further from the centre line.

[jonnyf90]

Yes the Tethys are 7.5J as opposed to the 6.5J Mercurius on there presently 👍

Didn’t take into account equivalent offset - nice one 👍

Cheers

[jonnyf90]

Thought I'd update and ask for advice! So the 49 offset is more of a problem that I'd thought!
Offered the wheels up today and the inside of the tyre is fouling on the strut. I'm not sure whether a 5mm spacer will be enough to clear it (especially with the wheels that are an inch wider than at present) and I'm reluctant to go down the hubcentric spacer route again (£££) like I did with my 940.

Advice?

Cheers

[Laird Scooby]

Simple maths suggests that as the wheels are an inch (25mm) wider, half of that will increase the offset you need on the wheels and the other half will reduce the offset .

In other words, the normal offset (on the rest of the 7/9xx range anyway) is 25 so you'll need about 38mm offset - as you have 49mm on the wheels, 49 - 38 = 11, call it 12 to take the odd 0.5mm here and there into account.

In other words, if i've got my calculations right, you'll need 12mm spacers which IMHO pretty much means hubcentrics.

Alternatively, sell them and buy a set of Aries, Uranus (allegedly these fit with 43mm offset using 205/55/16 tyres) or another wheel of your choice :

https://accessories.volvocars.com/Le...R_GB_NL_DE.pdf

That might be helpful, it's where i got the info from about the 205/55/16 fitting on the Aries, it shows wheel options for the S/V90 and 960 plus the rest of the 7/9xx range.

Shame they weren't the 16" Telesto wheels, same design as the Tethys but 4-stud fitting, i might have been interested in them.

[jonnyf90]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

In other words, the normal offset (on the rest of the 7/9xx range anyway) is 25 so you'll need about 38mm offset - as you have 49mm on the wheels, 49 - 38 = 11, call it 12 to take the odd 0.5mm here and there into account.

My 960 is a mk 2 so has the fwd offset of 43? Wouldn’t think it would be such a challenge.
Looks like the 25mm spacers on my 25 offset 940 and a set of canistos was a whole lot easier 🤣

Cheers

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by jonnyf90

My 960 is a mk 2 so has the fwd offset of 43? Wouldn’t think it would be such a challenge.
Looks like the 25mm spacers on my 25 offset 940 and a set of canistos was a whole lot easier 🤣

Cheers

In that case you'd probably get away with 6mm spacers but you're right on the edge of the spigot in the centre of the hub so you may still need hubcentric spacers. It's the spigot in the centre of the hub that holds the wheel on centrally - the nuts just stop it falling off, no centring action.

You could try using a load of washers on 3 of the wheel studs to work out what thickness you need. You'll need M12 washers as the studs are M12 x 1.5 thread. Once you've found the minimum amount of washers needed to get the clearance you need, measure the thickness of them and that will be your wheel spacer thickness.

[baggy798]

Canopus are 17x7" ET49 and fit 960s.

Sooo.. Tethys being 0.5" wider, you need a 6mm spacer.

Do these late 960s use studs or bolts? If studs then a 5-6mm spacer is your limit.

[jonnyf90]

Bloody 7.5” wheels 🤣

Got a set of 5mm spacers as they’re studs & nuts rather than bolts.
Will give them a try later, if they’re no good, I’ll have a set of Tethys for sale 🤣

Cheers 👍