About This Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 1997 Build
We love featuring real builds from real owners. This Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 1997 sits on a set of 17×9 / 17×9-inch Enkei TM7 wheels, and the result speaks for itself.
The owner chose Enkei for a reason. This brand delivers serious quality and a design language that turns heads at every car meet. We see hundreds of Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX builds come through WheelFront every month, but this one stands out. The combination of the exterior with the Enkei TM7 creates a look that balances aggression with elegance.
Fitment Breakdown: Enkei TM7 on the Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 1997
I walked up to this 1997 Eclipse GSX at the meet last weekend and immediately fell in love. Seeing the 17x9 Enkei TM7 setup in person really changes your perspective on the 2G DSM platform. Those 17-inch hoops hit the perfect balance between track performance and street style.
Running a 17x9 square setup with a +35 offset fills these arches perfectly. The +35 offset sits flush with the factory fenders without pushing the poke too far. It gives the car that planted, aggressive stance we all crave for our DSMs.
Clearance is always the big question with these cars, but the TM7 spoke design handles the GSX calipers with ease. You won't struggle with brake clearance here, which is a massive win for a car with this much performance potential. The hub bore matches up nicely, keeping everything vibration-free at high speeds.
The 9-inch width brings a slight bit of concave profile to the wheel face. It adds some depth that a narrower wheel just cannot replicate. You get that muscular look that complements the factory body lines of the 2G perfectly.
Since this car runs on coilovers, the drop allows the wheel to sit right where it needs to be. You have enough room to tuck the tire slightly if that is your style. It makes the car look like it belongs on a rally stage or a grip track.
Watch your inner clearance if you run a meaty tire, though. The rear trailing arm is tight, and you might see some rubbing if you go too wide on the rubber. A slight roll of the rear fender lip ensures everything stays safe during hard cornering.
What We Recommend for Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 1997 Owners
If you own a GSX, stick to the 17x9 square setup for the best handling dynamics. Staggered setups on an AWD platform like this are a recipe for disaster with the center differential. Keep the rotation consistent and the traction predictable.
The +35 offset really is the sweet spot for the 2G chassis. You get the maximum inner clearance for your suspension components while keeping the tire within the fender lines. Anything lower than a +30 offset will start to poke aggressively and ruin your paint.
Don't be afraid to pull the fenders if you want to run a wider tire. A 245 or 255 width tire turns this GSX into a total grip machine. Just make sure you roll those inner lips clean to avoid slicing your sidewalls.
Avoid cheap spacers if you can help it. Buying a wheel with the correct offset from the start saves you a massive headache down the road. High-quality hub-centric rings are the only exception to this rule.
Check your alignment settings after you drop the car on coilovers. Dialing in a bit of negative camber keeps the tires from rubbing the outer fender edge. It also helps the car carve through corners like a scalpel.
Style and Build Analysis
The Gray finish on these TM7s looks incredible against the body of this GSX. It provides a sharp, industrial contrast that makes the car look more serious than the usual chrome or black wheels. It’s a clean look that highlights the intricate spoke pattern of the Enkei design.
The mesh-style design of the TM7 feels like a modern tribute to the classic racing wheels of the nineties. It fits the era of the Eclipse perfectly without looking dated. The proportions of the 17-inch diameter fill the wheel wells without looking like a rolling wagon wheel.
Road presence is everything with these cars. When the light hits those gray spokes, the wheels seem to pop right off the car. It makes the GSX look faster even when it is sitting perfectly still in the parking lot.
Compared to other builds we see, this one stays true to the functional nature of the DSM. It avoids the over-the-top stance trends that ruin the ride quality. This is a setup built for driving, not just for parking at the show.
You can tell the owner spent time dialing in the height to match the wheel size. Everything looks proportional and purposeful. It is a textbook example of how to modify a 2G Eclipse correctly.
Why We Love This Build
This GSX captures the exact soul of the DSM community. The Gray TM7s glow under the streetlights, perfectly filling the arches and highlighting the aggressive geometry of the 2G body. It is rare to see a car balanced this well between raw performance and aesthetic restraint.
Every time we pass this car, we have to stop and take another look. It reminds us why we fell in love with forced induction and Japanese engineering in the first place. This is not just a collection of parts, but a vision executed with precision and grit.
Take this build as your sign to stop waiting and start wrenching on your own project. You deserve a car that looks this good in your driveway. Your perfect fitment is just one set of wheels away.
Full Specs Breakdown
Here is exactly what this owner is running. We break down every detail so you can replicate this build or use it as a starting point for your own setup.
- Car Make & Model: Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 1997
- Vehicle Color:
- Wheel Brand & Model: Enkei TM7
- Wheel Size: 17×9 / 17×9
- Offset: 35 / 35
- Wheel Finish: Gray
- Tires: Lexani LXUHP-207 235/45 25.3″x9.3″ / 235/45 25.3″x9.3″
- Suspension: Coilovers
Before You Buy: Fitment Checklist
We talk to Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX owners every day. These are the questions we hear most before they pull the trigger on new wheels.
Will 17×9 / 17×9-inch wheels fit my Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX? Yes, but fitment depends on width, offset, and tire size working together. A wrong offset means rubbing. A wrong tire size means poor handling. Always verify all three.
Do I need to modify my fenders? That depends on your offset and suspension. A conservative offset with stock ride height usually fits without modification. Go aggressive and you may need to roll or pull your fenders.
Can I daily-drive this setup? Absolutely. Thousands of Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX owners run 17×9 / 17×9-inch wheels every day. The key is choosing the right tire with enough sidewall to absorb road imperfections.
