About This Mitsubishi Eclipse RS 1998 Build
We love featuring real builds from real owners. This Mitsubishi Eclipse RS 1998 sits on a set of 18×8.5 / 18×8.5-inch American-Racing AR913 wheels, and the result speaks for itself.
The owner chose American-Racing 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 RS builds come through WheelFront every month, but this one stands out. The combination of the exterior with the American-Racing AR913 creates a look that balances aggression with elegance.
Fitment Breakdown: American-Racing AR913 on the Mitsubishi Eclipse RS 1998
I walked up to this '98 Eclipse RS at the meet last weekend and immediately stopped dead in my tracks. The owner stuffed these 18x8.5 American-Racing AR913 wheels under the arches perfectly. This setup pushes the boundaries of what this chassis can handle without looking overdone.
We see a lot of guys struggle with the 2G Eclipse fitment because the factory wheel wells are tight. By choosing an 18x8.5 size with a 35 offset, this owner hit the absolute sweet spot for flush fitment. The wheels sit right at the fender edge without poking out like a tractor.
Caliper clearance is always the elephant in the room with these older Mitsubishis. The AR913 spoke design arcs outward just enough to clear the stock RS brakes with plenty of room to spare. You will not need spacers to clear the calipers on this specific wheel.
Hub bore alignment feels rock solid on this build, ensuring zero vibrations at highway speeds. The owner tells me he used the correct centering rings to keep everything locked in. Never skip that step if you want to keep your wheel bearings happy.
The barrel lip depth on the AR913 provides that aggressive look we crave on a street car. It adds just enough shadow to make the wheels look deeper than they actually are. The proportions fit the 2G body lines surprisingly well.
The coilovers are doing some heavy lifting here to keep everything tucked. With the car dropped, the fender gap disappears, creating a menacing, low-slung stance. It looks purposeful and mean without scraping every speed bump in town.
Watch out for rubbing on the inner plastic liners during tight U-turns. We noticed a tiny bit of scuffing on the driver side at full lock. A quick heat gun session on the liner fixed the issue instantly.
What We Recommend for Mitsubishi Eclipse RS 1998 Owners
If you want to replicate this look, stick to the 18x8.5 sizing we saw today. Anything wider than 8.5 inches starts to require serious fender work that ruins the clean lines of the Eclipse. Keep the offset between 35 and 40 to avoid scrubbing the struts.
We always suggest a square setup on these cars for better handling dynamics. Running the same wheel and tire size at all four corners makes tire rotations easy. It also makes the car predictable when you push it hard through the canyons.
Avoid the temptation to stretch tires too much just to get a wider wheel to fit. A mild tire stretch looks okay, but it kills your grip and destroys your rim lips on potholes. Buy a tire that actually protects the wheel face.
Fender rolling is almost a requirement if you plan on going low with this offset. I suggest rolling the front and rear lips flat before you bolt on your new wheels. Do it once and do it right so you don't shred your tires.
Don't fall for the trap of buying cheap, heavy wheels just to save a buck. This American-Racing setup provides a great balance of weight and strength for the price. It handles daily driving abuse without bending at the first sign of a crater in the road.
Style and Build Analysis
The Machined finish on these AR913 wheels acts like a mirror against the car's paint. It catches the street lights and makes the entire setup pop from a block away. It provides a crisp, industrial contrast to the curved, aerodynamic shape of the 2G body.
This design leans into the late 90s aesthetic while feeling completely modern. The multi-spoke pattern keeps the look busy enough to be interesting but simple enough to clean. It bridges the gap between a tuner car and a clean street cruiser perfectly.
Proportions define the impact of any wheel swap. These 18-inch rollers fill the wheel wells completely, eliminating that awkward factory gap. The car looks planted, stable, and ready to attack the next corner.
Compared to the usual bolt-on builds we see at meets, this one feels refined. The owner didn't go overboard with crazy camber or absurd sizing. He prioritized a cohesive look that honors the original design of the Eclipse.
The stance defines the entire personality of this car. It sits low and wide, giving the Eclipse a much more aggressive road presence than stock. It looks like it belongs on a magazine cover from twenty years ago, updated for today.
Why We Love This Build
This Eclipse RS is a masterclass in restraint and style. The Machined AR913 wheels catch every ray of sunlight, making the car look like a rolling piece of jewelry. We love how the wheels fill the arches without needing aggressive, hack-job fender flares.
When you see this car rolling down the strip, the wheels blur into a perfect silver circle of motion. It stops us in our tracks because it reminds us why we fell in love with this platform in the first place. This is the exact look every 2G owner dreams of achieving.
Go grab a set for your own project and change the game. This setup is the ultimate upgrade for your Mitsubishi.
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 RS 1998
- Vehicle Color:
- Wheel Brand & Model: American-Racing AR913
- Wheel Size: 18×8.5 / 18×8.5
- Offset: 35 / 35
- Wheel Finish: Machined
- Tires: Westlake SA07 215/40 24.8″x8.5″ / 215/40 24.8″x8.5″
- Suspension: Coilovers
Before You Buy: Fitment Checklist
We talk to Mitsubishi Eclipse RS owners every day. These are the questions we hear most before they pull the trigger on new wheels.
Will 18×8.5 / 18×8.5-inch wheels fit my Mitsubishi Eclipse RS? 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 RS owners run 18×8.5 / 18×8.5-inch wheels every day. The key is choosing the right tire with enough sidewall to absorb road imperfections.
