Help, I am wondering if this rim and tire size will work...
 

Ok, I am thinking about getting these rims 17x7 - PCD 5x114.3 - ET 42. ET 42 means that the offset is 42mm.
The tires are 225/45R17...

Will this offset (42mm) push the rim in or out?
Is this a bad offset to go with??? I want to make sure that the rims and tires do not rub against anything.
Also I do not want to stress out the wheel bearing with an off set that is too extreme.

I now it's a slight narrower rims and am wondering if this compensates for the difference in offset.

Thanks...

This size will probably work. It will be approx .27 inches closer to the outside of the wheel well.

Nevermind. Since you are using the same widthy of tire (225), There will be about a half inch difference.

Yeah, but with the rim being 7 inches wide, and not 7.5 (as the factory wheel is), wouldn't that put the outside location back in the same place???

The rim and tire should just barely fit without rubbing (on the outside). A more appropriate tire size for a 7" wide rim is a 215/45-17.

I was told that the 97 SVX acme with a 7 inch wide rim... Does anyone know what the backspacing was on that?

I thought they just changed the tire size...

I agree with Mychailo. You should use a 215/45-17 tire. To answer your previous question, even though the wheel is narrower, the tire would still be the same size. Thus leaving you with very small clearance. With a 215 tire you would be 8mm closer to the edge of the wheel well. A 225 tire would be 13mm closer.

Tire width/2 - offset. Take the difference of the two calculations to find change in distance.

215 also fits better on a 7 inch wheel.