im wondering if 215/45r17 (17x7 rim size) will fit into a 05 scion xb ok with a 1.5 to 2 inch drop? it has a 42mm offset. what's a good offset for the xb? i've seen people with 0. not sure. i was looking at tCs but my search for xbs just got a little more interesting. thanks guys!

it will fit just fine I run the same offset

Why run a 215 on a 7" rim? I am only running 195 on a 9" rim. A little stretch will give you more clearance. I suggest a 185 max on the 7" wheel. 175 would fit even better because 7" is 177mm.

Why run a 215 on a 7" rim? I am only running 195 on a 9" rim. A little stretch will give you more clearance. I suggest a 185 max on the 7" wheel. 175 would fit even better because 7" is 177mm.
also true...oh and if you want flush with that offset add 10 mm spacers

I would say go for it with the 215/45/17. In a 45 series tire a 195 is .7% smaller than the stock diameter. A 215 series is 3.8% large in overall diameter (should fill the wheel opening well). A better choice might be a 205 series tire at 2.2% larger diameter than stock. Remember any varience from stock overall diameter will effect the speedo reading by a like percentage. The speedo will read 3.8% slow with the 215/45's. My 18" wheels are 18x7.5 with a 42MM offset running a 215/40/18 tire which is virtually identical in overall diameter and very close in width to the 215/45/17 you are considering. I ride dropped about 2.75 inches all around (air bagged), no problem. A 7.5" wide rim would be better than the 7" but I do not believe you will have excessive stick out of the tire from the rim even with the 215 size.

The small tire stretched look is fine if you like that look. I personally think undersized tires with a stretch makes most cars look like a roller skate, but thats just me, and there are exceptions. (The xB's that look good this way to me, have pretty radical offsets, camber, and other coordinated mods that make it all work).

Why run a 215 on a 7" rim? I am only running 195 on a 9" rim. A little stretch will give you more clearance. I suggest a 185 max on the 7" wheel. 175 would fit even better because 7" is 177mm.
also true...oh and if you want flush with that offset add 10 mm spacersThe will rub in the rear with 10mm spacers. It catches on the lip about 10 oclock if looking at the drivers side.
If no spacers and a mild drop they work great and only make the speedo read slightly lower.

I'm pretty sure they wont rub with the 10mm spacer in the rear. I had the same size on s-techs. No rubbing.

I'm pretty sure they wont rub with the 10mm spacer in the rear. I had the same size on s-techs. No rubbing.They rubbed, actually gouged the outer edge of the tire when you hit dips in the road and the suspension compressed. I had Hotchkis springs and Monroe shocks.