Gundar_RENAMED

Hi all:

While I'm pretty sure one could go up to 225/50s on the existing 17" rims, do you think it's possible to go up to 235/50s or 235/45s on the existing rims?

I actually really think the stock rims look great on this car, but the wheels beg for wider rubber to give the car a more aggressive, Audi A4-like stance.

Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks,

Gundar

Dan Martin

It's not recommended to go past 225 on the stock rims but some have gone to 235 without any trouble. 245's should be on a 8" wide rim.

Nighthawk04

iTrader: (2)

It really depends on the specific tires recommendation. USUALLY 225/45 is the widest you'd want to go on a 7" wide rim but there are a few exceptions.

One exception is that the larger the sidewall is, the wider tire will more easily fit onto the rim. Example: most 235/45-17 tires recommend at least a 7.5" wide rim while most 235/40-18 tires recommend at least an 8" wide rim. If one were to go from 235/45-17 to 235/50-17 the tire with the aspect ratio of 50 would have a minimum rim width of 7" as opposed to the 7.5" min width for the 45 series tire.

Wess

hmmm... so If I go for an 18x8 rim would you reccomend the 225/40/18 or the 235/40/18? I never thought of going wider before, just now thought of that.

TSX Hokie

235/40/18 seems perfect for the TSX, since it has almost the same rolling diameter as stock (so your speedo and odo still read properly). Lung and maybe a few others have put 235/40/18s on their TSXs, so we know they don't rub. What remains to be seen is whether this setup can accomodate aftermarket lowering springs.

Lung Fu Mo Shi

Go with 235's definitely. An 8" rim can probably accomodate a 245 as well.

Santa Rosa Steve

I'd love to see a picture of a 235/45 on the 17x7-inch rims.

Santa Rosa Steve

Dan Martin

235/45 would bulge out too much on a 7" wide rim. The sidewall is not designed to be run like that.

Dan Martin

I don't remember where this chart came from but if it belongs to someone here, tell me and I'll pass the credit along:

EDIT: It's from Yokohama's website: http://www.yokohamatire.com/utrimwidth.asp






Summary

Each tire has a specific rim width range on which the tire can be mounted. Failure to follow rim width recommendations may result in poor tire performance or possible wheel and/or tire failure.

Details

Below is a quick reference chart listing each tire size and the acceptable rim widths for that size. Choosing a wheel near the middle of the range will give a balance between ride quality and handling. A wider wheel will improve handling at the expense of ride quality, while a narrower wheel will improve ride quality at the expense of handling. Consider these compromises when selecting wheels.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

35 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
275/35R17 9.0-10.5
335/35R17 11.0-13.0
345/35R15 11.0-13.5

40 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
285/40R15 11.0-13.5
215/40R15 7.0-8.5
245/40R17 8.0-9.5
255/40R17 8.5-10.0
265/40R17 8.5-10.0
235/40R18 8.0-9.5

45 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
195/45R15 6.5-7.5
215/45R15 7.0-8.5
255/45R15 8.5-10.0
205/45R16 7.0
225/45R16 7.5-9.0
245/45R16 8.0-9.5
215/45R17 7.0-8.5
235/45R17 8.0-9.5
255/45R17 8.5-10.5

50 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
175/50R13 5.0-6.0
195/50R14 5.5-7.0
205/50R15 5.5-7.5
215/50R15 6.0-7.5
225/50R15 6.0-8.0
195/50R16 5.5-7.0
205/50R16 5.5-7.5
225/50R16 6.0-8.0
235/50R16 6.5-8.5
215/50R17 6.5-7.5

55 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
205/55R14 5.5-7.5
185/55R15 6.0-6.5
195/55R15 5.5-7.0
205/55R15 5.5-7.5
205/55R16 5.5-7.5
225/55R16 6.0-8.0

60 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
185/60R13 5.0-6.5
205/60R13 5.5-7.5
185/60R14 5.0-6.5
195/60R14 5.5-7.0
205/60R14
195/60R15 5.5-7.0
205/60R15 5.5-7.5
215/60R15 6.0-7.5
225/60R15 6.0-8.0
235/60R15 6.5-8.5

65 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
185/65R15 5.0-6.5
195/65R15 5.5-7.0
205/65R15 5.5-7.5
215/65R15 6.0-7.5

70 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
165/70R10 4.5-5.5
175/70R12 5.0-6.0
175/70R13 5.0-6.0
205/45R16 7.0
185/70R13 5.0-6.5
185/70R14 5.0-6.5
195/70R15 5.5-7.0
205/70R14 5.5-7.5
185/70R15 5.0-6.5
205/70R15 5.5-7.5
215/70R15 6.0-7.5

82 Series
Tire Size Rim Width
--------- ---------
155R12 4.0-5.0
155R13 4.0-5.5
165R13 4.0-5.5
175R14 4.5-6.0
185R14 4.5-6.0
165R15 4.0-5.5

Santa Rosa Steve

That's exactly why I'd like to see a picture. Those that you mentioned above that did get them on no doubt had a difficult time convincing the tire shop to mount them on the 7-inch rims, since every tire maker seems to agree that they are too wide for that size rim.

Santa Rosa Steve

Dan Martin

Steve, I'm sure you can get them mounted but i would be weary of putting it on a rim that’s one full inch smaller than the minimum width that the tire manufacturers recommend.

TSXTim

Pirelli PZero Nero on my car, perfect fit

[IMG][/IMG]

Santa Rosa Steve

Looks good Tim.

Did they give you a hard time about mounting them?

Santa Rosa Steve

TSXTim

No problem mounting at all.

There is a possiblity other brand P235 could look wider.
They are not all the same, exactly 235 mm wide.

I would confirm actual tire width and compare to the Pirelli
before selecting another brand P235.

I laid a straight edge across the side and measured
depth to the wheel rim, it is .25", stock is .15" ( I think
you can confirm). .25" is not abnormal.

Tim

Santa Rosa Steve

".25" is not abnormal."

LOL, that same measurement on my 215/50-17 SZ50's is 3/8", which are wider than the original tires in the same size.

"I would confirm actual tire width and compare to the Pirelli
before selecting another brand P235."

Good advice, Tim.

Santa Rosa Steve

AsahiToro

Tim,

How's the Pirelli PZero Neros overall? Quiet, nice ride, good performance? I'm in FL so I could care less about snow traction but would need some good rain performance at times.

Thanks,

Scott

JTso

iTrader: (2)

The 235/45 will probably mount on a 7" wide rim just fine and work fine for day to day driving. However, it's not the recipe for maximum performance handling and steering response due to excessive sidewall flex.

TSXTim

Handling and dry adhesion
are excelent. I can take turns hard and pitch the car
violently with these, never had that confidence with the
Michelins. I also have the comtech rear bar.
They look to last a long time.
I have never broke them loose dry.
They will slip in hard cornering wet.

I wanted them because they are not unidirectional
and can be rotated side to side.

I am having ride disturbances. They flat spot when cold
and can take a longtime to smooth out.
I sent one back for pulling. It was on the rear and then
the car started pulling hard when I moved it up front.
Another is having balance vibration, it actually feels
worse on the rear. I might send it back, had it rebalanced
once but no help. On the front is vibrates the steering wheel
and on the back I feel it in my seat.

Wess

Not sure what that is doing to do with the cost, but I'll go for the 235's then. I think the 245s would be a little to wide lol. The 225 gives it a nice, wide look already, I'm sure the 235 will be perfect. Thanks for the advice.

Wess