renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

Ok I'm in the process of purchasing a new set of wheels but I would like to get some opinions on the tire size.

I currently have 18x7.5 +45 with 215/45 tires on my car (pretty weak ). I'm looking at getting 18x8.5 all around with +35 in the front, and +30 in the rear (from my research it will be pretty flush). I'm pretty certain on the size of the wheels but my concern is the tire size.

This is my situation. The wheels I have on my car are practically new (I bought them a couple of months ago) and thus the tires only have like 1k miles on them. They're practically new (Pirelli PNero Zero A/S- Really great tires IMO) and I would like to keep them. I only really use my car on the weekends so I don't drive the car much. My plan is to put the 215/45's on the new wheels I'm getting, which again are 8.5 in width. I'm pretty low (no finger gap all around) and I'm getting my fenders rolled obviously. I've seen some people run 215/45 on a 9.5 and even a 10! So I'm thinking the 8.5 won't be that bad of a stretch. I know it's not the "recommended" tire size for that width but a little stretch ain't going to hurt right?? What do you guys think?

Thanks!

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

EDIT: Sorry, the wheels are +30 all around. Don't know if that makes a difference but just in case.

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

Anyone??

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

TSX section on A-Zine.

Tangoman

As for the tires... 215x45 on 8.5 wheels is stupid - people do this all the time.. the rim sticks out, and it looks like you can't afford the right tires. As for 9" and 10" wide wheels - no way you can do this with a 45 aspect ratio tire, you are asking it to stretch at least 1" past there it sits right now on your 18x7.5. Sell the tires you have on Craigslist. Buy the ones that are the right size.

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

^ I beg to differ. It's not stupid to run 215/45's on a 8.5.

I was doing some research, and I found a guy on the Mazda forums that is running 18x8.5 with 215/45's and I must say it barely looks like a stretch at all.



That's a 215/45/18 on a 8.5 width wheel.

I'm going to stick with my 215/45's as it will save me the hassle and money. (And you're right, I don't have the money to buy new tires. I'm young and don't have a very good job so every dollar I can save, I will try to do so. If I sell my tires, I will not get what I deserve for them, so I'll have to dish out even more money to buy new tires. I'm good.)

And besides, With the offset these wheels have, it benefits me to have a little stretch as it will help me with the fitment.

Simba91102

That combination doesn't look too bad I agree, but the tires are still stretched beyond where they should be to allow the sidewall to perform it's function (absorb road shocks, provide a stable platform when turning, protect the wheel, and more). The tire manufacturers use an 8" maximum recommended wheel width (for this size tire) for a reason. I get that it's all about the look, but it never ceases to amaze me how we disregard the results of hundreds of engineers and thousands of hours of manufacture testing when we think we know better.

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

^ I hear ya. But I shouldn't be that bad off. I only drive my car on the weekends and it's not as bad as this :

supafamous

Why not just get 18x8 wheels instead with an even lower offset? If the point is to stick out then a low offset still lets you do that and a 215 will fit better on a 8" and be a lot safer.

Or just save some money by cutting your springs instead of getting new springs/shocks.........

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

Yea...

I already ordered my wheels about a week ago. The real issue was the tire size and I already got that sorted out. Besides the wheels I got did not come in 8 width, just 8.5, 9,etc...

Look at the picture I posted of the Mazda with an 8.5 on 215/45. Looks fine to me. I understand people are skeptical about the whole "stretching the tire" thing but the stretch I'm doing is not even close to excessive.

And that's exactly what I did! Why buy new springs/shocks or coilovers when you can just cut your OEM springs?!?!

/thread

Tangoman

Uh, no as a Spring Engineer in the industry I can't stand it when I hear about people cutting their springs, lol.

I understand people do it, but I can't bring myself to consider it.

I do think that 215 on an 8.5 tire is just too narrow, 8 in is the max for a reason. You are more likely to bend a wheel, and what if (god forbid) you have to parallel park and somehow you manage to hit the curb juuustt a little bit, guaranteed to mess up that pretty wheel, not the tire.

supafamous

Hehe. I was just being sarcastic and I totally agree with you about the springs. I'm just teasing the op for being a bit skint with how he's modding his car.

Tangoman

I agree. Also, I'm sure that 215x45 is the right size to use on 18" wheels (in terms of matching outer diameter so the speedo is right) but if you stretch them on wider wheels than they are rated for, the extra "stretch" probably translates into a smaller overall diameter, making the speedometer off once again.

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)