TypeSDragon

I just replaced my tires to 225/50 for the stock TLS wheels and they look great. Much wider than stock and help close the wheel cap a little better.

mr.motoring

Got pics? And real men go wider with 235/45/17.

Edward'TLS

235/45/17 = size not recommended by tire manufacturers to fit on the OEM 6.5" wide rims, needs at least 7.5" wide rims.

fsttyms1

there have been a bunch who have run that size as well with out issue. Also many tire manufacturers say 225 is too wide as well but that works just fine with out issue

III

205-40-17 ftw

(flamesuit on)

actually i have 215-50's on my stockies... but i'd go smaller if i was still running em.. 205-45 maybe

i dunno what you guys see in fat balloon tires... but oh well

fsttyms1

What do you see in skinny tires that are smaller, throw the speedo off and make the car not handle as well? ?? Wider tires are better and make the car look better

mr.motoring

The only reason it isn't recommended is because you won't get the full tread contact patch of the 235 tire without the minimum 7.5" wide rim. Even so, on the 6.5" rim, the contact patch is still increased versus the OEM 215. Plus for a car of our size, having a wider tire just plain looks better.

mr.motoring

Why are you downgrading into Civic rubber territory? You are getting horrible traction and handling, not to mention getting a rough ride since you would have to increase the psi to support the TL's weight with smaller tires. If you're doing it for the ghetto lowered looks, at least you have a reason.

Edward'TLS

If in doubt, goto the Tirerack website and check out the recommended rim width for various tire manufacturers. They design and test their tires, no one knows their tires better.

In there, it will say 225/50/17 can be used on 6.5" rims, but (215/45/17 or lower profile) and (235/50/17 or wider) are not recommended on 6.5" rims.

Edward'TLS

It is always safe to follow the recommendations from tire manufacturers when using their tires. They design and manufacture their tires according to their internal specs. They know everything that we don't, including those issues they don't want us to know about. It more than just look, it's about safety too.

Always remember the Ford Explorer - Firestone tire fiasco in which Ford deliberately specified a lower tire pressure against Firestone's reccommedation for the Explorer in order to compensate the trucks' dynamic instability as a result of poor suspension design.

fsttyms1

Believe me i know. But ive also been running 225/50 and 55 for over 225k now and never had a problem or uneven wear (and every tire i have bought said not to mount on 6.5 rim. Im just a rebel like that)

Edward'TLS

Here are the manufacturers' rim width recommedation taken from Tirerack. Included are maximum performance summer, ultra-high performance summer, and ultra-high performance all-season tires. I don't think we should use anything less for the type-S trim.

6"-8" Avon Tech M500 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Avon Tech M500 A/S 225/50ZR17
6"-8" BFGoodrich g-Force Sport 225/50ZR17
6"-8" BridgeStone RE050 225/50ZR17 RFT
6"-8" BridgeStone RE040 225/50ZR17
6"-8" BridgeStone RE960AS 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Continental ContiSportContact2 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Dunlop SP Sport 2050 225/50ZR17
7"-9" Dunlop SP Sport 5000M DSST 225/50VR17
6"-8" GoodYear Eagle F1 GS-D3 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Kumho ECSTA SPT 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Kumho ECSTA ASX 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 225/50ZR17
6"-8" MIchelin Pilot XGT Z4 225/50ZR17
6"-8.5" Pirelli PZero Rosso 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Sumitomo HTR+ 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Yokohama ADVAN A10B 225/50ZR17
6"-8" Yokohama ADVAN S4 225/50ZR17

Almost all 225/50/17 requires a min. of 6" wide rims, except the SP Sport 5000M run-flat which requires min. 7" wide. So our 6.5" OEM rims are OK.

Which tire brand did you buy that said not to mount on 6.5" rims ?

Rebels are fine. It's just that I want to get the information right for the non-rebels who are looking for advices.

Edward'TLS

A bell keeps ringing in my head that the TL-S OEM rims are 6" width, not the 6.5" as used on the CL-S, because I remember reading a thread in the "tires, wheels & susp section" a couple years ago one member actually took off his TL-S rim and read the markings inside which said 17x6JJ. I tried to dig up some old threads for info, but failed to find any. Would someone please verify ?

Edward'TLS

Sorry my mistake. TL-S rims are 17x6.5" wide and CL-S rims are 17x7" wide.

fsttyms1

Hum weird my HTRs said that i had one place refuse to mount them for me because of it. I swear my first set of F1 GS-D3s that said that too.

fsttyms1

Lawaia

It's a necessity when your choice of wheel is 9" +38. There is absolutely no way you can run a tire that is within oem specs. The true danger lies when load ratings are ignored.

For the record, 225/50-17 will safely mount on any stock TL wheel. 235/45-17 on the other hand will not.

III

actually for the 9 it's 225-40-18. it's got a bit of stretch, but nowhere near extreme. load rating's still good though. but yes, something like say 245-45-18 aint gonna work w/ 9.

i love posting shit like that sometimes just to see people whine about it. i dont even have a smaller size on my stocks.. they've still got 215-50's on there. i dont like fat tires... to me it dont matter a damn that my speedo's off, i like the look of a smaller profile tire on a wider wheel, on a slammed car. it's not the norm on this site, but im not dissing anyone who doesnt agree with me.

basically i enjoy the appearance of vip/exe cars. most of you here dont. tha's all

no need to get panties all bunched

III

they're better for handling, yes. but they sure dont make the car look better, not to me at least. i believe if your car is low enough to get rid of the fender gap even with smaller tires, then run em. i was joking bout the 205-40's, tha'd be a little too extreme even for me. so dont get the panties all bunched folks