n00b here

Currently have 17x7.5 wheels w/ a 225/45 tire

Getting new wheels that are 17x8. I checked on TireRack to see what their recommended tire size was for this wheel and it says 215/50.

Isn't that going to be a super beefy sidewall? I'm alright w/ the sidewall I have now and do not want to go any higher than that.

Tire sizes make my head explode.

Halp!

 

So apparently a 225/45 tire is 28 inches in diameter and a 215/50 is 28.5 inches in diameter. A 1/4 inch difference in sidewall height.

 

You should be using 225/40-18 (helps reduce rubbing if lowered) or 235/40-18 if you want to ride on 8 inch wide rims.

 

215/50 is the stock type-s size.

 

...hes goin with 17's...lol....225/50 would help get that beefier tire....

 

I'm thinking 225/45, which is what I have now...

 

17x8 is the stock size of the OEM 04+ TLs and they come with 235/45/17 factory.

 

^Yea, and it's a little beefier looking than what I have now. (I just looked at my car next to my Dad's car.) Although, the wheels I'm getting could work well w/ a beefy tire.

If 235/45 has a taller sidewall than 225/45... than what is the 215/50 that was recommended for this wheel??? I don't get it.

 

Haha oops, I read 18 x 8 in my head. Of course, for 17 x 8 the tires sizes I posted are way off.

 

Stock 17" TL-S tire is 215/50/17. Since you have a TL-P, 225/50 is actually closer to the stock 205/60/16 than 225/45, but you will have a taller sidewall. I'm running 225/50s right now, but the next set I get will be 225/45 if I still have 17" wheels. I want a bit smaller sidewall. 235/45/17 has nearly the same diameter as 215/50/17.

 

Tirerack dont really recommend the right sizes, for example, if you're shopping for a 18" wheel, they recommend a 225-45-18 tires size, however 225-40-18 is least susceptible to throw off the speedo on our cars.


A 50 series sidewall will always be taller or thicker than a 45 series sidewall.

and they recommend 215-50-17 because its the stock type-s rim size, so im guessing they're going by that.

 

That's not necessarily true. The second number of the tire size is the aspect ratio, it is not a fixed height. The 45 or 50 is the percentage of the tire width that is the height of the sidewall. So a 225/45 tire has a sidewall height of 225 x .45 = 101.25mm. A 195/50 tire has a sidewall of 195mm x .50 = 97.5mm. I know I'm not comparing 225/45 to 225/50, but I just wanted to explain to everyone what the second number means.

 

hey would 225/35/19 114x5 fit on our cars

 

yes sir...that would be perfect....u can even go 235/35/19 to have a beefier sidewall so u dont sacrifice the luxurious ride..

 

o i see cause im planning on getting the racing hart s15 do you think that would look good

 

Those numbers are a little off.

If you use the tire calculator at http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCal...?action=submit you'll see that a 225/45-17 tire is ~25 inches in diameter, and a 215/50-17 tire is ~ 25.5 inches in diameter, which is 1/2 inch difference. You're right though - the new tires would be "meatier".

Why can't you just use the 225/45-17 tires on the new wheels?

 

I'll probably go with 235/245.

Sold.

 

You mean 235/45. What is the offset of your new wheels? You may rub with 235s if A) the offset is too low and/or B) you don't have enough negative camber

 

Yea, that's what I meant. I have a million things running through my head.
+45. -2.5" r, -1.5" f
It'll be close. I'm up for some rollage if need be.

 

What's the offset of those rims by the way?

I'd get 225/45. 235/45 have higher chances of rubbing.