My current setup is...

235/45-17 tires mounted on 17x7+55 wheels with a Comptech drop.

I have about 4/32 depth remaining and wanted to push my luck and go even WIDER when I purchase new tires, since I've NEVER rubbed with my current setup.

I was thinking of going with 245/45-17 mounted on 17x7.5+48 lightweights. With all the tire experts here...is this even possible?

 

245/45-17 will mount without any problems on a 7.5". Couple of things you need to factor...

1. This setup will be approximately 1/4" taller than stock....5/16" taller than your current setup.

2. If you only got 4/32" (1/8") depth remaining, you may as well forget this setup as it will increase your inboard by at least 1/6"

If you wanted this setup to work, you need to go with a lower offset and deal with the overhang on the outside by trimming the tabs and rolling the fenders.

Just another example that 245's may be a bit too wide for the TL.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the input Lawaia. However I'm basing the stock size on a TLP setup and not a TLS since I highly doubt Acura changed anything to the TLS to accomodate the smaller sized tire. So based on that theory...
205/60-16 = 235/45-17

As for your 2nd point. What do you mean with "inboard"? I was under the impression that we want as high of an offset as possible when selecting larger rims & tires. Are you telling me to get a +45 instead of a +48?!

 

This thing may help.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

"Inboard" increase = effective amount of shift towards the shock towers. I interpret your definition of "4/32 depth" as the amount of space available between the inner sidewall of the tire and the shock tower...am I correct in assuming this?
Your proposed setup will move the tires "inboard" by 1" and outboard (towards the fender) by 1.6".
You are absolutely correct; a high offset is required when running wider wheels to ensure they "tuck" within the fender lip. However, increasing the width of the tires poses a problem with clearing the shock towers to avoid the rub.

Think of it this way: in comparison to your current setup...
1. You're increasing the wheel width by .5"
2. 245's are .4" wider than your current setup.
3. +48 offset will move the tires outward by 1/4"

So...the .5" width increase will be offset by the lower offset of the wheel...so those 2 measurements wash. But you need to figure that the wider wheel will move the tire closer to the shock tower by .2"

Easy way to check...with your current setup, measure the amount of space you have available between the inner lip (shoulder) of the tire and the shock tower. If you got more than .2" then your proposed setup will work fine.

Oh, one more thing. Your proposed setup will be more than 1/3" taller than your current setup. Make sure you also have enough room to allow for the added height (it will come closer to the top of the shock tower.

 

Your suggested combination will work with no problem & no rubbing. You can even run a 245/45/17 with a +45 offset, but you will have a very slight lip rub with the back outer fenders under extreme loads (3 people in the back seat or throwing the car side to side like your slaloming). With a +48 offset you'll be fine with no worries. You don't even have to trim your tabs.

Hope this helps.

 

actually, there is a small difference between the tl-p and tl-s. the tl-p has a slightly smaller turning circle than the the tl-s. im not sure if it is due solely to the wheels or what else might be different.

 

Oh...sorry for the confusion. I mean that is the amount of tread left before replacing the tire. I have no idea how much space I have to the shock tower at all, but I'll check on that.

69ssrscam: Thanks for the confirmation.