EMF213

I may have located a set of 2004 ASpec rims. I really like these wheels as they're 8.5" and I think the color looks good. However, I'm a bit concerned with putting 235mm tires on these due to the admitted fit problems.

What I need to know is if I fit these rims with a 245/40/18 tire, will I have any problems with the cars gagues being off? How much more sidewall will I get and will this affect performance at all?

I am a novice when it comes to tires so I need some input from people who know!

Please help. Thanks.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

You'll be OK with 245/40 R18.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

What "fit" problems are you talking about exactly? Are you talking about the fact that the rims are so exposed and therefore vulnerable to curb rash?

EMF213

Peter, I'm not sure exactly. That's one of the reasons, I guess, but I'm not sure if there are any others.

Does anyone know why Acura went from the 8.5" wheel to the 8"??

I assume it's because the 8" is a better fit for the tire...

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

I'm not sure either. But if it's because of tire fit, why didn't Acura just change the tire size? It's easier and cheaper (I assume).

However, from what I have seen, you're more than OK with 245/40 R18 on 8.5" wheels. It's nowhere near the fenderwell lips nor the inside.

SBTL

I have an 04 A-SPEC that came with 18 x 8.5 inch wheels and 235/40/18 tires. I trashed the rims at a car wash and complained to ACURA about the mismatch and ultimately my dealer replaced my wheels with 05 18 x 8.0 inch wheels on warranty and I bought 245/40/18 tires which gives substantially more rim protection but still not enough IMO. So the 245 series tires on the 8.5 inch wheels would give a bit more rim protection than the 235 series tires but still not sufficient IMO. I believe ACURA went with a narrower A-SPEC wheel in 05 because of so many complaints about trashed rims. If they had just fitted wider tires on the 18 x 8.5 inch wheels in 05, that would be "admitting" the misfit in the first place and they would have had to buy wider tires for all those who bought the 04 wheels that complained. As it is, I'm the only one I know who was able to trade for the narrower wheels on warranty so I guess I'm lucky. I'd like to know if 265/35/18 tires would fit as they would give maximum rim protection and minimum speedo/odo error.

EMF213

From what I understand, fitting wider tires (i.e. 245/40/18) on the 8.5 inch rim throws off the speedo/odo...therefore, doesn't it make sense that Acura went with the 8" wheel/same tire combo in order to avoid such issues AND give a better fit??

SBTL

Yes, but the 245/40/18's throw off the speedo only 1.2% and I thought it was worth the extra rim protection. As I said, 265/35/18 tires are actually the closest to the 235/40/18's in terms of minimizing speedo error at 0.4% and would give the best rim protection, but I don't know if there are any rubbing issues and no one seems to have tried this size yet.

pinito

I have 04 rims and had 235/40/18. After damaging the rims at a car wash and on a 2" high curb while parallel parking I complained to cura. They reimbursed me for the price of the 235 tires and the repairs to the rims. I put 245/40/18. I have Pzero Neros. The tire sticks out past the rim about 2 mm. Not enough to protect the rims but the tires are nice. I had put on 245 Bridgestone RE750s. They have a rim protector and the tire stuck out about 5-6mm past the rim. However, the tires provided a harsher and noisier ride than the Peros so I returned them (30 day ride warranty) and got the PZeros.

EMF213

My point was that ACURA would not keep the 8.5" rims and change the their OEM tires to a 240/40/18....

This would throw off the gaugues which is not an option for ACURA.

SBTL

I don't disagree...but it would have been a minor matter for ACURA to recalibrate the speedo for the 245 series tires on the 05 models.

EMF213

Maybe true, but then wouldn't they have to change the trie size for the 17" wheels as well?

SBTL

I'm not sure why. A-SPEC is a handling package that uses 18 inch wheels. Any changes in the A-SPEC set up would not require changes in the stock 17 inch wheel and tires. In any event,when I went from the stock 235/45/17 to the original A-SPEC 235/40/18 which produces a 0.3% speedo error, no one recalibrated my speedo that I know of. So a 0.3% speedo error was obviously not significant in ACURA's opinion.

EMF213

Because if Acura only changed the stock tire size on the 8.5" A-Spec rims to 245/40/18 (for better rim protection), the difference between that and the stock tire size on the 17" rims would yield a speedo error of 1.5%.