Subject says it all; I want the tire sidewalls to be flush with the rim lip, if not a fraction wider. I don't really like the rounded sidewall look (like what you get when you put tires on too wide a rim), plus a more even sidewall offers relatively better rim lip protection (you never know when you'll pull a brain fart and accidently curb your rims) than one that is rounded.

Thanks,

Tony

 

7.5 is fine. Allows a more selection of rims that will fit also. The wider the rim, the higher the offset you will need to compensate. My 7.5's with 225/40/18 workin out right. IMHO.

 

I would go with the 7.5" width or maybe even a 7" width if you can find it. Below is a pic of my current setup with a 7" rim width and 225 wide tires. I think it looks pretty good and it saved my wheels from curbs on a couple of occasions. My next set of tires, however, will be 235 wide for even more curb protection.

 

7 or 7.5
8 would be too wide for your taste, it seems.

 

i have had that tire size on both rim widths are they are pretty similar...pirelli on 7.5" volks and pneumants on 8" 5zigen.

 

I am running 225/40 on an 8" rim. Nice and flush. I do have the rim protector on the Dunlops so it looks like it sticks out more than it does. Just watch those curbs.

 

Here's another one.

 

VDo and NSXNEXT--thanks for the pics! It makes my decision easier and harder at the same time--both 7.5" and 8" look like they could work, depending on what kind (not width/size) of tire and wheel. I sorta figured that 8.5" might be a bit too wide for a 225-wide tire as far as the profile is concerned; based on that assumption, I guessed that 8" might be right on the fence, so to speak. If it were totally up to me, I would probably go 7.5" but wanted to be sure that 8" would be a viable option in case I saw a particular wheel I wanted to get but it didn't come in 7.5".

Plus, a wheel that's 7.5" wide is lighter than the same wheel in a 8"-wide config; nothing like shaving off a pound or two of unspring weight off your wheels--I need whatever edge I can get!

Tony

 

the PRO (theoretically) of 7.5" wide rims is a bigger offset range so you have more wheel choices...8" wide rims will have a smaller range so there might be less of a choice. just find the rim (either width) you like with the best specs (highest offset without going too high).

tire widths have a range of rim widths it can fit, and the sizes you mentioned will definitely fit 225/40. however, this is not like having a rim width and then choosing to go to wider tires...this is when it gets tricky where excessive width can be compromised by a bulging sidewall.

 

7.5 is fine, 8 is fine...any wider you may have problems if the offset isn't correct..
Ed

 

Look for my thoughts on wheels/tires at this link. It brings up a few points that others havent really discussed when changing tire/wheels sizings.....

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=26106