plus sizing...when is it too much?

15x9's won't fit a relatively stock EF worth a damn. 15 x 7's are the easy button. 15 x 7.5's will work with some fender massaging. 15 x 8's really need the fenders heavily modified. 15 x 9 just will not work without opening the wheel arch.

I have 15x7's with 225's that tuck in the back. In the front I'v got 15 x 10's that stick way the hell out, and I've opened my wheel arch roughly 3"

This pic was when I was still trying to run the 15 x 8's on the back. They rubbed way too much. After going to the 15 x 7's I was able to drop the car another full inch.

15 x 7's on back -

It can be done. I use Miata Net Tire Calc and RimsnTires to check all the measurements when I do a size change.

I was planning on doing a +3 on my Transit Connect. Stock is 15 x6 with 205/65-15 tires. I was plannig on going to 18 x 8.5 with 225/45-18 tires. That would reduce my clearances by 10mm inside and out and make the speedo reading of 60 mph actually be 61.1mph.

I am also checking on 17x7.5 with 215/50-17 tires which may be a better match since it will give more clearance than stock on the inside and sticks out 12mm further. As for diameter, a speedo reading of 60mph will actually be 60.1 mph.

Well im going with decently high offsets to keep them within the fenders . Im really leaning towards the 15x8 with a 20 offset i think 205/45/15 will fit nicely under there

I think you should go with a 7 or 7.5. I dont see the point of going with 8 and creating extra work for yourself if you are not going to run an equally wide tire on it. 205s are going to be pretty stretched on an 8.0. Then again, what tire i think looks 'right' on a rim width and what tire the 'in' crowd thinks looks right on a rim parted ways a long time ago.

Who's read the article in the latest issue about wheels/tires for the 2010 Miata? Interesting stuff, although I get the feeling they ran out of room for a conclusion in layout :)

Vigo wrote: I think you should go with a 7 or 7.5. I dont see the point of going with 8 and creating extra work for yourself if you are not going to run an equally wide tire on it. 205s are going to be pretty stretched on an 8.0. Then again, what tire i think looks 'right' on a rim width and what tire the 'in' crowd thinks looks right on a rim parted ways a long time ago.

well , im 24 , i've had plenty of cars with the stretch / slam "in" look , this one i want to go a bit differerent route and i think a 205/45/15 will not be stretched on an 8" and i do want to eventually have that extra inch ;) just in case the car can make use of it down the road.

This is a 205/45/15 on an 8 inch wheel.

stealthfighter1 wrote:

Vigo wrote: I think you should go with a 7 or 7.5. I dont see the point of going with 8 and creating extra work for yourself if you are not going to run an equally wide tire on it. 205s are going to be pretty stretched on an 8.0. Then again, what tire i think looks 'right' on a rim width and what tire the 'in' crowd thinks looks right on a rim parted ways a long time ago.

well , im 24 , i've had plenty of cars with the stretch / slam "in" look , this one i want to go a bit differerent route and i think a 205/45/15 will not be stretched on an 8" and i do want to eventually have that extra inch ;) just in case the car can make use of it down the road.

Stealthfighter and Vigo both make valid points - what "looks" good may adversely affect performance, but some people don't care.

If Stealthy wants to find and install 205/45's on 8" wheels, he should do it - they will fit. If he starts competing with that combo and comes back wondering why he isn't faster, he gets to endure the onslaught of "I told you so" responses.

Win, win!

eh...maybe i should do 225/45? .... researching....

Technical question. I'm running 195/55/15s on my Daewoo with a 7 inch rim. When I upgrade to racing tires I was thinking of keeping the same size (or similar) because I like the responsiveness of the wide wheels and narrow tires, and since I'm not building for any specific class, dynamics are more important than outright speed. Do you think I should go to a wider tire for better feel?

I probably can't go any wider with wheels without flaring the front fenders, btw.

well i think if you go wih a smaller sidewall you should be ok wth a 205/50 or 205/45 tire

When you can break the wheel bearing or studs by yanking on the steering wheel is a good rule of thumb.

My general rule of thumb on wheel size vs tire diameter, and please, if someone has data to prove me wrong, let me know, is this:

The tire's diameter should be about 6-8" greater than the wheel for tires having a diameter between 20" and 36". This results in a sidewall of 3" - 4".

15's look like dubs on a metro/swift.

MrBenjamonkey wrote: This is a 205/45/15 on an 8 inch wheel.

225/45-15, I'm guessing.

15x8 et20 is going to stick out me your fenders by a mile! Miata offsets will be closer.

I once saw a pic of a Fiat X1/9 on 18" wheels.

It was horribly wrong.

stealthfighter1 wrote: Well im going with decently high offsets to keep them within the fenders . Im really leaning towards the 15x8 with a 20 offset i think 205/45/15 will fit nicely under there

And I'm telling you that there is a finite amount of real estate available. The inside of my front tires is only 1/8" from the steering knuckle. The inside of the rear tires is maybe 1/4" from the trailing arm. Ironically, even though the rear has more room, since the trailing arm is much closer to the contact patch radially than the steering knuckle, I rub the sidewall on the trailing arm. After a few runs my tires look like a generic since there is no longer any logo, size, etc. Just smooth melted rubber.

Now, your 205 may fit on the 15x8, because you're stretching a narrow tire onto a wide rim. This will gain you some space. But rest assured that if I could tuck my tires in any more, they would be. It's not an issue of offset.

stealthfighter1 wrote: eh...maybe i should do 225/45? .... researching....

225/45 on a 15 x 8 will not fit on the back without cutting up the quarter or running the car too high. 205/50 on an 8 probably will work. 225/45 on a 15 x 7 will work.

In reply to mattbatson:

they did that, but i think it was an eclipse.

Strizzo wrote: In reply to mattbatson: they did that, but i think it was an eclipse.

really? for some reason I remember a white civic coupe...

does anyone know for sure?

and did they find the 17's fastest?

yeah i remember it being a civic....

also , i am going to see what it takes to run the 15x8 +20 with whatever is more economically viable in the long run 205 or 225 ...