Another Wheel/Tire Fitment Thread

[Meng1988]

So I just got some sweet Gram Lights 18x9.5 +12 all the way around. I was wondering the best tire to use. I was thinking 265-35-18. I know I need a fender roll and pull, so no big deal. But I was wondering about the front suspension. Will this clear?

[adrianfromthecastle]

I dont think its going to clear the suspension up front. Why would you want 265s?

[Cameron]

So I just got some sweet Gram Lights 18x9.5 +12 all the way around. I was wondering the best tire to use. I was thinking 265-35-18. I know I need a fender roll and pull, so no big deal. But I was wondering about the front suspension. Will this clear?

215/45/18 all the way around.

yes those offsets will definitely clear.

[adrianfromthecastle]

let me rephrase... offsets are good, tire size isn't. Tire size sounds like it'll rub suspension

[Meng1988]

215 on a 9.5? Isn't that a mad stretch? Adrian what would you suggest?

[adrianfromthecastle]

lol... 215 on a 9.5? yeah.. thats a pretty extreme stretch.. but doable. I'd recommend a 225/40 on a 9.5, it would be more of a subtle stretch, depending on tire brand. And in your case, unless you plan on wider fenders, a stretch is a must.

[Meng1988]

I am going to be doing a stretch, thats not what I care about. I was wondering about the suspension. Would 265 rear, 245 front work?

[adrianfromthecastle]

I am going to be doing a stretch, thats not what I care about. I was wondering about the suspension. Would 265 rear, 245 front work?

honestly, to me, it wouldn't look right to do a tire stagger on wheels that are the same size all the way around. It doesnt make sense to do so either. I'd say 245 on a 9.5 would almost be a square look. Why are you so set on 265's on a 9.5? Thats a wider tire than the width of the wheel.

[Meng1988]

Yeah I know it is wider. But the guy I am ordering with told me going bigger is better, and I also read online that it is good to go a little wider than your rim size. I figured it made sense. More rubber to the road means more grip. So I was thinking either 255 or 265. The guy is running 265 all the way around on 9.5's on his evo.

[adrianfromthecastle]

here... let me quote from the wheel/ tire FAQ

Why do people recommend wider tires? Don't wider tires mean more grip?

In a short version, no. Don't go e-mailing me about how wrong I am yet, either. Think about your tire as a balloon (more accurate than most people think) holding the weight of your car up. Now, if you place a balloon on the ground, it has a certain area that contacts the ground, this is the 'contact patch', now you can make the patch wider(wider balloon) but the total rear remains the same, because the pressure on the balloon is the same.

Now, what does this mean to YOU? It means that since the same amount of tread is in the contact patch area between either tire, 'grip' should be the same. Thusly, the only things affecting grip(since the area of potential contact is the same) are tread design and friction(tread compound) and finally how well the suspension does a job of keeping the tire in optimum contact with the road surface.

Unfortunately it is not that simple. A wider tire does have some benefits over it narrower counterparts, with a wider contact patch comes a bit better lateral stability(to a point, lateral stress doesn’t vary THAT much between narrow and wide tires), but sacrifices some ride comfort, and less noise cancellation(in theory). This can both generate quicker turn-in and, since the treadblocks are wider, less tread squirm which can increase total available cornering force. Also of note, a wider tire generates more rolling resistance than a narrow tire.

Something else to consider:

Think of a gap in the road surface, typically these run perpendicular to the tires contact patch. On a narrow tire, with a long contact patch, the gap in the road surface would take up more (percentage wise) of its contact patch than a wider tire. Make sense?

...so wider tires do provide some benefit, to a point. Wider tires usually come in stickier compounds, too. Yet, the compound and tread design has far more to do with tire grip than the size.

[Meng1988]

Ok, my fault for not searching.

But looking at other threads and forums, the basis seems to be 265 on 9.5

zer...38869

On this thread if you look down to Broadfield's post, he says that 265 is "square"

Here are 265 on 9.5 on his car.

[Meng1988]

I am trying to keep it as square as possible. So if 265 is square I would do that in the rear, but it doesn't seem like it will fit in the front, so whatever I can fit in the front.

[adrianfromthecastle]

iono then.. I guess I'm trying to go by what I'm picturing in my head, lol. I could have almost sworn his rears were a 10.5 though.. haha.

broadfield... where you at? chime in!

[adrianfromthecastle]

just for reference... heres a pic of 235 on a 9.5

[smocan]

The problem with "Its better to run a bigger tire" and how the guy said "bigger is better" doesnt apply to you... Your putting wheels that aren't suppose to fit your car. You don't have an option unless you do an extreme pull on your fenders.

I have 225/40 federals on my 9.5 and its an alright stretch. If i were in your position, i'd run a 215/40 falken or something at the smallest but 225/40 should be good, just my opinion though because i'd rather stretch the tire than go into alot of fender work and extreme amounts of camber. Your setup with a 225/40 on an s14 might clear since you have a bit of room. But still a decent amount of camber is needed.

Everyone has there own opinion, thats mine.
Modified by smocan at 6:42 PM 4/16/2008

[smocan]

245/40 on 18x9.5 +12. Good Pull as you can see.







Modified by smocan at 6:46 PM 4/16/2008
Modified by smocan at 6:47 PM 4/16/2008

[Meng1988]

Are those the same size all around?

[smocan]

I didn't notice, but he has 20mm fenders on the front, they aren't stock fenders.

[Meng1988]

Yeah, I found that car on the sight. Freaking sexy. It says just roll in the rear which is reassuring. Do you think that the fronts could be pulled to match his width? I have no idea about body work. What is too far of a pull?

[nismofly]

for fitment purposes up front id say 235-255, how much tire you fit depends on fender work and camber amount

255 street tire on a 9.5 is about perfect imo, you could do the 265 but im not sure if itd fit up front

[Cameron]

215 on a 9.5.....