tire question, been looking but cant really find info i want

[gnvarnadore]

ok so i have a 92 240sx coupe on tien HA coilovers and i have a set of 17x9 +15 offset Elite's. When i bought the car the tire setup was 215/45 front and 235/40 rears which was an ok setup until i started having issues with the tires losing air pressure all the time and then today had one of the rears pop the bead. i dont wanna run stretched tires anymore so im thinking about going with wider tires even if that means getting overfenders and spacers, so whats a good size tire to run without having to be stretched? ive been crunching numbers but the main issue is most tires dont say the size of the bead area, only the size at the widest point of the tire. im thinking i can get away with 255's but i still think they might need a slight stretch.

[simmode1]

The thing that you may not be considering here is that some tire brands run wider that others at the same size. Generally speaking, a 255/40 tire should be about square on a 9 inch wide wheel. But if you get a brand like Nitto, which is known to run small, you could end up with some stretch. A 255 Nitto is maybe about as wide as a 235 Falken, for example.

BUT... I'll tell you this: The S13's that I've seen running Elites with square fitment tires look TERRIBLE. I believe the Elites are probably lower than +15 offset in reality. Square tires on Elites bulge out like more than an inch. You'll need fender flares or widebody fenders to fit square tires on Elites and make it look right.

[gnvarnadore]

you think that maybe i should go with a 245/40 or 245/45 vs the 255/40 then? so it doesnt fit square and needs maybe a very slight stretch. im looking at Yokohama Advan Sport's and Pirelli Pzero Rosso's.

[simmode1]

Yes, 245/40 would be better, IMO. But again... depending on what brand you pick, it might be square or over-square.

Here's a good example for you: http://www.rimtuck.com/setup.php?id=84

To be honest, I don't like his rear tires. A 245/45 has too tall of a sidewall. 245/40 would have been better. But look at his fronts. Those 235/40's have just a slight and subtle stretch. That look on all four wheels would look best, IMO. I doubt you'd miss the traction difference between and 235/40 and a 245/40.
Modified by simmode1 at 3:35 PM 1/11/2010

[gnvarnadore]

i think those 245's on the rear look perfect as far as viewing from the side and im 100% in agreement with you that the 45 side wall is too much. now im thinking 245/40 yokohama advan sports all the way around.

[simmode1]

Sounds good.