How in the heck do I know if I'm gonna rub before I buy tires?
(I'm not stock anything, so no tire decision guide is going to help)

I have really liked the Pole Position tires in the past (tire rack rates these 2nd in class), and I almost bought PS2's (rated 1st in class per Tire rack), except that I drove a friends Infinity - wow, the sidewalls seem to be much softer than the pole positions.

I still have no idea what I'll buy or what fits...How do you guys decide what to buy?

 

I figure out what size wheels I have. Thats a good start.

 

you're on your 4th motor and you're asking for help with tires!?

 

Yeah, I've probably gone through 8 sets of tires at least too...maybe more.

My car is never done

I want to go back to 225/45-17 but not if they'll rub...I'm tempted to buy the cheapest tires in this size I can find, maybe retreads or used, but I fear trying to make them rub would cause me to spin out

I also constantly question my tire decisions...there are so many out there, and I've really overall been happy with the Pole positions, stiff sidewalls and very good wet traction.

I hate my suspension though....money is tight now days so I want to make a good decision, in the old days I would've bought what I wanted and if it didn't work out, I'd just buy something else, haha.

 

225 is nothing to worry about

 

So, how wide are your wheels? What offset are you running? How low are you? What is your current size?

 

yeah, as long as you're not running a weird offset. 225 is nothing to worry about. worst case scenario is borrow a fender roller on craigslist.

 

Try calling around to local tire chains, hopefully they'll have a set of tires in that size by the same brand, as a 225/45/17 can be wider and taller from tire brand A than tire brand B. Usually, if you're going to buy tires from them, they'll let you test fit them.

Some tire brands have warranties where if you don't like the tires in the first 1/32" of tread you can return them for something else as well.

 

I'm very low, I need to reach up to touch a snakes belly!

How the heck do I know how low I am? I am lowered on Whitelines (which I hate).

I was rubbing when I had the wrong (sedan) axles on the car, I haven't tried the 225 since I replaced the axles.

Wheels are 50mm offset per tirerack.com (where I bought them)...does offset mean more tire inside, or more outside?

 

get some conti extreme

 

I LOOOOOOOOVE pole positions... Def my fav street tires, every version has been great. So predictable and overall just wonderful. Not the grippiest, but overall the best in rain, dry, predictability, giveway, sidewalls, wear, etc.

 

I don't suppose he had his car worked on by I-speed, did he? Reminds me of Subydude's car which went through more then 7 engines thanks to I-speed!

 

yikes

 

Second engine was Crawford.

 

225's wont rub, unless you did something crazy to expand your engine bay.