17" Wheels, 225/45/17 or 215/45/17??
Guest
Posts: n/a
17" Wheels, 225/45/17 or 215/45/17??
Just got a set of 17x7 OZ SL. They will be installed on my wagon within 3-4 weeks (waiting for all the snow to go away).
My question is about the width of the tire? Not sure which one to go with, and if I do decide to go with the 225/45/17 will there be any issues.
Any recommendation on tires would also be a help. What you paid, performance (sound, traction, ect..), noise levels. You get the point.
Thanks in advance for you help.
WRBlue
My question is about the width of the tire? Not sure which one to go with, and if I do decide to go with the 225/45/17 will there be any issues.
Any recommendation on tires would also be a help. What you paid, performance (sound, traction, ect..), noise levels. You get the point.
Thanks in advance for you help.
WRBlue
I'm assuming you have a WRX wagon. I don't think it will rub w/ a 225 but that is on a sedan. I think the fender well in a wagon is smaller, but I think some guys are running 225's in their wagon w/out problems.
-JOE
-JOE
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 554
From: Tucson
Car Info: '02 WRX WRB
I have the 17" OZ SLs on my sedan with Falken Azenis 225s and lowering springs. I had to install camber bolts and adjust the camber to prevent rubbing. I would go with 215s on a wagon if you can find a tire you want in that size, but 225s look and perform just fine on 7" wheels.
Guest
Posts: n/a
215vs225
Remember that BOTH NUMBERS in a tire designation have an effect on overall diameter on a given wheel size.
For instance- Proxes T1-S 215/35/35-18's on a 7 inch wheel will actually give you about a half inch LESS than the OEM diameter w/16's.
The same tire in a 225/40/18 will give you a quarter inch HIGHER than the OEM 16inch combo diameter.
Just a factor to take into account...
I run 18x7 Centerline RPM (14.2lbs) wrapped with 215/35/18ZR Proxes T1-S. The springs are Eibach Pro-Line. (1.3F/1.0R drop)
For instance- Proxes T1-S 215/35/35-18's on a 7 inch wheel will actually give you about a half inch LESS than the OEM diameter w/16's.
The same tire in a 225/40/18 will give you a quarter inch HIGHER than the OEM 16inch combo diameter.
Just a factor to take into account...
I run 18x7 Centerline RPM (14.2lbs) wrapped with 215/35/18ZR Proxes T1-S. The springs are Eibach Pro-Line. (1.3F/1.0R drop)
VIP Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 469
From: Pleasant Hill, CA
Car Info: 02 WRB Wagon (Cobb AccessPort, P7's), 2-73 914 2.0, 74 914-2.0
Assuming you have a wagon, the 225's will not rub if you have the right offset wheels (50mm+). I don't know if you car but if you go to a 215/45/17 your speedo will be off by 3-5% depending on which tire you choose. With the 225, you will get slightly better cornering power and maybe a little better braking (the wheel/tire weight may impact braking power but it will be harder to "lock-up" 225's than the 215's). In terms of accelleration, the 215's should be quicker off the line (smaller diameter and lighter). Also, I assume gas mileage will be a little worse for the 215's since they are turning more RPM's per mile.
What's important to you? I'm going with the Kumho MX 225's for my wagon. Oh yeah, the recommended tire size for 7's is 215 as ideal but 225s will work fine. I know a lot of guys that race who run 205/50 on 5 1/2" rims (ideal is 6 1/2" and being that much different is at the limit) and they have no problems (though 7" is probably as narrow as you want to go with a 225).
What's important to you? I'm going with the Kumho MX 225's for my wagon. Oh yeah, the recommended tire size for 7's is 215 as ideal but 225s will work fine. I know a lot of guys that race who run 205/50 on 5 1/2" rims (ideal is 6 1/2" and being that much different is at the limit) and they have no problems (though 7" is probably as narrow as you want to go with a 225).
Guest
Posts: n/a
Regarding lockup...
The smaller the blackwall, the more evenly matched to the rim the tread is, the sooner you will stop. This as all due to physics, not a dealers recomendation.
Any advantage you THINK you would get in straight line breaking or even latteral grip with a wider tire is usually underscored by the increase in sidewall flex... IMO a 215/35/18 will have far less flex than a 225/40/18- all things being equall. Flex= bad.
But the BIGGEST reason people get poor results from tire/breaking/suspension mods is because the factory ABS system is extreamly well desighned, around the STOCK setup.
The cheapest bang for the buck for a GOOD DRIVER, is to drop out the ABS fuse.
The light will stay on, but hey- thats to remind you to
GOOOOOO DEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
ALSO- your motor only has 170whp and is prone to "AWD bog" so why would you want to overpower it with rubber?
Ever heard a stock 6 cylinder truck strain to move 44's? Same priciples. Besides- I would rather spin a fraction of a tenth than have to shell out for a new tranny.
Any advantage you THINK you would get in straight line breaking or even latteral grip with a wider tire is usually underscored by the increase in sidewall flex... IMO a 215/35/18 will have far less flex than a 225/40/18- all things being equall. Flex= bad.
But the BIGGEST reason people get poor results from tire/breaking/suspension mods is because the factory ABS system is extreamly well desighned, around the STOCK setup.
The cheapest bang for the buck for a GOOD DRIVER, is to drop out the ABS fuse.
The light will stay on, but hey- thats to remind you to
GOOOOOO DEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
ALSO- your motor only has 170whp and is prone to "AWD bog" so why would you want to overpower it with rubber?
Ever heard a stock 6 cylinder truck strain to move 44's? Same priciples. Besides- I would rather spin a fraction of a tenth than have to shell out for a new tranny.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by Sea Dragon Rex
Assuming you have a wagon, the 225's will not rub if you have the right offset wheels (50mm+). I don't know if you car but if you go to a 215/45/17 your speedo will be off by 3-5% depending on which tire you choose. With the 225, you will get slightly better cornering power and maybe a little better braking (the wheel/tire weight may impact braking power but it will be harder to "lock-up" 225's than the 215's). In terms of accelleration, the 215's should be quicker off the line (smaller diameter and lighter). Also, I assume gas mileage will be a little worse for the 215's since they are turning more RPM's per mile.
What's important to you? I'm going with the Kumho MX 225's for my wagon. Oh yeah, the recommended tire size for 7's is 215 as ideal but 225s will work fine. I know a lot of guys that race who run 205/50 on 5 1/2" rims (ideal is 6 1/2" and being that much different is at the limit) and they have no problems (though 7" is probably as narrow as you want to go with a 225).
Assuming you have a wagon, the 225's will not rub if you have the right offset wheels (50mm+). I don't know if you car but if you go to a 215/45/17 your speedo will be off by 3-5% depending on which tire you choose. With the 225, you will get slightly better cornering power and maybe a little better braking (the wheel/tire weight may impact braking power but it will be harder to "lock-up" 225's than the 215's). In terms of accelleration, the 215's should be quicker off the line (smaller diameter and lighter). Also, I assume gas mileage will be a little worse for the 215's since they are turning more RPM's per mile.
What's important to you? I'm going with the Kumho MX 225's for my wagon. Oh yeah, the recommended tire size for 7's is 215 as ideal but 225s will work fine. I know a lot of guys that race who run 205/50 on 5 1/2" rims (ideal is 6 1/2" and being that much different is at the limit) and they have no problems (though 7" is probably as narrow as you want to go with a 225).
Now I am really confused.
The offset is 48......will that be a problem?????
So many questions.....
VIP Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 469
From: Pleasant Hill, CA
Car Info: 02 WRB Wagon (Cobb AccessPort, P7's), 2-73 914 2.0, 74 914-2.0
The problem isn't the wheel size. It's the overall rolling diameter. Just an estimate off the top of my head but I seem to recall that the 205/55/16 RE-92's have diameter of 25.1" and 830 revolutions per mile. And if I remember the numbers for the 215/45/17 tires they have a diameter of 24.5"-24.7" and turn 845-855 revolutions per mile while the 225/45/17 tires have a diameter of 25"-25.1" and turn 825-835 revolutions per mile.
As for tire and wheel width, it is better to have the recommended wheel tire combination but all tire manufacturers have a range of wheel widths for which a tire can be used. If you stay within that range, you should be fine. As a general rule, 1/2" of rim will give you .2" more patch on the ground with the same tire. With a 7" rim, you will still have a larger patch with a 225 than you will with a 215 and the issue isn't with being able to overpower the tires with accelleration but with cornering. The 225 on a 7" should give you the same if not more cornering power than a 215 on a 7". You will have more sidewall flex (taller sidewall) but you will also have a large patch.
As for tire and wheel width, it is better to have the recommended wheel tire combination but all tire manufacturers have a range of wheel widths for which a tire can be used. If you stay within that range, you should be fine. As a general rule, 1/2" of rim will give you .2" more patch on the ground with the same tire. With a 7" rim, you will still have a larger patch with a 225 than you will with a 215 and the issue isn't with being able to overpower the tires with accelleration but with cornering. The 225 on a 7" should give you the same if not more cornering power than a 215 on a 7". You will have more sidewall flex (taller sidewall) but you will also have a large patch.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 372
From: Encinitas CA
Car Info: Black 03 WRX
225 is not big enough to put a noticeable amount of strain onthe tranny. For regular street driving and the occasional trip up a mountain or somthing like that it really doesn;t matter. It all comes down to what works best for you from experience. On some occasions you might prefer 225 while on other occasions (drifting or what not) you might want 215. If you live where it snows go with 215, If you live in San Diego like I do, you might want 225 because its dry and warm. The best investment ofcourse is driving lessons. A skilled driver will beat a novice up a mountain with bald touring tires.