I apologize for writing a book below, but i am really having trouble deciding what is the best way to go with tire sizes. I really want to put my thoughts down and have you review the choices as i see them (given what i am trying to do) and then please offer me your advise.
everyone but the forum nazi can skip the second paragraph
(For the forum nazi, I have consulted the tire and wheel tech and the search and i have spoken to a some people,now i am looking for advise from the people who actually have tried this.)
My car is a 1997 T with the stock 16/17 setup. With the stock bridgestons the front tire has a diameter of 23.6". The rear tire has a diameter of 24.7
I am installing tecno wheels that are 17 X 8 (+40) in the front and 18*10 (+45) in the rear.
I am debating between three tire choices
(A) TIRE COMBO #1
S02's with a size of 225/35/17 (this would be a diameter of 23.2 (or about 1/2 inch less then stock).
The rear tire would be an S02 with a size of 285/30 18 (this would be a diameter of 24.73 or roughly the same as stock).
POINTS on this combo
(1) The s02's are discountinued... I have found one set of fronts in the size i mention above, and the only available size in an so2 to go with this (for the rear) is the 285/30/18.
(2) I really don't like the fact that my front diameter will be smaller b/c it puts the front of the car that much closer to the ground (i would prefer a 225/40.. but that is not a choice)
(3)I am a little nervous about sidewall size as my front sidewall will be 3.1 inches (versus 3.8 stock) and the rear sidewall will be 3.36 (versus 3.8 stock).. i am nervous not b/c of fear of hitting a pothole and hurting the rim, the roads are really great where i drive and no potholes, i am concerned about the ride quality of the car. anyone with these sizes, is the ride that much different?
TIRE COMBO #2
goodyear G3D3 in the following sizes
front would be 235/40/17 .. this nets a diameter of 24.4" (which is .8" bigger diameter then stock) The sidewall for this would be 3.7 inches (versus 3.8 stock) and the rear size would be 275/35/18 (diameter is 25.5 or 3/4" bigger then stock and the sidewall would be 3.78" (or just a tad smaller then the stock 3.8)NOTES on this combo
(1) i like the fact that i would have a 235 in the front. For future big brakes this would allow more braking power to get to the ground and this is not too drastically smaller then the rear 275 size.
(2) i am scared that the front tire might rub, this is why i am looking at the goodyears. I really like the S03's but i am told by tire rackthat the S03 diameter is a tenth of an inch larger and their width is 2 tenths of an inch wider (24.4 verus 24.5 and 9.5" versus 9.7") With my +40 offset 17*8 tecno will 235/40 work? is anybody running this with no problems?
(3) I really like the size of the sidewalls of this tire combo, i think in theory this should allow for a better ride. and in theory this is a good front / rear width.. however sidewalls and width combos wont mean that much is this thing rubs all the time in the front.
C)Combo 3 would be a 215/40/17 so3 in the front and a 285 30/18 s03 in the rear. The problem with this combo is the front tire is a litte small compared to the rear, and i have those small sidwalls both front and rear.
So in summary, i am having a hard time with the fact that combo A would not rub, but has less than ideal sidewall, the front tire is smaller then stock (diameter) and you have a big difference in front and rear widths.
Combo B) assuming it does not rub would appear to be the best, as you get the wide tire in front, not too much differene in front and rear sizes and you have almost the stock amount of sidewall.
ComboC) has the perfect (stock size front) which is too narrow to take advantage of a big brake kit, and is too much skinnier then the rear. With this combo the front and rear tires have a 3.38" sidewall (front this sidewall is what 2002+ nsx's have stock) but i question the rear sidewall being small considering all that 58% of weight in the rear.
Also i do plan on lowering the car about 1.25" via coilover or bilsten / eibach (undecided)
Questions:
(1)For those of you with experience with 17 /18 setups and wheels with roughly the same offsets, which way should i go?
(2) any other advise., Am i missing something?
(3) for combo B) do people really think the goodyears run small/ is this enough difference to make a difference or should i go with combo A or bridgestone s-03's in combo b sizes b/c this is not enough smalller to make a difference.
Thanks
tom
everyone but the forum nazi can skip the second paragraph
(For the forum nazi, I have consulted the tire and wheel tech and the search and i have spoken to a some people,now i am looking for advise from the people who actually have tried this.)
My car is a 1997 T with the stock 16/17 setup. With the stock bridgestons the front tire has a diameter of 23.6". The rear tire has a diameter of 24.7
I am installing tecno wheels that are 17 X 8 (+40) in the front and 18*10 (+45) in the rear.
I am debating between three tire choices
(A) TIRE COMBO #1
S02's with a size of 225/35/17 (this would be a diameter of 23.2 (or about 1/2 inch less then stock).
The rear tire would be an S02 with a size of 285/30 18 (this would be a diameter of 24.73 or roughly the same as stock).
POINTS on this combo
(1) The s02's are discountinued... I have found one set of fronts in the size i mention above, and the only available size in an so2 to go with this (for the rear) is the 285/30/18.
(2) I really don't like the fact that my front diameter will be smaller b/c it puts the front of the car that much closer to the ground (i would prefer a 225/40.. but that is not a choice)
(3)I am a little nervous about sidewall size as my front sidewall will be 3.1 inches (versus 3.8 stock) and the rear sidewall will be 3.36 (versus 3.8 stock).. i am nervous not b/c of fear of hitting a pothole and hurting the rim, the roads are really great where i drive and no potholes, i am concerned about the ride quality of the car. anyone with these sizes, is the ride that much different?
TIRE COMBO #2
goodyear G3D3 in the following sizes
front would be 235/40/17 .. this nets a diameter of 24.4" (which is .8" bigger diameter then stock) The sidewall for this would be 3.7 inches (versus 3.8 stock) and the rear size would be 275/35/18 (diameter is 25.5 or 3/4" bigger then stock and the sidewall would be 3.78" (or just a tad smaller then the stock 3.8)NOTES on this combo
(1) i like the fact that i would have a 235 in the front. For future big brakes this would allow more braking power to get to the ground and this is not too drastically smaller then the rear 275 size.
(2) i am scared that the front tire might rub, this is why i am looking at the goodyears. I really like the S03's but i am told by tire rackthat the S03 diameter is a tenth of an inch larger and their width is 2 tenths of an inch wider (24.4 verus 24.5 and 9.5" versus 9.7") With my +40 offset 17*8 tecno will 235/40 work? is anybody running this with no problems?
(3) I really like the size of the sidewalls of this tire combo, i think in theory this should allow for a better ride. and in theory this is a good front / rear width.. however sidewalls and width combos wont mean that much is this thing rubs all the time in the front.
C)Combo 3 would be a 215/40/17 so3 in the front and a 285 30/18 s03 in the rear. The problem with this combo is the front tire is a litte small compared to the rear, and i have those small sidwalls both front and rear.
So in summary, i am having a hard time with the fact that combo A would not rub, but has less than ideal sidewall, the front tire is smaller then stock (diameter) and you have a big difference in front and rear widths.
Combo B) assuming it does not rub would appear to be the best, as you get the wide tire in front, not too much differene in front and rear sizes and you have almost the stock amount of sidewall.
ComboC) has the perfect (stock size front) which is too narrow to take advantage of a big brake kit, and is too much skinnier then the rear. With this combo the front and rear tires have a 3.38" sidewall (front this sidewall is what 2002+ nsx's have stock) but i question the rear sidewall being small considering all that 58% of weight in the rear.
Also i do plan on lowering the car about 1.25" via coilover or bilsten / eibach (undecided)
Questions:
(1)For those of you with experience with 17 /18 setups and wheels with roughly the same offsets, which way should i go?
(2) any other advise., Am i missing something?
(3) for combo B) do people really think the goodyears run small/ is this enough difference to make a difference or should i go with combo A or bridgestone s-03's in combo b sizes b/c this is not enough smalller to make a difference.
Thanks
tom
). The 265 should be fine on a 10 (approved width is 9.0-10.5).
