need advice on tires size for my new volks wheels

[ChongLee]

i am getting new volks wheels! very excited!
its on the way, but now i have to do some tires shopping
and i am not too sure what specific tires size will work well
and not rub the fenders, etc etc etc.

the wheels size are:
front 17-7.5
rear 18-9.5

i have done some search and
have red good remarks about the
goodyears eagle F1 GS-D3.
i just might get that, but are there other recommendations?
no i wont track the car, but i DO do the occasional weekend
spirited drives through the twisties.

any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KooLaid]

front, definitely 215s maybe even 225.
rear on that rim width, it'll fit a 265 but I prefer my 285's.

 

[nsxtasy]

Get 215/40-17 front and 265/35-18 rear (or, alternatively, 255/35-18). These are the best matching sizes for an NSX, and won't rub in the wheel wells.

The F1 GS-D3 is an excellent choice. It offers excellent traction on dry pavement, superb grip in rain, and lasts a long time (for a tire on an NSX, anyway).

Another choice available on those sizes is the Falken Azenis RT-615. Its traction on dry pavement is even better than the F1 GS-D3. But its downsides are that it's not all that great in rain, and it wears much more rapidly (you might get half as many miles as the F1 GS-D3 or less).

If you only care about dry traction, consider the Azenis; otherwise, stick with the F1 GS-D3.

 

[KooLaid]

Yup, what he said, lol. :biggrin:

 

[ChongLee]

thanx for the input.
is there a significant difference between 255 and 265 for the rear width?
traction availability/performance, etc etc?

Get 215/40-17 front and 265/35-18 rear (or, alternatively, 255/35-18). These are the best matching sizes for an NSX, and won't rub in the wheel wells.

The F1 GS-D3 is an excellent choice. It offers excellent traction on dry pavement, superb grip in rain, and lasts a long time (for a tire on an NSX, anyway).

Another choice available on those sizes is the Falken Azenis RT-615. Its traction on dry pavement is even better than the F1 GS-D3. But its downsides are that it's not all that great in rain, and it wears much more rapidly (you might get half as many miles as the F1 GS-D3 or less).

If you only care about dry traction, consider the Azenis; otherwise, stick with the F1 GS-D3.

 

[docjohn]

thanx for the input.
is there a significant difference between 255 and 265 for the rear width?
tracking availability, performance, etc etc?

No but on on a 9.5 inch wheel I would want 265 width,10 milimeters is 10 milimeters! There are about 25 mm per inch as a reference.

 

[nsx1]

In the sizes you're talking (i.e. xxx-35/18), a 265 wants to see rim width of 9.0-10.5 (preferably 9.5). A 255 wants to see 8.5-10.0 (preferably 9.0).

There really isn't much difference in performance between the two sizes. But the 255/35-18 is the same diameter as a stock 2002-2005 rear tire (255/40-17).

There are EXACTLY 25.4mm per inch (by an act of Congress.)

 

[goldNSX]

A 255/35/18 doesn't look very nice on a 9.5 wheel IMO which only lets the 265 be the only valable alternative.

 

[stuntman]

Get 215/40-17 front and 265/35-18 rear (or, alternatively, 255/35-18). These are the best matching sizes for an NSX, and won't rub in the wheel wells.

The F1 GS-D3 is an excellent choice. It offers excellent traction on dry pavement, superb grip in rain, and lasts a long time (for a tire on an NSX, anyway).

Another choice available on those sizes is the Falken Azenis RT-615. Its traction on dry pavement is even better than the F1 GS-D3. But its downsides are that it's not all that great in rain, and it wears much more rapidly (you might get half as many miles as the F1 GS-D3 or less).

If you only care about dry traction, consider the Azenis; otherwise, stick with the F1 GS-D3.

Holy crap... Do you work for Goodyear?

JW: What tires have you driven on other than the F1 GS-D3s and 615s?





For a 7.5 and 9.5" wheel (which is what I run) i'd reccomend:
215/45-17
275/40-18

 

[nsx1]

275/40-18 is 8% larger than what came stock on ChongLee's 1996 (245/40-17). That equates to an 8% drop in horsepower to the wheels. If you want to go with that wide of a tire, a 35 series will be 3.5% larger and a 30 series will be 1% smaller (which increases wheel horsepower). The 265/35-18 is only 1.1% larger in diameter and is the perfect size for a 9.5 inch wide rim.

If ChongLee is interested in performance, he should go with smaller diameter tires front and rear. With his rims, the standard accepted sizes are 215/40-17 front, and 265/35-18 rear. (Or, as I said earlier, 255/35-18 rear - which look just fine on a 9.5 inch rim.) :biggrin:


.

 

[stuntman]

275/40-18 is 8% larger than what came stock on ChongLee's 1996 (245/40-17). That equates to an 8% drop in horsepower to the wheels. If you want to go with that wide of a tire, a 35 series will be 3.5% larger and a 30 series will be 1% smaller (which increases wheel horsepower). The 265/35-18 is only 1.1% larger in diameter and is the perfect size for a 9.5 inch wide rim.

If ChongLee is interested in performance, he should go with smaller diameter tires front and rear. With his rims, the standard accepted sizes are 215/40-17 front, and 265/35-18 rear. (Or, as I said earlier, 255/35-18 rear - which look just fine on a 9.5 inch rim.) :biggrin:


.

% increase of tire diameter does NOT = % decrease of HP at the wheels.

Wheel weight, tire weight, overall diameter, etc... are all factors that affect your horsepower at the wheels. You can't just say "for every % increase in diameter = % decrease in hp".

You can have an OD (outer-diameter) smaller than stock and have less HP to the wheels by a larger-diameter, heavier wheel than stock, = more rotational weight.

 

[400whpintegrajoe]

i have 17x7.5/18x10 OZ Racing 3 pc wheels running potenza S-03's
215/40/17's and 285/30/18's lowered about an inch or so =) very nice tires. I have a new set of wheels coming in (Blitz) 17x8/18x9.5 i think im gonna go with the falken 452's 215/40/17's and for the rears 275/35/18's. i run the falken 512's on my turbo 400whp integra, i always liked falken tires, really good tires and for the money =)

 

[nsx1]

% increase of tire diameter does NOT = % decrease of HP at the wheels.

Wheel weight, tire weight, overall diameter, etc... are all factors that affect your horsepower at the wheels. You can't just say "for every % increase in diameter = % decrease in hp".

You can have an OD (outer-diameter) smaller than stock and have less HP to the wheels by a larger-diameter, heavier wheel than stock, = more rotational weight.

Yes, tire weight and rim diameter are factors. But, ChongLee is asking about tire choices for a specific diameter of rims. Given that, and given a specific brand of tire, the tire weight will vary slightly between two tires - with the larger tire weighing more.

For example:
I could not find the weights of the GS-D3, and the RT-615's don't come in the specific sizes we're talking about, so, I will describe the differences using the Falken FK-452 (just as an example...)
The 245/40-17 weights 27.3lbs. (stock size for a 1996)
The 255/35-18 weights 26.8lbs. (Same diameter, weighs less, but further out)
The 265/35-18 weights 27.7lbs. (larger width, larger sidewall/diameter)
The 275/40-18 weights 32.2lbs. (even larger width and sidewall/diameter)

The 18 inch rims put the weight 0.5" further out, but since ChongLee has 18" rims, there's nothing he can do about that.

So, if we take your argument and your recommendation...
Not only are the 275/40-18's 8% larger in diameter than stock, they weight 4.9 lbs. (17.9%) heavier.

The 265/35-18's are only 2.4% larger in diameter than stock, and weight only 0.4 lbs (1.5%) heavier.

So, there will be a greater that 8% horsepower loss to the wheels by using your argument/recommendation over stock. I guess I stand corrected. :wink:

In Conclusion: do NOT get the 275/40-18, get the 255 or 265/35-18.

 

[ChongLee]

hey i appreciate all the infos and responses guys.
pretty high-tech and deep at the same time. :biggrin:

 

[KooLaid]

I didn't like the asthetics of 265/30 on my 19's rear. Maybe because it's such a low profile that greatly exagerate the angles of the sidewalls and the brand of the tire but it was REALLY sucked in ward. No rim protection at all with my 215 on 8" and 265 on 9.5". I went to 225 front and 285 rear. now with asthetics it looks pleasing! I still rather run a 235 on my front though

I would NOT go narrower than 265 rears on yours. 215s are perfect for the front. I didn't like my 265's. 275 would be acceptable in my opinion. Then again, I'm running 35 series front and 30 series rear. The larger profile tires of 17/18 I think would make it look ok to do 265.

Oh and pricing on 255 to 265 usually is significant. 255 to 275 is HUGE, now my difference from 265 to 285 was stupid.

 

[nsxtasy]

The reason larger diameter tires make your car accelerate slower is because of "effective gearing". It has the same effect as putting taller gearing in your transmission. For example, going from 245/40-17 (stock rear size on the '94-01) to the huge oversized 275/40-18 mentioned above has the same effect as going from a stock 4.062 ring and pinion gear to a taller one with a ratio of 3.766 (or going from an aftermarket 4.382 R&P to a stock one).

Stick with 215/40-17 and either 255/35-18 or 265/35-18 for the best performance, TCS operation, no rubbing, etc.

 

[Angelo08]

I recently installed 215/40/17 in the front and 265/35/18 in the rear on the exact Volk dimentions you posted and Ken stated to me a few months back. I couldnt be happier. Although i did not use the Goodyears, the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx has proven to be excellent for me on the street so far. Its within the same price range, maybe a few bucks less than the Goodyears. Nothing against the Goodyears except some past personal experience. JMO.

 

[Jin1976]

Since we are talking about size of tires, I have Work wheels on order and tires to come with them. Tire size front is 215/35R18 and rear 285/35R18. Will these give TCS problem? Thanks.

 

[nsxtasy]

Since we are talking about size of tires, I have Work wheels on order and tires to come with them. Tire size front is 215/35R18 and rear 285/35R18. Will these give TCS problem? Thanks.

They won't give TCS problems on your '91, but that excessive "stagger" (difference in treadwidth, front vs rear) will degrade the handling.

 

[Jin1976]

Thanks nsxtasy. They are just for look. :smile:

They won't give TCS problems on your '91, but that excessive "stagger" (difference in treadwidth, front vs rear) will degrade the handling.

 

[ChongLee]

hey guys,
just got the wheels today.
my offsets are +40 all around... and was recommended i should
go 225 up front. is this a good idea and will it rub?
or should i just stick to the og recommendation; 215 front. ?

 

[nsx1]

hey guys,
just got the wheels today.
my offsets are +40 all around... and was recommended i should
go 225 up front. is this a good idea and will it rub?
or should i just stick to the og recommendation; 215 front. ?

225/40-17 will rub, which leaves 225/35-17. When I was shopping for 225's, I could only find two manufacturers who made 225/35-17 (Falken and Hankook). Though, just recently, Yokohama has introduced their S.drive tire in 225/35-17.

I got the Falken 452's in 225/35-17 for the front and I'm disappointed. So, I'm switching to the Goodyear Eagle GS-D3 215/40-17 because of a few reasons... 1) I don't think the 452's are that good, 2) the 225/35-17 looks too small (it makes the gap in the wheel-well look big), and 3) the GS-D3 at 215 has more grip than the 225 Falken. I don't think 10mm of section width makes much difference... at least not as much as better compound does.

From a visual standpoint, the size of the sidewall is nearly the same, front to rear, with the 215/40-17 and 265/35-18 combo. It just looks better than the 225/35-17 and 265/35-18 combo.


.

 

[Angelo08]

hey guys,
just got the wheels today.
my offsets are +40 all around... and was recommended i should
go 225 up front. is this a good idea and will it rub?
or should i just stick to the og recommendation; 215 front. ?

on my 92, 225/16s in the front with 255/17s in the rear triggered a TCS problem. Not sure how it works dealing with upsized rims. To be safe you cant go wrong the already proven 215/40/17 up front. The 225s slightly rubbed on full turn.

 

[ChongLee]

yes the wheels are 1 inch up from stock;
17 by 18.
either way, sounds good. i just had to confirm again,
and looks like i'll surely go 215/40 at front.

don't want no rubbin

 

[plamondon]

guys, I've come in late on this one, but it looks like I'm OK with 235/35-18 (7.5 or 8 rim) front & 275/35-18 (9.5 rim) rear? I want 18's all around & want to go as wide as possible in rear without rubbing - I don't want a huge difference in width from front to rear - mine's an '02 with no modifications, yet -advise please