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non low profile tires


nov26_2

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I'm trying to come up with a solution to frequent bent rims. The Jersey roads are killing me. I keep the tires properly inflated, drive like I have some sense etc and I still out multiple rims. So, I was thinking that if I went down to a 16in rim with a little fatter tire it might solve some of the rim issues. I'm open to suggestions.
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Maybe run 215/50/R17, which is 1" larger diameter than stock? That would be the same diameter as the SpecB's 215/45/R18. You could probably have your speedometer and odometer recalibrated at the dealer.
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Keefe,

 

In your faq you don't list 225/50-17 but in an earlier thread you said you thought it might fit without rubbing. Do you still think it'll fit? Unless it rubs that's the size I was planning to go with at my LGT wagon tire change.

 

 

problem is that if you have stock shocks, the possibilty will come from rubber on the spring perch because the tire is too tall. That's why I didnt list it. Now if you had coilovers where the spring perch wasnt limiting the tire size, then you would be fine.. I have fitted as tall as a 245/40/18 tire, but again, that's with aftermarket suspension. My best guess is that the largest tire you can put on is something like a 25.4" overall tire diameter tire size.

Keefe
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I'm trying to come up with a solution to frequent bent rims. The Jersey roads are killing me. I keep the tires properly inflated, drive like I have some sense etc and I still out multiple rims. So, I was thinking that if I went down to a 16in rim with a little fatter tire it might solve some of the rim issues. I'm open to suggestions.

 

 

 

check your tire pressures, that cures a lot.. without proper tire pressures, your sidewalls wont have the strength to hold up the sidewalls of the tire.

Keefe
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haven't a couple people just shaved the casting lines off the caliper to run 16's?

 

seems like if you're bending rims you'll still be bubbling the sidewalls of tires regardless .........

 

move to a state with decent roads (and better weather)? :)

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Yea, I thought of sending the repair bills to our Govenor. If you don't know, Jersey's Govenor is Jon Corzine and he's freakin' loaded. He's currently spending millions of his own money to refurbish the Govenor's shore home so he can catch a little R&R when he's not shutting down all geovernment services for a week.

 

Anyway, I think I'll go to a few speed shops and seek some more advice.

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You could probably have your speedometer and odometer recalibrated at the dealer.

 

Would the Dealer really be willing and able to do this?? One of the (few) things about the Spec B that I really like is that bigger tire diameter. I think the overall tire size on the LGT looks a little too small for the size of the vehicle. If I had a Spec B, I'd be looking to swap the 18's for some 17's, and then try running something even a tad taller, like a 225/50. Crap roads around here in Detroit, of course, and I don't believe that higher profile tires necessarily equate to reduced handling capability: my old Contour SE handled very nicely indeed on stock 205/60-15's.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

 

In other words: SEARCH before you post!

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If my Mazda6 is anything to go by, I had the exact same problem with the 17"/215-45 combination on Jeddah's streets. The standard set that came with the car barely lasted for two months into my ownership, and I went through two other sets within six months. I solved the problem by switching to 16-inchers from earlier models, with 225/50R16 tires (same overall diameter as original 215/45R17) and never had a bent rim again. As a matter of fact the only reason why I'm still worried about getting a Legacy is the wheel/tire combination, and I CANNOT switch to 16s because of the front brakes!

 

Shady

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One more thing. Regardless of having to recalibrate the speedometer, I think running bigger tires on the stock 17s might affect the overall way the car drives. It'll feel noticably "heavier" in acceleration and won't be as agile in handling. I tried 215/55R16 on my Mazda, which was about 3/4" bigger in overall diameter than stock, and that was what I experienced. The car no longer accelerated well, and handled awkwardly. But then again, those were Dunlop SP 9000's which aren't very good tires to begin with.

 

Shady

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Yeah, ideally the gearing would be revised to match the larger diameter tires, as well. But it also depends on how much torque you've got, which I don't think would be a problem for the LGT. Spec B has the same gearing as the LGT despite the bigger tire diameter, right??

 

Pretty sure the USDM Mazda6's get 215/50-17's standard: slightly bigger than the 214/45's on the LGT. I liked my '03 Mazda6, and I think that extra 5% sidewall makes a noticeable difference here on Detroit roads. And hey, if you happen to have smooth roads, it makes the switch to 18's or 19's even easier.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

 

In other words: SEARCH before you post!

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largest I ran so far is a 245/40/18 tire and a 255/35/18 tire.. the speedo wont be off to the point where you're screwed, but if you continue to run tires that large over time, it's going to make a difference on the odometer.
Keefe
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So... looks like the 245/40/18 is the tallest at 25.7" diameter; the 255/35/18 lists at an even 25". Stock RE92's are 24.6", so 25.7" is a full inch taller. Hmmm.... does that tire size feel noticeably slow off the line?

 

...but if you continue to run tires that large over time, it's going to make a difference on the odometer.

 

Yeah, but in a good way! :lol:

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

 

In other words: SEARCH before you post!

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So... looks like the 245/40/18 is the tallest at 25.7" diameter; the 255/35/18 lists at an even 25". Stock RE92's are 24.6", so 25.7" is a full inch taller. Hmmm.... does that tire size feel noticeably slow off the line?

 

 

 

Yeah, but in a good way! :lol:

 

245/40/18 was with coilovers where the stock spring perch isnt in the way, so I can go taller.. I believe the tallest tire you can get is a 25.3" or 25.4" on stock suspension.

 

As long as you get light rims and a fairly light tire, the launch isnt that bad.. you can always get a Cobb AP1 to fix that problem ;)

Keefe
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Assuming I win tonights lottery, I think what I'd like to try is some soft GS-D3's in the 235/45-17 size (25.3") mounted on 17x8 ET48 OZ UL's. That should be a 42.4lb combo, if the Tirerack info is correct: not great, but not bad. The LGT is just my cruiser, anyway - I have the other car to play with if I'm feeling frisky. Do you think that combo would fit on my car with the iON's + stock struts?? Purely a theoretical exercise, as I have way to many other things I need to spend money on.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

 

In other words: SEARCH before you post!

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