Help me pick my next tires.

[lasermp5]

Hey everyone. So my current bridgestone fuzion zri are getting pretty low and it's time for some new tires. Here's what I've been thinking lately though. I'm somewhat dissatisfied with the look of my current size (215/40/17). They just don't eat up enough wheel well. Lately I've been seeing more and more cars with fantastic tire fitments on taller tires which fit the wheel well great, but are by no means slammed and have no fender covering the sidewall at all.

I'm riding on tein s techs and tokico blues with 17x7 +48 rims. One rim however is 17x7 +42 (don't ask lol).

My question is, for my next tires, I want to try and replicate this look as well as possible. I'll be the first to admit I don't delve in the tire world that much, and I know a lot of you really know your stuff on this. What tire size should I be looking at. I've been thinking maybe just a one step increment in aspect ratio to 215/45/17 might be sufficient, but then again I don't want to throw down the cash then regret not going a little bigger. How far can/should I push it? I have been using the tire size calculator that citizenpro posted, but still would like some input from other members.

I want you to know that weight in the rear is a non-issue! For those of you who don't know, I have my rear stripped out totally, so the most weight I might possibly have back there is maybe 30lbs for a cooler in the hatch occasionally. Also, I have no issue with rolling the fenders if need be, and I'm sure this will probably need to happen if I go any larger than 215s.

Low profile just isn't my thing. I want some meat on these wheels. The car is stripped out with a bucket seat, 3" harnesses, harness bar, camera mount, and gt spec rear cage. I'm clearly going for the track/autox theme, and I want some fat attractive tires that reflect that. Thanks in advance for your input and help!

 

[lasermp5]

bump for all you tire phenoms

 

[khaosman]

I used to run some 215/45/17 Potenza S03s on my P5. Pictures here http://khaosman.com/gallery/v/auto/mods/wheels/

225/45/17 would probably rub pretty bad in the rear unless you had a fair amount of negative camber back there and rolled the fenders. Stiff springs would help as well (not sure how stiff your S Techs are).

I assume you are going to autocross on these, so I'd recommend a couple different tires. There is always the tried and true Falken Azenis.

Then there are the Bridgestone Potenza RE01R http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE-01R
A little pricey in that size but if you are a member of the SCCA you can usually find a $100 off coupon in the magazine you get. Great tires though, I run them for my street tires and did one autocross on them... plenty of grip, good in rain, look sexy.

Another option are the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 SS. I think these are the new hot stuff in Street Tires. The price looks good too.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+Sport+Z1+Star+Spec

And whatever you do, keep that +42mm wheel (wtf haha) up front to avoid rubbing. Hope that helps you some.

 

[lasermp5]

thanks for the info. Were you still running the 215/45/17s when you put on the JICs? Those pics are so dark I can't read a tire size on them. The set of pics you posted for me look like you're monster trucking... so I assume you were on stock suspension then correct? Even with the racing beat springs it looks a little high.

I actually have thought about picking up JICs soon in the future. You're pretty happy with them?

As far as the tire itself, I've been looking at that direzza star spec too, and I like what I see. Pretty sure they're going to get the job.

Also, pwn me if you must, but it seems to me that there is more clearance in the rear than in the front, so why would I want to keep the +42 wheel off the back? There must be a reason then.

Thanks.

 

[khaosman]

Yeah those pics were stock, these are with the JICs http://khaosman.com/gallery/v/auto/mods/coilovers/jic/?g2_page=3 and this http://khaosman.com/gallery/v/auto/mods/coilovers/jic/head01.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Nah, there is more clearance up front. Pretty much all rubbing is going to happen back there, especially the lower you go.

The JICs were okay, a little bouncy and pretty rough ride wise. I run AWRs now but I pretty much only drive my P5 to and at autocrosses; occasionally on nice days. You might check out the BC Racing coilovers. People seem to love them and the price is good.

 

[lasermp5]

cool. I think 215/45 is the way to go. I just don't want to drop coin on nice tires to realize I'm still not happy with how they look. I found a great pic of my car that demonstrates how much gap I have with the current setup:

see how bad it is in the back? I guess the answer is trying the 215/45 and if not happy with the result moving to adjustable coilovers to take out a little more gap.

And ya, when I ordered my fn's through AutoRnd back in 2004, I received three +48 wheels and one +42 wheel (whoops). I never knew this until I put on my extended volk lugs. Then it became obvious something was amiss and I pulled all the wheels off and checked the casting marks. Sure enough, one odd wheel.

Again, I apologize for the ignorance. Can someone explain exactly what the issue is with the rubbing on our cars? In the future I would like to get a set of volk ce28n. The only 17in sizes that come in that wheel I see working at all are 17x7.5 +43 and 17x7.5 +50. Like I've stated before, I have virtually no weight in the rear, and am perfectly comfortable with getting the fenders rolled if need be. Is 225/45/17 on 17x7.5 +43 just a pipe dream, or is there ANY way to make them fit? I just don't understand when I look at other cars and see them running filled wheel wells with almost no gap; wheels fairly flush, and they're not rubbing.

 

[magnumP5]

Wow, my rear definitely doesn't sit that high with the S-Techs. I guess it's because of all the weight you've removed from the rear? I think a wider wheel with a slightly lower offset would do wonders though. I currently have the MSP Racing Harts with 215/40R17 tires and the offset of the wheels is too high. I too have been looking at the Volk CE28Ns but I've been debating on going up to an 18x7.5" tire with the +50 mm offset. I'm not too thrilled about the 215/35R18 tire selection (although it is lighter) so I am considering going up to a 215/40R18. Oh yeah, I am also planning on running some 1/8" wheels spacers all around to give like a +47 mm offset. My biggest concern is overall wheel weight, which is why I want to go with 18s. The 18" CE28Ns with 215/35R18 tires weigh less than the 17" CE28Ns with 215/40R17 tires but cost something like $500 more overall.

 

[khaosman]

Wow, the 18s are lighter (with tires too??). Weird.

Anyway, the problem is that the fender will start cutting into the sidewall of the tire. The less offset you have (like the +43mm), the more it moves the wheel out and thus the more likely it will rub on the fender lip.

However, if you moved it closer to the strut (i.e. +50mm), with a big wheel and tire it may be possible to have it rub on the strut body itself!

Your best bet is to search and try to make an educated guess before you try the 225/45s. Or see if you can find some dead 225/45/17s, have 'em mounted and run them for a day or so and see how they work.

Things you can do to help. Roll the fenders. Camber bolts in the rear set to max negative camber, that will help avoid hitting fender lip but might introduce rubbing on the strut (doubt it though). Since you don't have much in the back, especially not passengers, that helps a ton. Coilovers will help too, you'll be able to adjust the height like you say and they'll also be stiffer.

This thread is huge, but might help you find some answers http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9129

 

[magnumP5]

Wow, the 18s are lighter (with tires too??). Weird.

I'll continue to threadjack here. Sorry, I should have elaborated a little more. I plan on using Hankook Ventus RS-2 tires so I based my weights on those. The wheel weights website I looked at had wheel weights (www.wheelweights.net) for the CE28Ns in 17x7.5 form and 18x8. I just assumed the 18x7.5 wheels weigh the same as the 18x8 so here's what I've got:

17x7.5 CE28Ns - 13.8 lbs
18x8 CE28Ns - 14.7 lbs

215/40R17 Hankook Ventus RS-2s - 22 lbs
215/35R18 Hankook Ventus RS-2s - 19 lbs

So the 17" combination weighs a total of 35.8 lbs whereas the 18" combination weighs only 33.7 lbs, which is also with a 18x8 wheel which is wider than I would be using. Like I mentioned above, the larger wheels and lower profile tires add to the price though - about $500 extra. So the question is: is the weight savings and rigidity of the larger wheel worth the lower profile and extra money? I'm still working this out but both wheels are available in the same offset, same colors, etc.

 

[lasermp5]

No, that's no thread jack... that's valuable info. Like I said above, (money permitting) I want ce28ns for my next wheel. I would go 18" since they look soooo good on the ce28n, but that would almost certainly mean a brake upgrade... $$$$$ so ya not sure what to do either.

I'm going to search craigslist to see if I can get lucky and find a spent pair of 225/45s and throw them on the rear. If not, I've kind of decided just to get 215/45 a shot. As for the tires, I was thinking about the following three:

the direzza star specs
aziens rt 615s
BF g-force KDWs

I think the dunlops are the best overall pic from what I can determine, seeing that they still perform great and will certainly last longer than the 615s. Opinions?

Wow, my rear definitely doesn't sit that high with the S-Techs.

I know. My car does sit low... I'm comfortable with the ride height and don't really have any complaints with the s tech/blues combo going along with arw 21.5 rsb and the gtspec bits. But I cringe when I see pics like that... looks like I'm monster truckin back there!

 

[lasermp5]

bump. Which rubber?

Falken AZENIS RT-615 (would be my 1st choice, but fast wear and supposedly bad in wet)
Falken FK 452 (baby brother, still good dry traction but better wear)
Dunlop Direzza Sport z1 star spec (the new guy. great reviews so far)
Bfgoodrich g-force T/A KDW 2 (loved my some, not so much by others, but seems to be a popular choice. badass looks)

GO!

 

[MSP2k3]

my vote is for the KDW's out of the choices you posted... i just put on a set of Yokohama S-Drives 215/45/17 and i LOVE them.

 

[magnumP5]

bump. Which rubber?

Falken AZENIS RT-615 (would be my 1st choice, but fast wear and supposedly bad in wet)
Falken FK 452 (baby brother, still good dry traction but better wear)
Dunlop Direzza Sport z1 star spec (the new guy. great reviews so far)
Bfgoodrich g-force T/A KDW 2 (loved my some, not so much by others, but seems to be a popular choice. badass looks)

GO!

Check out the Hankook RS-2s as well. They're similar to the Falken Azenis in treadwear and traction but are a newer design. A lot of people swear by the Falkens but there are better tires out there nowadays. But if you have to stick to that list above, I would definitely suggest the Azenis.

 

[lasermp5]

Check out the Hankook RS-2s as well. They're similar to the Falken Azenis in treadwear and traction but are a newer design. A lot of people swear by the Falkens but there are better tires out there nowadays. But if you have to stick to that list above, I would definitely suggest the Azenis.

Thanks! No I don't have to stick to that list at all... those were just the few that I was thinking about. I'll check out the hankooks...

 

[lasermp5]

So I just picked up a set of Azenis 615s 215/45/17 for 340 shipped! Couldn't pass up that deal. Can't wait to get them on. Just in time for an upcoming all day auto-x clinic in January. Let the zoom-zoom begin!

can anyone recommend a cheap place to get walk in tires mounted and balanced. Most shops around here are anywhere from 10-20 per tire yikes! I did see that wal-mart tire stores offer carry in mount for $3.50/tire and balance for $5/tire, plus extra for valve stems. Might be the way to go but not sure.

 

[gato9lives]

So I just picked up a set of Azenis 615s 215/45/17 for 340 shipped! Couldn't pass up that deal. Can't wait to get them on. Just in time for an upcoming all day auto-x clinic in January. Let the zoom-zoom begin!

can anyone recommend a cheap place to get walk in tires mounted and balanced. Most shops around here are anywhere from 10-20 per tire yikes! I did see that wal-mart tire stores offer carry in mount for $3.50/tire and balance for $5/tire, plus extra for valve stems. Might be the way to go but not sure.

If you dont mid me asking where you bought these at since im also looking for tires..I am killing whatever rubber is left on my 615s . Great tires but only last <10000 mi. I might be looking at the 452 also. had 2 on my car with the 2 451 not too long ago and they seemed comparable to the 451s but as i only had 2 news ones to 2 used 451 i couldnt really tell. Really liked the 451s although they dont perform as good as the 615s.