225/45/17s

[Kooldino]

I'm looking into getting new summer tires, 225/45/17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 OR Michelin Pilot PS2s. That's not the important part.

The important part is the fit. Before you jump to conclusions, read the whole post.

A stock MP3 rim is 7" wide and has a +55 offset.

My Rota Battles are 7.5" wide and have a +48 offset. 7mm more towards the outside than the stock tires.

AFAIK, a 215 will fit fine on a stock MP3 rim, but a 225 will rub on the strut. I could be wrong.

I need to know two things:
1-Being that I have a lower offset by 7mm, will I be able to get away with the 225s? I want to say yes, and here's why..

The difference between 225s and 215s is 10mm. That's 5mm on each side of the tire. So while I had a 7mm advantage due to offset, it's now a 2mm advantage on the inner shoulder of the tire (7mm - 5mm = 2mm). With me so far? Good.

2-How tall can I go before I hit the strut? A stock 205/45/17 has an overall diameter of 24.3 inches. A 225/45/17 will be 25" in diameter. The difference in the sidewalls will be .4 inches. Can I go that much taller?

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

[dmitrik4]

the outside of your wheel/tire is going to move by more than 7mm. don't forget, you're changing width as well, so add the 7mm of offset to 1/2 the additional width (~6mm).

so in reality, even w/ the same size tire you're moving the outer edge 13mm- basically 1/2" instead of 1/4". either way, i think you should be ok width-wise.

i "dirty measured" about 3/4" between the outer edge of my stock ES tire and the fender liner (about 1 1/4" on the inside). it wil probably be close, though.

edit: and you're probably wasting your time trying to figure out the tire width, since changing rim width affects the tire width. it could very well be that a 225 would fit w/ a 7" rim but rub w/ a 7.5. *shrug* i know the 205 Azenis are a lot wider on 7" rims than on 6.5" rims.

 

[Kooldino]

the outside of your wheel/tire is going to move by more than 7mm. don't forget, you're changing width as well, so add the 7mm of offset to 1/2 the additional width (~6mm).

Right, but I'm not really sweating the outside. That's why I didn't mention that.

so in reality, even w/ the same size tire you're moving the outer edge 13mm- basically 1/2" instead of 1/4". either way, i think you should be ok width-wise.

i "dirty measured" about 3/4" between the outer edge of my stock ES tire and the fender liner (about 1 1/4" on the inside). it wil probably be close, though.

edit: and you're probably wasting your time trying to figure out the tire width, since changing rim width affects the tire width. it could very well be that a 225 would fit w/ a 7" rim but rub w/ a 7.5. *shrug* i know the 205 Azenis are a lot wider on 7" rims than on 6.5" rims.

You think so? I figured it would make a small difference, but a 225 would be a 225 on the outer shoulders no matter what you put it on.

 

[girth]

I'm not an expert by any means but I think what you're suggesting Kooldino would work just fine.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Dino....I really don't think they will fit.....not unless you have your fenders rolled. You know I have the same wheels as you....I am lowered on Eibach's....with my 215/40 there in only 1/8 inch clearance between the edge of my tire and the fender front and back.....and NO my fenders are not rolled.

so if you are going 225/45....I bet they rub like mad dogs in heat.

 

[GhostLinker]

P5 2002

ADR kasai 17, 48mm offset
215/45-17 tires (vredestein ultrac)

and I had to roll the rear fenders.

 

[SkinnyJoint]

P5 2002

ADR kasai 17, 48mm offset
215/45-17 tires (vredestein ultrac)

and I had to roll the rear fenders.

if you put a 205 on it u would have been fine u think?

 

[GhostLinker]

if you put a 205 on it u would have been fine u think?

Yes, with 205, it would have been a perfect fit but I loved the thread on the Ultrac and the smallest tire they make in the 45 profile is 215.
My choice was to go with the 245/45-17 and I had to roll the back fenders.
I am very happy with my choice and it looks super nice. The 45 profile fill to the
edge of the fender and I can barely fit a finger. I will try to find a picture and post it (I have rims with winter tires so I will have to dig old pics).

 

[Kooldino]

Wow, so the difference between teh 215/40/17 I run and 215/45/17 is enough to make it rub...interesting.

Ghost - how wide are your rims?

 

[Mr. Win]

i think it would be fine if you just rolled the fenders.. since you have a sedan.

 

[GhostLinker]

Wow, so the difference between teh 215/40/17 I run and 215/45/17 is enough to make it rub...interesting.

Ghost - how wide are your rims?

The width is the same but the sidewall is taller almost 0.5 inches
The rims are 17x7.

Couldn't find pics of the car dropped with the wheels.

Pics before the car was dropped with eibach and illuminas (no 56K)
http://www3.sympatico.ca/ciscoman/000_0462.JPG
http://www3.sympatico.ca/ciscoman/000_0491.JPG
http://www3.sympatico.ca/ciscoman/000_0492.JPG