Advantage to running a wider wheel?

[TAftonomos]

Going to order up a set of 15" wheels for the duece. I've found a set that look great on my white 2 (Konig Feather in gold), but they are only 6.5" wide.

Since I only plan on running a 195 tire, am I giving up a ton of grip by not going with a 7 or 7.5" wide wheel?

I don't want to be auto X ing against mini cooper S's and highly modified street cars, so I need to stay in whatever class it is that the car does best (STF?)

 

[CRG Racer24]

Only thing you're giving up by going with a 6.5 instead of a 7-7.5 is turn-in response.

 

[eyeballs]

true. turn-in should still be better than stock though since your tire choice will likely have stiffer sidewalls compared to stock, but if you will be autocrossing regularly you'd be better off with a wider choice and a max performance tire to go with it.

 

[TAftonomos]

Well then, in the name of appearance the feather weight is out, I'll look for the 7.5" wheels. I guess I could always have them sprayed the gold color I want....

Will a 195 tire still work, or should I go to a 205? The car has to pull double duty (daily driven) so I can't go with a V700 or something else that will wear like that...

 

[CRG Racer24]

195 will work more than fine on a 7.5".. actually, it's better suited for a 7.5". 205's are perfectly suited for an 8" rim (specifically speaking of 15's).

 

[Ryno666]

225 235 & 245 go on 8 inch wheels first number is tread width in millimeters. Unless your drifting and want a huge stretch.

 

[Ryno666]

Advantage is more contact patch, less turning radius better grip take off and with lower profile tires less time it takes for energy to transfer to ground. My enkei rpo1's have 205's but my 17x7.5 daily driver racingharts have 215 4517s

 

[eyeballs]

For auto-x purposes a 195/50 on a 15x7.5 seems to be the hot setup. Offset seems to vary though from what I've seen on the forum. Search for Erv, Andres, and AndyHollis's input on here as they are competing at a national level and have tested numerous setups.

 

[ngd298]

My 16x7's have much more grip than the 15x6's did. Be prepared to loose about 2 or 3 mpg though.

 

[CRG Racer24]

225 235 & 245 go on 8 inch wheels first number is tread width in millimeters. Unless your drifting and want a huge stretch.

Sure, if you're talking of 17" and above. Btw, 195/50/15 will be no where near a huge stretch on a 15x7.5.

 

[TAftonomos]

16 or 17 " wheels do look better, but for several reasons I'm sticking with the 15's.

Looks like Konig Lightspeeds are 15x7.5, and about 100$ each.

I found OE TPMS sensors for ~$125, now to decide on tires....

 

[Ryno666]

I went with these Kumho's love them! There not as pricey as other fancy tires and I get a hook up from the tire company I spent ten years working for, but my friends in miata racing clubs love them also.

 

[CRG Racer24]

16 or 17 " wheels do look better, but for several reasons I'm sticking with the 15's.

Wasn't what I meant. And I beg to differ, I think 16's/17's look too big on this car, IMO, and are too heavy.

But congrats on the new wheel purchase!

 

[Max Archer]

I think 16"s look ok if the car's not too lowered and the tire profile is right. They have to be the right style, too, one with a lip will look much better than one where the spokes come right to the tire. 17s are definitely overkill though.

 

[ngd298]

17<15<16
However, 15's can look REALLY good with a drop and low offset.