Any pix of MS3 running 235/40 on stock rims?
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Powerslave
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- mps 3
thats what i have i don't have any pics, but they fit great and you get extra traction cuase the tires are fatter. more patch= more grip
Thanks. What type/brand of tire are you running?
RPI-Speed3
Member
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- 2007 Mazdaspeed 3, 2004 Mazda RX-8
DO NOT run 235/40 on the stock MS3 wheel. At 18x7 the wheel is not within the safety range for a tire that wide. You will not have sufficient sidewall support and your handling will actually be WORSE than stock. To run a tire at that width you will need a minimum of 18x8 wheel (or any diameter wheel, just as long as its 8 inches wide).
Thanks. This is exactly what I heard over at Discount Tire yesterday. They would not even do a test fit and said the most they would go is 225/40/18.
Powerslave
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- mps 3
thats NOT what discount tire told me, they said it is a better fit becuase the 225/40 is taller than the 215/45, and the 235/40 is almost the exact fit to 215/45. someone at the tire rack told me the same thing. anyway the car runs great with the fatter tire plus looks meeeaty!
215/45/18 = 25.62
225/40/18 = 25.09 (-.51)
235/40/18 = 25.40 (-.22)
The 235 is closer in diameter but both the 235 and 225 are slightly smaller in diameter versus the 215/45. The reason they would not mount it was that section width is almost an inch larger (.79) which puts more of the sidewall outside the rim. I agree it looks better and really hoped they would do it but they scared me enough to avoid it (for now).
the ill switch
Member
That's shocking, since on their website, they list that 235/40/18's should only be installed on 7.5-9" wide wheels, while our stock wheels are of course only 7" wide.
Here's another vote along the lines of others in the thread - if you want tires that meaty, get wider wheels. It's stupid and pretty unsafe to mount them on 7" wide wheels, and I'd be surprised if you could find a shop that would actually put them on for you.
fourthmeal
Banned
I'll tell you right now that if I were still installing wheels and tires like years ago, I'd REFUSE to mount those tires to those wheels. You've got a dangerous combo there, plain and simple. The handling would decrease in certain performance areas as well (quick transitions most notably), and more importantly the tire is being stressed in places it should never be. If you want to run wide, you have to go with a wider wheel proportional to this.
the combination is not dangerous.......... JUST NOT CORRECT. I worked for Discount Tire for 7 years before leaving to work @ Apex/UMS. Tire Manufacturers state that 7.5 is minimum for 235 section width tires... I agree that handling suffers if you go too wide, but its done quite a bit in autocrossing. Heck in last months Grassroots Motorsports magazine they tested race compound 285s and 295s on 8" wide wheels!!!! Discount typically wont mount an inproper fitment because of the liability issues ( read LAWSUITs) and frankley, they are a b**** too mount up! I used to do it back in the day on mine and my buddys DSMs.....
I would reccomend going to a 7.5 ( they are everywhere ) at least, there is a 3 around running on OE RX-8 wheels( cheap) (18x8) and it looks freaking hot!
bottom line....its not optimal or even "correct" but dangerous is overdoing it a bit.
I would reccomend going to a 7.5 ( they are everywhere ) at least, there is a 3 around running on OE RX-8 wheels( cheap) (18x8) and it looks freaking hot!
bottom line....its not optimal or even "correct" but dangerous is overdoing it a bit.
fourthmeal
Banned
I found it a b****, to say the least. But the reason why I view it as possibly dangerous is the nature of a pinched tire...under pressure and forced on a rim that isn't right for it, you've got a potential bomb there. Sometimes, you can get away with it (.5" difference, not the end of the world), but there are those that REALLY push the limits.
The tire's sidewall construction can also play an important part here. Some tires use reinforced parts inside the design, and stretching them beyond their limits is indeed dangerous. For both the installer, and the user.
The tire's sidewall construction can also play an important part here. Some tires use reinforced parts inside the design, and stretching them beyond their limits is indeed dangerous. For both the installer, and the user.
yes mounting 235's on 7" wide wheels is a b****.......
Most performance tires are contructed well enough that the sidewall will have no issues..... If you see what the drifters do ( I traveled with Falken Tire for 1.5 years working Formula D events) with their stretched fitments
Lets just say that at one point I had a can of WD-40 and a lighter trying to mount up tires for Nomuken (Blitz skyline).....
I don't reccomend the fitment in this thread, just saying it can be done......
fourthmeal
Banned
No doubt...but a racing or drifting competition condition is vastly different compared to a street situation. The tire's life is, what, one day or so? Maybe less, at that? Whereas a street tire is subjected to perhaps a year or more of stress and sidewall binding.
I'm against ultra-wide tires on narrow wheels because I've seen firsthand the results. Beads break, people get hurt, tires fail early, etc.
I've taken some heat on this forum because I've voiced my opinion somewhat loudly on the issue, but if you guys saw what I saw in the tire shop when I was younger, you'd quickly change tone and agree with me. That's all I'm sayin!
I'm against ultra-wide tires on narrow wheels because I've seen firsthand the results. Beads break, people get hurt, tires fail early, etc.
I've taken some heat on this forum because I've voiced my opinion somewhat loudly on the issue, but if you guys saw what I saw in the tire shop when I was younger, you'd quickly change tone and agree with me. That's all I'm sayin!
Boost Addict
Member
I spent some time on tire rack going through tire specs on 235/40s and had a difficult time finding ANY that list an acceptable wheel width of less than 8 inch.
There was one Kumho tire that listed 7.5" and that was it. Although I don't really see this being a big problem... 235/40 should be a nice snug fit on a 7.5inch wheel without really causing the tread to curl up on the edges.
My question to you guys with more tire experience:
On a 7.5" width wheel, would a 225/40 have a larger footprint than a 235/40? I ask because I know when you go too wide for the wheel, the edges will curl up and you end up using less of your contact patch. So theoretically, a 225/40 will put more rubber to the ground than a 235/40, right? That would render the 235 a useless upgrade, and in fact, not an upgrade at all... Any thoughts?
There was one Kumho tire that listed 7.5" and that was it. Although I don't really see this being a big problem... 235/40 should be a nice snug fit on a 7.5inch wheel without really causing the tread to curl up on the edges.
My question to you guys with more tire experience:
On a 7.5" width wheel, would a 225/40 have a larger footprint than a 235/40? I ask because I know when you go too wide for the wheel, the edges will curl up and you end up using less of your contact patch. So theoretically, a 225/40 will put more rubber to the ground than a 235/40, right? That would render the 235 a useless upgrade, and in fact, not an upgrade at all... Any thoughts?
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fourthmeal
Banned
Keep in mind we have a 7" wheel stock, not 7.5".
The "upgrade" to 235/40-18 to me is a lost one, due to the extra stress on the tire and the way the tire folds up when cornering. We need a wider wheel (8") with this tire size, plain and simple.
But it appeals to some, despite the obvious risks and performance loss.
The "upgrade" to 235/40-18 to me is a lost one, due to the extra stress on the tire and the way the tire folds up when cornering. We need a wider wheel (8") with this tire size, plain and simple.
But it appeals to some, despite the obvious risks and performance loss.
Boost Addict
Member
I'm not referring to stockers. I'm referring to a 7.5" wheel... I don't think 235/40 would really be pushing it... do you?
fourthmeal
Banned
Its pushing it, but its not beyond what I would consider safe. I always feel that a 1/2" of margin is acceptable.
Thing is, there are 8" wheels out there we can use, though they are a little hard to find, they are out there. Best possible example is the RX8 wheels. 18x8 with a ~50 offset, they fit like a glove and look hot. Should have been stock on this car!
Thing is, there are 8" wheels out there we can use, though they are a little hard to find, they are out there. Best possible example is the RX8 wheels. 18x8 with a ~50 offset, they fit like a glove and look hot. Should have been stock on this car!
Boost Addict
Member
cool.
I'm looking at the Mazdaspeed/Rays wheel. 18x7.5 and want to maximuize the rubber to the ground while maintaining a good contact patch.
I just want to be sure that 235/40 wouldn't be a back peddle from 225/40 on that specific width of a wheel. Because as you know, sometimes if the tread is too wide, it will curl up on the edges... that defeats the purpose of having wider tires, because you would have had a better contact patch with a narrower tire, effectively providing better tractions... thats all i wanted to clear up... that the 235 would be an upgrade against the 225, and not a downgrade.
I'm looking at the Mazdaspeed/Rays wheel. 18x7.5 and want to maximuize the rubber to the ground while maintaining a good contact patch.
I just want to be sure that 235/40 wouldn't be a back peddle from 225/40 on that specific width of a wheel. Because as you know, sometimes if the tread is too wide, it will curl up on the edges... that defeats the purpose of having wider tires, because you would have had a better contact patch with a narrower tire, effectively providing better tractions... thats all i wanted to clear up... that the 235 would be an upgrade against the 225, and not a downgrade.
will these fit/ be safe on the stock rims?
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fi...nce&pc=40359&rd=18&vid=013094&ar=40&tc=NITHZ8
thinking about getting those when i hit the track. lmk
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fi...nce&pc=40359&rd=18&vid=013094&ar=40&tc=NITHZ8
thinking about getting those when i hit the track. lmk
