ms3 stock tire size..little options

[MS3077]

So in summary putting 225/40/18's on the stock wheels isn't anything one should get their panties all in a bunch about. Just my .02

 

[happy and angry]

Just out of curiosity here:

Would you run your tires underinflated for long periods of time?

Would you run summer tires in snow?

Would you buy a tire speed rated for 120 mph and then stick them on a car that can do 150 mph, and then drive at 150 mph?

Would you put tires on a car with a load rating lower than the car weighs?

Would doing any of these things be smart?

So Why are all the other manufacturer guidelines important, but following rim width specifications is no big deal?

 

[mordant80]

Because in this case it really isn't that big of a deal. The ONLY difference in these two sizes is the 225/40's have a 90mm sidewall and the 225/45 have a 101.25mm sidewall. Sure it's SLIGHTLY out of spec, but come on. I've ran 225/40/16's on a 16x6 inch wheel. I couldn't "recommend" it to anyone but I had zero trouble with it. Autocrossed on it and actually worked out very well for me. Sure it was a lil riskier with hitting potholes, but that's the risk I was willing to take. That said, the 225/40's on our stock wheels is NOT much of a stretch from spec. Sure there are some OCD people that refuse to go out of spec, and that's fine, nothing wrong with that. But no need to jump on anyone if they decide to go slightly out of spec. If something bad happens it's all my fault, noone elses. I'll take full responsibility for my actions.

Edit: Also there seems to be alot more selection of tires for the 225/40 size compared to the 225/45 size. Lower prices too.

 

[wisniaPl]

235/40R18, Rim width range: 8" to 9.5"

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec....&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=0

Squeezing this onto a 7" inch wide rim is really pushing it.

Seriously, 225/45R18 is probably the best you can do on our rim. It's a slightly wider contact patch, a bit taller sidewall, you'll get plenty of protection from curb rash. You guys can do whatever you want and whatever the shops around you are willing to do, but I'll stick within factory spec on tires. I don't **** around with the rubber I put on my car, because it's the single most important component of my car. I track my car, I push it hard in some corners, and the last thing I need is a snakebite flat or a sidewall failure because I've been stretching or squeezing tires to fit on a rim they aren't designed for.

I changed my rims long ago to 18x8

 

[08 Max]

Goodyear Eagle F1 All Seasons in 225/40/18 work fine, they're an excellent option if you don't have harsh enough winters to justify full winters. They don't really much up to the stock BF's in grip in the dry and were excellent in the winter.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...&partnum=24YR8F1ASXL&fromCompare1=yes&place=2

 

[Engineer420]

Thanks for the all feedback guys..I still agree to want to stay 215 like some of you said..the 225 i understand can fit but when it comes down to the fact that the rim wasnt designed for it and I know the car probably won't handle as well with a 225..Do any of you guys know the tire wear with a 225 tire for an extended period of time 10-15 k?? I wonder if a 225 on the stock rim afftects the wear of the tire.

As for the BF goodrich (kdw i think)that do come in the size.. i do like the tread design on the tire(which matters to me) butI havent heard too many good things about the wear and the noise.

 

[MS3077]

I think the car would actually handle a little better with 225's even on the stock wheel.

 

[08 Max]

You have to look at the actual tread widths on the 215's versus the 225's, you'll be surprised, there are cases where the 225 has a narrower width.

 

[ericrapp]

damn I was hoping to put 225/40 on my stock rim. How much will the sidewall differ in looks compared to the 225/45?

The nitto is available in this size. I run an 8" width and was going to run 235 but pussied out. Come to find out you can have all the traction you most likely will need with the softer compounds without oversizing. Good points angry.

 

[rjs_speed3]

damn I was hoping to put 225/40 on my stock rim. How much will the sidewall differ in looks compared to the 225/45?

Stock crappy Potenza 215/45/18

Somewhat better Dunlop Direzza DZ101 225/40/18

Does a quarter of a penny look extreme to you!?!???

IMO, i really like the protection it gives my wheels..

anyone of you can do what ever you want... im not saying you really have to run this size or else.... im just giving this experience as a reference to those who like to do something different, and for a wider variety of tires.. this tire size has worked very well for me as well as many many others.. there's no problem that i, or any other, have ever run into when running this "extreme" tire size... and if ever there is any problem for running such an "extreme" tire size of 225/40/18 over the stock size of 215/45/18, then the tire should be considered a defect.. IMO....

other than that, i will be continuing working as a TIRE TECHNICIAN everyday and whatever happy_and_angry does for a living, he should do the same..

feel free to say whatever you want and to run what ever tire sizes you guys want.. and if you get a freakin hard on about stock tires sizes, then be my guest and run it..

-RJ

 

[MS3077]

Thanks RJ! Looks really good

 

[rjs_speed3]

You are flat out wrong with everything you are saying.

When you exceed the minimum or maximum rim width for a given tire, you are putting more stress on the sidewall than the manufacturer deems safe for proper functioning of the tire, and you are increasing your risk of tire failure.

The minimum rim width for a 225/40R18's is 7.5 inches. The minimum rim width for a 225/45R18 is 7 inches (it may vary by manufacturer but so far I haven't seen that happen). Our rim is 7 inches wide. If you want to run tires that are larger than our tire manufacturers say our rim can support, you are free to do so, but suggesting to others that they should do the same because it is no big deal is pretty irresponsible.

Yes, you can fit tires onto smaller rims than specified and yes you can get the bead to seat properly. You CAN do a lot of things, if you want. This doesn't mean you should.

im sorry but, YOU'RE SOOOOO STUPID.... you can read whatever you want... i've been doing this damn near everyday for the past 4 years (except for sundays, we're closed on sundays).... i could've been promoted as a sales person for Discount Tire, knowing every aspect of a tire... but i chose not to, just for the sake of being a Technician and being able to work on tires more than selling them and expaining everything about a tire to a customer....

 

[MS3077]

Rj Ftw!!!

 

[AutoXRacer]

tire rack sux btw... lmao!!! j/k j/k

i "personally" do not like the direzza's too much.... IMO... i thought that they would be pretty stickly, but no... well at least the way i drive... they skreech way tooo much for me... next i'll try something else...probably the rt-615s or the kdws.. we'll see...

the 225/40/18 actually spins faster than the 225/45/18 by 1 point something mph... but still no probs what so ever.....

Just FYI:
There are two versions of the Direzza's...a cheaper less sticky version (Z1), and a more expensive stickier version (Z1 Star Spec)...

that doesnt really affect the sidewall at all... all you need is the "bead" to seat... 215 to 225 is not extreme enough for you to blow a tire.... 215 to 235 or maybe even 245 (if the bead even seats) will still not blow a tire... the worst case senario would be that the rim "pops" off of the bead during any hard tension (burning out, hard accelaration, hard handling, hitting a bump/ curb hard enough...) at least, this is what i've learned in my profession...

Its not a concern with width, though it does factor in. The main issue here is profile; 40 vs 45. With a 40 series tire in the 215 to 225 width, you are at the borderline of the weight limit for the sidewalls. To over come this you have to maintain the 40 series tire slightly over-inflated to a minimum of OEM tire pressures; I set mine to 37F/35R.

IMO, i really like the protection it gives my wheels..
-RJ

Thats because the OEM tires don't have rim protectors on them...unlike the Direzza's that do.

im sorry but, YOU'RE SOOOOO STUPID.... you can read whatever you want... i've been doing this damn near everyday for the past 4 years (except for sundays, we're closed on sundays).... i could've been promoted as a sales person for Discount Tire, knowing every aspect of a tire... but i chose not to, just for the sake of being a Technician and being able to work on tires more than selling them and expaining everything about a tire to a customer....

Hey rjs, don't mean to single you out, but just because you work at a tire place doesn't mean you know anything about tires, specs, and whats safe (that's not a reliable credential; my little 18 yr old brother works at a tire place and doesn't even know how to change his own oil). I yet have to meet a "tire tech" that knows anything about tires, balancing them properly, and install. Thats why I now do my own tire installs. And if I have to have a shop do it, I only take my wheels and tires. I leave the car home. Endless counts on over torquing lugs, snapping my magnesium lugs, loose lugs, etc...list is too long.

Putting that aside, yes you are right, the 225/40 do fit, but you have to reiterate that you need to maintain higher tire pressures than stock...if not, the side wall will flex, overheat and blow out.

OK, I'll stop (chair)now... (lol2)

 

[Zimmer]

(flame2) heated debate aside ... this has been a good discussion and helps to the discussion / waffling i've been doing about going wider

thanks all!!

 

[pidass15]

(flame2) heated debate aside ... this has been a good discussion and helps to the discussion / waffling i've been doing about going wider

thanks all!!

+1, me as well

 

[happy and angry]

Rj Ftw!!!

Right. The tech that mounts tires on rims narrower than manufacturer spec "wins" this argument because he's been doing something sort of dumb for the last 4 years.

Good one.

 

[happy and angry]

Putting that aside, yes you are right, the 225/40 do fit, but you have to reiterate that you need to maintain higher tire pressures than stock...if not, the side wall will flex, overheat and blow out.

OK, I'll stop (chair)now... (lol2)

Hell, if you want, you can fit 235s, it'll squeeze on the rim with enough effort. The only point I've been making is that doing so increases the risk of tire failure, as you say.

 

[AutoXRacer]

Hell, if you want, you can fit 235s, it'll squeeze on the rim with enough effort. The only point I've been making is that doing so increases the risk of tire failure, as you say.

235s...scary...though I've seen it done on OEM rims...(screwy)

 

[rjs_speed3]

Just FYI:
Its not a concern with width, though it does factor in. The main issue here is profile; 40 vs 45. With a 40 series tire in the 215 to 225 width, you are at the borderline of the weight limit for the sidewalls. To over come this you have to maintain the 40 series tire slightly over-inflated to a minimum of OEM tire pressures; I set mine to 37F/35R.

Our load code on our stock tires is 93 = 1433lb
Thats front at 2866lb and back at 2866lb that our stock tires are meant to hold up..

To the front of my car are 2 Dunlop Direzza Dz101 = 1235lb laod rate x2 = 2470lb. Now the front of our cars weigh approximately 2326lb

To the rear of my car are 2 factory Bridgestone Potenza RE050 = 1433lb load rate x2 = 2866lb
And the rear of our cars weigh approximately 1788lb

so meaning that i am within the tire capacity load rating for my car... over inflating the rubber doesnt make the capacity any stronger/ higher.... you just wear your tires differently, but only slightly... pretty much that's one of the most important things that you need to take into consideration when buying a different tire... size and profile are totally up to you...

Hey rjs, don't mean to single you out, but just because you work at a tire place doesn't mean you know anything about tires, specs, and whats safe (that's not a reliable credential; my little 18 yr old brother works at a tire place and doesn't even know how to change his own oil). I yet have to meet a "tire tech" that knows anything about tires, balancing them properly, and install. Thats why I now do my own tire installs. And if I have to have a shop do it, I only take my wheels and tires. I leave the car home. Endless counts on over torquing lugs, snapping my magnesium lugs, loose lugs, etc...list is too long.

you should tell me what i know then, since you seem to know all about my knowledge.... if we ever meet, i'll show you, if not, then explain to you how to properly balance a tire, mount a tire, and dismount a tire (not to mention a regular mount and a reverse mount).... i would type it out, but there's seriously WAY too much to type..

thank you for your input on my post..