Tire Width vs Wheel Width

[Coultergeist]

Originally Posted by Synacks

I sent them an email, maybe we'll be able to work something out. I know ADV1 has these very similar wheels but they are 3-4 times the price. So..... PASS.

I was interested in the same wheel, or S7:F, but from my understanding, they aren't even available in 18in AT ALL for at least a few months.

This is from talking with a manager at the dealer who has 5axis everything on his car and is in constant contact with them.

[Synack]

Originally Posted by Coultergeist

I was interested in the same wheel, or S7:F, but from my understanding, they aren't even available in 18in AT ALL for at least a few months.

This is from talking with a manager at the dealer who has 5axis everything on his car and is in constant contact with them.

That's a bummer. I was about to buy these for my 370 but ended up changing cars. I was going to get them in 19x10.5 for that. I still really want them. I think Gramlight has a similar wheel possibly.

[Synack]

Originally Posted by Stu baru

See this topic/thread for pics of a 9" wheel with 255's to get an idea of the look:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8833

the 255's on a 9 don't look too bad, but the tire is too tall IMO. So I'd get 255/35/18 in that case.

[civicdrivr]

Im running 225s on my 8.5" wide wheels. Its very slightly stretched, but theres tons of grip. I have no plans to run a wider tire at the current power levels.

[Vracer111]

The FR-S/BRZ doesn't need wide tires for grip, stock size in sticky compound works fine for stock power. Kumho XS in 215/45-17 on 17x8" wheels perform better on my FR-S than 275/40-17 Nitto 555RII DOT-R tires on 17x9.5" Z06 wheels on my 'lightweight" 98 V6 Camaro (3200lbs.) The FR-S is quicker on all sections of track and ~3 seconds a lap faster for me stock on the 'skinny' street tires than a stripped out V6 Camaro with upgraded suspension (Koni dampers, tubular arms and spherical ball joints, massive hollow anti-roll bars F & R) and wide DOT-R tires was...

[Synack]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

The FR-S/BRZ doesn't need wide tires for grip, stock size in sticky compound works fine for stock power. Kumho XS in 215/45-17 on 17x8" wheels perform better on my FR-S than 275/40-17 Nitto 555RII DOT-R tires on 17x9.5" Z06 wheels on my 'lightweight" 98 V6 Camaro (3200lbs.) The FR-S is quicker on all sections of track and ~3 seconds a lap faster for me stock on the 'skinny' street tires than a stripped out V6 Camaro with upgraded suspension (Koni dampers, tubular arms and spherical ball joints, massive hollow anti-roll bars F & R) and wide DOT-R tires was...

Right I read the same article. But firstly this car isn't going to be stock power for very long and second I'm going for looks as well. If I'm rocking a 215 then it'll look like I have Prius tires. Minimum I'll be doing 255. It'll look just wide enough to look good from the back and not skinny enough to look like a slow car. 285's worked and looked great on my 370. Because I know I'm going to boost it I will probably want 265's or more so I may end up just getting a 9.5" wide wheel but like I was saying I wish they would have 18" in this particular wheel that goes that wide because I don't know how well or not so good 19's will look.

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[Vracer111]

I just don't see the point in overly excessively wide tires when a 245/40-17 Kumho XS or Hankook RS-3 on 17x9's should be enough for an ~300 hp FR-S.

[ABQautoxer]

because a 245 is pretty small on a 2600lbs car when there is nothing limiting the tire size such as autox rules. I would run 275s if I could and it fit properly but maybe that's just me.

[Synack]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

I just don't see the point in overly excessively wide tires when a 245/40-17 Kumho XS or Hankook RS-3 on 17x9's should be enough for an ~300 hp FR-S.

Have you ever owned a car that had 275 width or more? It looks flipping awesome. That's the point. It also serves a purpose for traction as well. Sure you might be going for adequacy but I'm going for full on hella flush looks with wide tires that look awesome and that also function.

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[Synack]

Originally Posted by ABQautoxer

because a 245 is pretty small on a 2600lbs car when there is nothing limiting the tire size such as autox rules. I would run 275s if I could and it fit properly but maybe that's just me.

275 would be perfect with a 18x10! Would look great.

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[jamal]

Going wider than is necessary for the power and weight of a car will only make it slower and less responsive because it has more rubber to heat up. With 200hp and 2600lb I would expect 245-255 is about all the tire anyone would ever need. Plus think of how much more an 18x10 with a 275 weighs than a 225 on a 17x8.

Wider tires don't give you more grip, they give you more heat capacity. say you have a 225 slick vs a 275 slick on an FRS. The 275 might not ever get up to temp and won't grip as well as that 225 operating at the right temperature.

As far as fitting tires on wheels, it is better to have the wheel a little wider than the tire. You get a little less flex and better response. I'm not talking hellaflush stretched, but it's better to put something like a 225-235 on an 8" rim vs a 245-255.

[Vracer111]

Yes I've had a car that needed 275mm+ width tires (because of it's weight...):



Is this for street or track use? I think you should drive an FR-S to it's limits first before you go changing tire widths to such an extreme...because 215/45-17 Kumho XS on 17x8 wheels are too much tire for daily driver street use on this car in stock form - it actually changes the handling characteristics to more neutral/understeering while raising the grip threshold so much you can't break the tires loose with all traction and stability aids off, wet or dry, unless you are driving like an idiot who wants to immediately get license revoked and car impounded...

But on track it suits the car 100%, with perfectly neutral handling and has the right balance of grip (so much lateral grip actually that the stock seats and seatbelts fail to keep you positioned properly and you have to use your legs for bracing to keep from being thrown side to side.)

...that's on a 215/45-17 street tire.

I've also had a 2300lb '90 Integra RS on 15x8 wheels and 225/45-15 DOT-R tires that handled even better than the Camaro, and it's still doesn't compare to the FR-S on 215/45-17 street tires.



Seriously, Toyota and Subaru knew what they were doing when they created this car... it doesn't need massive width tires for increasing its handling potential. Massive width tires and wheels will also degrade the suspension due to a very increased unsprung weight, so the grip increase will also be offset by an increased mass working against the suspension.... might as well go with a more conservative width and lighter weight setup that won't upset the chassis so much. Same basic net grip level, with better handling due to lighter unsprung weight, especially if lighter than stock...

Just trying to help.

[Synack]

90% street and 10% drifting once a month or so. Its going to be a 250+whp daily driver and once a month weekend drifter. Same as my 370 was. I got what I needed out of this thread so thanks guys.

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[boredom.is.me]

250+hp from where exactly?