Safest tire width???

[gr330zhp]

Bought a set of wheels last week and am looking at what tire size I can go without too much of a stretch but without rubbing or fender rolling.

Wheels are 18x8.5 et35. Wont say what they are yet :p

Right now on my stock 135s, I have a 235 up front and a 255 in the rear. Recommended tire size on Tirerack for the new wheels is 225 all around. So my question, on stock suspension will I be able to go say 235 or 245 all around without rubbing or rolling my fenders, just because I don't want the tire super stretched?

Thanks
Stathi

[danewilson77]

235 all around for sure. 245 in rear for sure......and most likely....you could go 255 in rear.

[derbo]

I can clear 255 in the front with no fender rolling on my 18x8.5 +40. I had 1.2 degrees of camber with no problems. The rear i have issues with rubbing on larger bumpers even rolled but that problem maybe from my spring rates and being too low.

[nike001]

245 square FTW

[gr330zhp]

Okay now my other question. Since they are the same width rims, would you bother going wider tire out back? Right now I have staggered 135s and directional tires so I couldn't rotate tires. New tires will be non directional, so if I go staggered tires I can only rotate side to side.


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[johnrando]

245 square FTW
+1 That is the general consensus square setup of choice for 18s on ZHPs.

[M0nk3y]

Square wheels = Square Tires.

245s will be the max I'd push it. Going 255s on a 8.5 wheel is too much IMO.

[gr330zhp]

So you think 245s up front would clear? Worst case I have to roll fenders right?

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[derbo]

255/35/18. Bridgestone recommends 8.5-10 wheel for this size. It is on the lower side of the spectrum but it works fine.

Do you run a taller 245 tire or a thinner one?

[gr330zhp]

255/35/18. Bridgestone recommends 8.5-10 wheel for this size. It is on the lower side of the spectrum but it works fine.

Do you run a taller 245 tire or a thinner one?

Right now, 225/40/18 up front, 255/35/40 rear. OE sizes

[nike001]

Square wheels = Square Tires.

245s will be the max I'd push it. Going 255s on a 8.5 wheel is too much IMO.
255's look at home on my ZHP rims, no bulging. Plus, I don't know why anyone would ever want staggered tires on square rims.. defeats the purpose.

So you think 245s up front would clear? Worst case I have to roll fenders right?

HTC Merge

Terra ran 255/8.5" squared with his ZHP rims and had no problems.. so I doubt you would either.

[danewilson77]

Square wheels = Square Tires.

245s will be the max I'd push it. Going 255s on a 8.5 wheel is too much IMO.

That's what the stock 135's are?

[nike001]

That's what the stock 135's are?

Some people don't like them because apparently they "bulge"

[danewilson77]

Ok

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[az3579]

Some people don't like them because apparently they "bulge"

What do you mean?



Looking at the offsets of your new wheels, Stathi, I wouldn't do more than 235 or 245. Depends; is your car lowered? If it is, you will definitely rub with 255's in the rear. I rub with 255's in the rear with +40 offset rears, but I am on H and R cup kit (avoided the Tapatalk ampersand bug ;) ) so your results may vary if you don't have it. At the very least, roll the rear fenders, because IMO it's better to have more rubber on the road so the wider the better.


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[gr330zhp]

What do you mean?



Looking at the offsets of your new wheels, Stathi, I wouldn't do more than 235 or 245. Depends; is your car lowered? If it is, you will definitely rub with 255's in the rear. I rub with 255's in the rear with +40 offset rears, but I am on H and R cup kit (avoided the Tapatalk ampersand bug ;) ) so your results may vary if you don't have it. At the very least, roll the rear fenders, because IMO it's better to have more rubber on the road so the wider the better.


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Thanks BP

Yeah, the offset of the new wheels is et35, not et50 like the Style 135s. My car is on stock suspension, but I may lower it later on in the summer, so I want to keep my options open.

The way I am thinning, maybe go 245s all around

[az3579]

Thanks BP

Yeah, the offset of the new wheels is et35, not et50 like the Style 135s. My car is on stock suspension, but I may lower it later on in the summer, so I want to keep my options open.

The way I am thinning, maybe go 245s all around

If you want to lower in the summer and want 245's, you will definitely have to roll your fenders.


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[gr330zhp]

If you want to lower in the summer and want 245's, you will definitely have to roll your fenders.


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If I don't lower I won't need to roll fenders right? The front can't be rolled anyway, only rear

[az3579]

If I don't lower I won't need to roll fenders right? The front can't be rolled anyway, only rear

I don't know. I've never owned a stock ride-height ZHP so I couldn't tell ya.


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[gr330zhp]

I don't know. I've never owned a stock ride-height ZHP so I couldn't tell ya.


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Gotcha. Thanks anyway

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[nike001]

What do you mean?



People say that they often look stuffed on and bulge out. I don't know what they see, I think it looks fine.

While you're talking about lowering on H&R.. I have 10 & 12mm spacers on front and rear (respectively) and I have an H&R sport cup suspension. So I'll have ET37 Front & ET38 Rear. So with what you're saying is that I'll end up rubbing with those sized spacers? They guy I bought my spacers from said "they won't rub on a lowered ZHP." Lowered on what and how much.. I don't know.

For OP, I still say 245 all around. More rubber = Good. If you have any problems, I can't imagine that they'd be hard to fix.

[zhp43867]

245/35/18 will probably work because it is a relatively short tire. 235/40/18 should also work and is a little taller than the stock tire- and it may give you better ride quality because there is a little more volume in that tire than the 245/35/18.

Don't do 255/35/18, it will rub even on a stock car with that width an offset of wheel (8.5" ET35). 255/35/18 on an ultra high performance summer (which are usually a little wider than spec, 255-> 260-265) on an 8.5" ET 37-38 wheel is just at the edge of rubbing when the car is loaded on a stock suspension. ET35 is too aggressive for a 255/35, unless you are fitting it in the rear of a coupe (where it may fit), but not a sedan. This is of course not counting the possibility of fender rolling.

I would do 235/40 over 245/35, because 245/35 is going to be a very "small" looking tire. Then again sport 330s came with 245/40/17 rears (I think?) and that would be almost the same diameter as 245/35/18.

Just some numbers:

245/35/18- 24.8" diameter
235/40/18- 25.4" diameter
255/35/18- 25.0" diameter

On an 8.5" 225 will look okay but it's a little thin, and you may miss width in the rear when you are WOT taking off. It also doesn't really offer any rim protection.

245/35 on a 9":

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?p=13320828&posted=1#post13320828

A thread with Apex wheels and various widths- one is showing a 235/40/18 on an 8.5":

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=790414&page=3

[mimalmo]

Do 245's Stathi, it'll work well with those wheels. With a proper alignment you shouldn't need a fender roll.

[gr330zhp]

Do 245's Stathi, it'll work well with those wheels. With a proper alignment you shouldn't need a fender roll.

I think that's what I am going to do. 245s squared, and then alignment. Thanks Eli! Hoping they are in tomorrow.

[terraphantm]

Square wheels = Square Tires.

245s will be the max I'd push it. Going 255s on a 8.5 wheel is too much IMO.

Why? ZHP comes with 255s on 8.5s from the factory. I personally ran 255 square when I had my ZHP and loved it. Almost completely eliminated the understeer

Of course there's not much point in going with wide tires if you don't have good tires too. I personally ran PS2s on that ZHP.

[terraphantm]

Thanks BP

Yeah, the offset of the new wheels is et35, not et50 like the Style 135s. My car is on stock suspension, but I may lower it later on in the summer, so I want to keep my options open.

The way I am thinning, maybe go 245s all around

With ET35 it's going to depend on the tire. Something with a rounder sidewall should work fine. A very "square" tire like the Direzza Z1 would give you problems. My ZHP rubbed slightly in the rear with 235/40 Z1s on ET35 rears (keep in mind I had 550 lb/in springs in the back). While a 245 or 255 would be wider, they'll also be shorter, so it might be okay.

[johnrando]

Why? ZHP comes with 255s on 8.5s from the factory. I personally ran 255 square when I had my ZHP and loved it. Almost completely eliminated the understeer

Of course there's not much point in going with wide tires if you don't have good tires too. I personally ran PS2s on that ZHP.

Terra, so no issues with 255/35 on 8.5 all the way around? I read somewhere that if you were to do that some negative camber is recommended, did you have to? I might do the 255s.

[mimalmo]

Terra, so no issues with 255/35 on 8.5 all the way around? I read somewhere that if you were to do that some negative camber is recommended, did you have to? I might do the 255s.

Totally depends on offset, ride height, camber, tire choice, etc.

[gr330zhp]

Ended up going 235/40/18 all around with Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Honestly I think if I went any wider it would rub...so happy with the results though. These Super Sports are INCREDIBLE, def worth the $$!

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[johnrando]

Totally depends on offset, ride height, camber, tire choice, etc.

Standard offsets on the stock 135s is what I was thinking, 8.5 all the way around. I thought I decided on 245 but now I'm leaning to 255. My ride is LOW... H&R cup kit with race springs.

[terraphantm]

Terra, so no issues with 255/35 on 8.5 all the way around? I read somewhere that if you were to do that some negative camber is recommended, did you have to? I might do the 255s.

I didn't have a problem with stock suspension, and I didn't have a problem when I was slightly lowered too (I think I was running -1 front and -2 rear as far as camber goes). The tires I ran were Michelin PS2s fwiw