MX6.com - View Single Post - Will [Insert Your Rims Here] Rims/Tires fit my car?

**gavin** · 7-21-05, 14:39

Id also like to add another level of confusion to this.

Tires.

The truth is tire makers do not conform to an agreed upon standard for how to measure their tires. 205mm is not always 205mm ( a falken Azenis 205/50/15 measures as wide as a BFG KD 225/50/15, Kumhos 225/50/16 MX measures wider than many 235s and as wide as some 245 tires on the same width wheel). The tire could be a rounded profile, or have very square shoulders. This will affect clearance to struts and fenders.

It would be good to say that witin a manufacturers line there is consistency but even this isnt completely true. Using Falken again as an example, their 215 tire is only marginally wider than thier 205 tire.

This is for a specific application(autocross) but some of this is applicable to others as well.

I run my clearances very tight, stuffing as much tire as I can between the strut body and the fender. A change in tire manufacturer can affect the clearance one has when running tollerences this tight. Spacers have become a necessity as this is a more practical means of changing spacing/offset of wheels than buying new wheels with the "correct" offset.

I would suggest to anyone who is sizing a wheel/tire combo that is on the fringes to check the manufacturers sites(or tire rack) and check listings for tread width and section width(and what wheel width the measuements were taken from). That will help to reduce the chance of clearance issues.

EDIT:speling

Gavin

7-21-05, 14:39	#9 (permalink)
gavin Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: santa cruz.ca iTrader: (1)	Id also like to add another level of confusion to this. Tires. The truth is tire makers do not conform to an agreed upon standard for how to measure their tires. 205mm is not always 205mm ( a falken Azenis 205/50/15 measures as wide as a BFG KD 225/50/15, Kumhos 225/50/16 MX measures wider than many 235s and as wide as some 245 tires on the same width wheel). The tire could be a rounded profile, or have very square shoulders. This will affect clearance to struts and fenders. It would be good to say that witin a manufacturers line there is consistency but even this isnt completely true. Using Falken again as an example, their 215 tire is only marginally wider than thier 205 tire. This is for a specific application(autocross) but some of this is applicable to others as well. I run my clearances very tight, stuffing as much tire as I can between the strut body and the fender. A change in tire manufacturer can affect the clearance one has when running tollerences this tight. Spacers have become a necessity as this is a more practical means of changing spacing/offset of wheels than buying new wheels with the "correct" offset. I would suggest to anyone who is sizing a wheel/tire combo that is on the fringes to check the manufacturers sites(or tire rack) and check listings for tread width and section width(and what wheel width the measuements were taken from). That will help to reduce the chance of clearance issues. EDIT:speling Gavin Last edited by gavin : 7-21-05 at 18:50.