Guys,

I am about to pull the trigger on new wheels and I want the perfect tire wheel combo. Thanks to Dan I think that I am settling on the falkens as a great tire for the money (i dont drag race) so the value is I hear pretty good. I may also get your opinions on the Nitto 555's which I hear may ride even quiter and still have a good treadlife.

But here is my question. I plan to go with a 19 /20 inch staggered setup and want a bit of meat on my tires so that they dont look like rims with a thin layer of tire. The 275-30-20's are the recommendation by my installer but I want to know if anyone is running a 285 out there and if there are significant rubbing issues and where these occur. Also on the fronts I am contemplating 235-35-19's over the 225's as well.

Anyone running these sizes without issues and I welcome your comments.

THanks

Nate

 

The 285/30R20 on the rear should be fine.

You need to be real careful up front, as clearances are tight. The overall tire/wheel combination should be no taller than 25.5" and no wider than 9.5", or you'll start rubbing the fender well and the upper control arm nut (I think it's called that) at full turn lock. This criteria indicates that if you run a 19" rim up front, the largest tire recommended would be a 235/35R19. You should keep the new rim width the same as OEM (7.5" up front and 9" in the rear) and be real careful with spacers and hub offsets. Gets pretty tricky.

This staggered set should look awesome. Good luck.

 

This will be similar to Dans look (Cogicifer), but I really need to know if anyone has these currently on thie car and if they have any problems.

I need to be sure before I make the final decision.

THnx

 

Unless somebody has these and makes you feel comfortable, you'll need to study the spec's of the tires you've selected. It's called doing your homework.

When you look at the spec's, take note of the overall section width, and most importantly the tread width and the overall diameter. These dimensions can vary slightly, depending upon the rim width. Again, the tire/wheel combo up front should be no larger than 25.5" tall and 9.5" wide. Also take a hard look at the "sticky" under wheels/brakes/tires/suspension forum called "Biggest tires on OEM wheels" for a lot of good poop.

Hopefully, you'll hear back from somebody. If not, do your homework and watch those U-turns.

 

Homework? Heck if you ask Dan he will tell you that I am spending too much time on doing my homework just get it done already. I have done my homeowrk on this and hence looking for real life experiences. THere is no need to reinvent the wheel (good pun) and I also want to get a real life and practical application. Sometimes even the best researched situations have a misstep so lets call this covering my bases entirely.

I am pushing the envelope on these sizes and while I think that they should work I have been talking with my tire guy that says there may be some rubbing. I want to know where these issues may occur and if there are options to address.

Thanks for your input and I appreciate it but the net on the move from the 275's to the 285's appears to be negligible but, if I am going to have issues with the changes I just want to be aware as I can before I take the plunge.

Thnx, and BTW this is a part of my homework, getting great input from the forum team!

Nate

 

Nate,

I'm running 235/35-19's in front. 35 mm (stock) offset. For suspension clearances (upper balljoint nut) I had to install a 10 mm spacer, the minimum hub-centric thickness. On the 225 (stock) setup, the tire is ~ 5/16" (8 mm) away from it. Just widening the tire by 10 mm it gets 5 mm (2/10") closer to that nut. As for height, Dwight is again right. any taller and you interfere with that nut too. Mine work, but when I first installed them, I was not comfortable with it being that close.

30 mm offset would be sweet.

Did you play with this tool?

This is my setup:

Wheel-Tire - RIMS-N-TIRES size comparer&showRim1=1&showTire1=1&sw1=225&ar1=40&bd1 =18&rd1=18&rw1=7.5&et1=35&showRim2=1&showTire2=1&s w2=235&ar2=35&bd2=19&rd2=19&rw2=8.5&et2=35&text1=& text2=

Wheel / tire size calculator / comparer - RIMS-N-TIRES

 

Max Thanks, and yes this tool is great and have used it befor. Your reply is exactly what I was wondering wether the mm would put me over the edge by going with the 235 up front. BTW what are you running on the rears?

N-

 

275/30-20's. 35 mm offset (wheel) and had to add 15mm spacer. It will rub the top of the wheel well, on the inside, on a big bump with a full tank and two of us inside. Once again, that 5 mm closer to the inside will make this a little worse, but with the right offset (15 mm?) it would even look better as well as not touch.

As I recall, when I first bought this car, it would rub in this same place with the OEM wheels when I whacked a big bump at speed.

I'm eventually going to 20 mm in back. When I have an extra $100 for H&R's.

 

Thnx, this is info right on the money. Can or do you have any pics that show where the rubbing occurs on both front and rears?

Also what tires are you running? BTW if i did not have an SSB I would consider your wheels they are really interesting and they do complement you red ride!

 

Max,

I was in you gallery and noticed this pic on you HID's. Is this an example of a rub spot from the tires in the front?

 

The tires are----Falken FK452's. What are you thinking of running?

Getting pics is a PITA. One is in my gallery. Front. In the pics of the HID conversion.
Upper left. That is the drivers' side. The rub is at the far front, and only hits on full lock and hard braking.

 

That's what I was looking for. I couldn't find it! You were using it.

Damn! Oh-yep, that's it!

 

[quote=maxcichon]The tires are----Falken FK452's. What are you thinking of running?

Getting pics is a PITA. quote]

Well I guess then I will just have to get you some Homus to go with that Pita! LOL!

On tires I am thinking of the Falkens as well. I had a guy say that he preferred the Nitto 555 all day long over the Falkens because they were also pretty quiet.

I am still open but like the look of the falkens on your wheels but wondered if anyone had experience with the Nittos.

 

nate_man, it's very difficult to see where the rubbing might occur, let alone trying to take a pic. So, the best way to understand the trouble spots is to fish your hand in and feel the locations. Even this is difficult, but try this:

While on the driver's side of the car, turn the wheel full-lock left - now look and feel around the rear of the left tire, about 3:00 o'clock, on the out-board edge/corner of the tread. You'll see/feel where the tire might rub on the rearward fender well. The fender well is somewhat flexible, so doesn't present a big issue, except for and annoying rub condition during U'ies.

This is the bad one, tho: again, driver's side, turn the wheel straight ahead. This takes a skinny hand, but reach up around the top of the tire, about 12:15 o'clock, and you will feel where the in-board tread wall may come in contact with the upper control arm nut if the tire is too fat and tall. This could be a disaster.

I'm running a 235/40R18 and it's damn close to the control arm nut - the tire is 25.4" tall and 9.3" wide. You are proposing a 255/35R19, which is 25.5" high and 9.3" wide on a 7.5" rim. Should be OK.

Now here's the caveat: You need to consider the profile of the tire you are thinking of buying. I'll try to explain. Some tires, like the OEM Conti's have a very square tread-to-sidewall profile. Some tires have a more rounded or oval profile, and the tread-to-sidewall 'corner' is not as sharp and pronounced. With these tight clearances, the rounded profile is obviuosly preferable. And this is how you can tell from the tire specs:

You will see two widths spec'ed for the tire - the overall section width (which is is real close to the tire size in mm), and the tread width. The closer these two are, the 'squarer' the section profile. For instance I'm running a Bridgestone tire with a very rounded profile. The overall section width is 9.5", but the tread width (rubber on the road) is 8.4", hence a very rounded profile and less apt to rub and foul either the fender wheel OR the control arm nut. Does this make sense? The same size in a Conti would have a tread width of 9.3", the same as the section width. See how 'square' the tire profile is?

In any event, the tread profile of the tire you are selecting will play a BIG role in the rub-or-not-to-rub issue when maximizing tire sizes on the front of the Crossfire. Be careful. As Max explained, the only way out of it is to incorporate spacers to set the tire outward, which is trial and error, and be aware that your garage-man is going to balk at warranties for the tire install. Spacers are just not a good idea and you need to avoid them altogether if you can. They technically weaken the lug due to a longer moment-arm (physics stuff), and I'm told they can play havoc with brake components. Do a search on 'spacers' and you'll see what I mean. Max certainly knows more about this than I do, and he'll point you the right direction if you do need to consider spacers.

Anyway, your proposed tire sizes work as long as the hub off-sets on the new wheels you looking at fit into the math. Nobody can tell you yes or no until you have the wheels nailed down. Holler if we can help any more.

 

Dwight,

Thanks for the detailed reply and yes all good points. Since I am going to be likely going with the Mandrus Milleniums and falken 452's I am likely going to stick with the same setup that Dan has but really am exploring a tad more rubber. It looks as if I will have to go with spacers if I want more rubber or I will just have to stay with stock wheel sizes. THis is painful because the additional inch on the rims makes the wheels pop just right but I dont want those aftermarket modification issues.

All this info has been valuable and I appreciate all the reply's as this is what the forum is all about!


Nate

 

I am running 225/35/19 in the front with a similar rub as shown in the photo above. This is with the car being lowered. I have 285/30/20 in the rear and have a slight rub on the inside top of the wheel well. Each contact point can (and will) be eliminated with a few nice taps from a HAMMER!!!

Oh...I am running the Nittos and like them alot. I have had the Falkens in the past and like them too!