Probably a bit of a noobie question but ...

I am about to lower my car and I am leaning toward the hotchkis springs so maybe I don't want to change anything but what other tire size options do I have and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

I have seen the chart:

17x8.0x35 235/45 Hotchkis No

But I am not really sure what the 8.0 and the 35 mean?

Stock tires example: 215 45 ZR 17
I know that 215 is the width. 45 is a width to hight percentage. Z is the speed rating and R it radial. the 17 is the size of the rim.

1. Could I go with a slightly wider tire? I think that the wider tire would give me a bit more grip on dry road but it would plain out a little easier on rain and snow.


2. And could I get a slightly higher side wall. I believe that that would give me a little bit more cushion on the bumps ( to soften the ride from the springs) but it would make the suspension a little looser because of the causeing the weight of the car to "slide" from side to side over bumps.

Is any of this true?

Am I way off?

Any help would be great .... Thank you!

yes it will give you more cushion but you will rub like a _____ and your speedometer will be way off. but yes you can do it.

yes it will give you more cushion but you will rub like a biscuit and your speedometer will be way off. but yes you can do it.

speedometer way off... that's not good!

I had not thought of that. So by increasing the sidewall I'm be increasing the diameter of the wheel. Soooo what about ppl with 18s or 19s ... doesn't that effect the speedometer?

and what about the width thing could I do 225 45 17?

Should I just stay what is proven to work on the stock rim?

yo ucould do a 225/45/17 on the stock wheel, if the wheel was 8" wide you could go to a 235/45/17.

with people with 18's or 19's they run a lower aspect ratio, like when i had my 19s i ran a 35% aspect ratio, it altered the speedometer but not much