JamesC

Hi All,

So I have somewhat of a loaded question. I am currently running 205/40/17's with DF210's on my xA. The ride is hard to say the least since I commute on tore up freeways. I am looking for a softer ride and intend to replace the rear shocks but now I am looking to get a little more cush in the tires. I am interested in the 205/50/17's for the increase in sidewall but am not sure how well they would fit, then comes the 45's and the debate of 205's vs. 215's. Any pics and input would be appreciated. I am really interested in hearing from anyone who has changed from 40's to 45's or 50's and how the ride quality may have increased.

Thanks,
Jim

vettereddie

James, I just went through this myself. I have a set of Enkei EV 06 17" with 205/40/17's on them that needed replacement after prolonged excessive cornering (wore them out in 12k on the sides, center still had tread) Took them to Mr. Tire for an upsize. Both the 205/50 AND the 215/45 rubbed on the inside back of the fenderwell on the front tires when the wheel was turned sharply. They did not have spacers so I don't know if the problem could be aleviated with more spacing. Offset on the Enkei is 35. Was on the stock spring height, so would most likely be worse if lowered.

Didn't try the 215/40's but I will say the ride quality increased a bit, as well as reduction of road noise when I replaced the Federal's that came on the rim from the internet supplier with a set of Fierce HP's. Good luck, maybe you can find a tire shop that can do some trial fitments for you, but find one that also carries wheel spacers.

hotbox05

the 205/50 and 215/45 rubbed because they are oversized.

andrewdustin

for sure the 215/45 rub. i have had them on now for a while and the inside of my wheel well is down to bare medal, not good. otherwise though, the fitment is fine it just shortens your turning radius.

here is a pic


mine is dropped 2" as well.

JamesC

hmmm....so it sounds as though I have 2 options, either suck it up or try 205/45's to minimize the rubbing as much as possible....

CBSIMONSEZ

This is just my opinion, and everyone knows what opinions are compared to.

If you are looking to make the ride more comfortable you need to switch out the suspension. The DF210s are notorious for having a stiff ride, which is great if you like taking corners at break neck speeds. For more of a daily commute i would suggest you go with a Progress set up, springs and rear sway bar. I have had this set up for over 2 years now and have turn several others onto the ride of this suspension. Matter of fact, the GF used to jump at the chance to drive my xB over hers. The reason, ( i asked her one day ) cause my box drove/handled better then hers. She didnt feel every little crack in the road. Or loose teeth from unseen potholes! She was riding on GoldLines.

Now your othe issue with tires. I wouldnt think of running a 40 series tire, unless you have smooth pavement everywhere. Here in the NorthEast that just isnt possible. From the day i brought my box home i have had all the same sized tire out of 4 sets of wheels. I run a 215/45R17. The GF runs the same as she has one of my old sets of wheels. I run them with 32PSI in the front and 30PSI in the rear and overall have a very pleasant ride anywhere i go.

I do have rubbing issues in the front. On full turns i do rub on the plastic inner fender. I cut my originals with a razor knife some time ago, but recently had to replace the drivers side due to a ground hog taking my original out a few weeks back. Also, if i do hit a large hole i rub ever so slightly at the top of the wheel well. It sounds worse then it is, and i really dont hear that sound all too often. You can not cut your bumpstops as much as i have and you wont have this little issue.

JamesC

Thanks for the input!

CBSIMONSEZ

I forgot to mention i do have a set of OTG shims in the rear of mine. On the GFs i have a universal spacer that is 3MM to get the inside of the rear tire away from the rear sway bar. I will be installing a set of OTG shims on hers as well when i change both of ours over to winter wheels next month.

hotbox05

the 205/45 is stock diameter.

the 215/45 is big but depending upon offset it should work. a 2 inch drop is NOTHING

the 205/50 is the same as 215/45 cept offset is less of an issue with full lock rubbing

CBSIMONSEZ

first its aspect ratio .. not offset. Offset is your wheels, not your tires.

Last i checked; and someone may prove me wrong here, the 215/45R17 is less then 2% off of what stock 15" is. Now where is that tire calculator web page at?

CBSIMONSEZ

I stand corrected. I thought the stock size for the box was a 185/65R15, but its not. According to this site its 185/60R15. that being said. All the type in bold is that of the after market wheel/tire combo

Stock Tire - 185/60R15 >Search Tires Tire 1 - 205/45R17 >Search Tires
Section Width: 7.28 in 185 mm
Section Width: 8.07 in 205 mm

Rim Diameter: 15 in 381 mm
Rim Diameter: 17 in 431.8 mm

Rim Width Range: 5 - 6.5 in
Rim Width Range: 6.5 - 7.5 in

Overall Diameter: 23.74 in 602.99 mm
Overall Diameter: 24.26 in 616.20 mm

Sidewall Height: 4.37 in 110.99 mm
Sidewall Height: 3.63 in 92.202 mm

Radius: 11.87 in 301.49 mm
Radius: 12.13 in 308.10 mm

Circumference: 74.58 in 1894.3 mm
Circumference: 76.21 in 1935.7 mm

Revs per Mile: 876.1
Revs per Mile: 857.3

Actual Speed: 60 mph 100 km/h
Speedometer1: 58.7 mph 97.8 km/h

Speedometer Difference: - Speedometer Difference: 2.192% too slow
Diameter Difference: - Diameter Difference: 2.15%
__________________________________________________________________


Stock Tire - 185/60R15 >Search Tires Tire 1 - 215/45R17 >Search Tires
Section Width: 7.28 in 185 mm
Section Width: 8.46 in 215 mm

Rim Diameter: 15 in 381 mm
Rim Diameter: 17 in 431.8 mm

Rim Width Range: 5 - 6.5 in
Rim Width Range: 7 - 8 in

Overall Diameter: 23.74 in 602.99 mm
Overall Diameter: 24.61 in 625.09 mm

Sidewall Height: 4.37 in 110.99 mm
Sidewall Height: 3.80 in 96.52 mm

Radius: 11.87 in 301.49 mm
Radius: 12.30 in 312.42 mm

Circumference: 74.58 in 1894.3 mm
Circumference: 77.31 in 1963.6 mm

Revs per Mile: 876.1
Revs per Mile: 845.1

Actual Speed: 60 mph 100 km/h
Speedometer1: 57.8 mph 96.4 km/h

Speedometer Difference: - Speedometer Difference: 3.668% too slow
Diameter Difference: - Diameter Difference: 3.54%