orcas1013

I have posted some pics cuz I need a new set of tires soon. My front ones are getting pretty bad. I don't know which kind to get though. My car is sitting on 18 Motegi RS7 and I want a tire that fills the space up some more, a more fuller or beefy, but not extremely beefy tire... if that makes any sense. I just want tires that look good. There are some pics of my car so let me know what you guys think I should get :0)




Front tire


Rear tire

lol you think I need tires?

SuperMario6582

what size tires are those? you could go 215/40/18. if you wanted to fill up the space you could always lower the car.

daneisthegreatest

iTrader: (1)

yeah i would also like to know the size of the tire that is on there...you could go with a 225/40/18 and i would not go any bigger than a 225/45/18...

the wider a tire is the taller the sidewall is, for example a 205/40/18 is going to be a smaller tire (in height) than a 215/40/18...they are both 40 series tires, but the width changes the sidewall height.

so if you tell us the size of the tires it will help us out a ton...

daneisthegreatest

iTrader: (1)

and i also agree a drop on that box would get rid of all the fender gap

orcas1013

My bad i totally forgot to put that in there! They are 215/35/18. lol and I would love to go lower than I did, but the 110 mile commute daily just to work and back makes me not really wanna. Wish I could afford an air bag kit :0)

xBster

a 215/40 would be a little taller and fill the wheel well a bit more

BoxOffice

Unfortunately, you're approaching it from the wrong angle. A taller or "beefier" tire as you put it, isn't really going to "fill that gap" in your wheelwell. Its just going to be taller, and your car is going to be further off the ground, your speedo will be off, and the gap will be nearly identical!
Your 215/35-18 is pretty close to the stock 185/60-15 diameter/height. Going to a 215/40-18 increases tire height by 1 1/8". A 225/40-18 increases it by almost 1 1/2". (I'd also recommend buying all 4 of the same tire next time, as dimensions vary quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer.)
As mentioned, what you need is a lowering job, which ever way you approach it. Put taller tires on it, and its just going to look like a 4 wheel drive...

koalaty2

A taller tire will narrow the gap to the fender. It will just be 1/2 the increase of the overall tire diameter. A 1" taller tire will raise the car 1/2" more off the ground, and 1/2" closer to the fender. A drop decreases both road clearance, and fender gap at the same time.

JoMac

Don't get a taller tire, just get some mild springs. I commute on my DF's and it isn't really that bad. And Falken is a good tire.

BoxOffice

Um....no.
The decrease of room between tire and fender will be negligible.
Think about it: using your 1" taller example, yes, it will raise the car by just 1/2" (half the difference of 1" increased diameter of the tire). But that fender is now also 1/2" further away from the ground, because you've raised the car height. So even though the tire IS taller, and seems like it should fill the wheelwell better/be closer to the fender, it really doesn't quite work that way. It will be a LITTLE closer (I'd have to sit down and trig that out), but barely enough to measure.
Since it looks like he's got about a 2" gap now, that isn't going to make the difference he's looking for.
Again, bottom line if you want to decrease the space between tire and fender: lower the car. I know you're concerned about ride quality with a long commute, but that can be addressed with the right equipment. Up until a couple of months ago, I had a 160 mile commute 4 days a week. I went with InTrax progessively wound springs (this is a HUGE part of the secret to ride quality) and Koni yellow shocks. If Konis aren't in your budget, there are several posts on here about the Monroes, which seem to give a nice ride.
My drop was a tick over 2", and ride quality is great. It will never be as good as stock in all conditions, but you'd be surprised how decent it can be, while at the same time enhancing your handling to limits you wouldn't have otherwise believed.
What ever you do, best of luck...

bB2NER

The tire size IS right already. You won't want to go larger than 215/40/18. Also, swap out your TRD springs for some Tein S-techs for the perfect look and ride.
You also need rear spacers bad. You might also want to try a set of rear monroe shocks to smooth out the commute.

Super-Stormtrooper07

I'd get these 225/40/18" :

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...59&rd=18&ar=40

Good price @ $97 ea. , but discount tire is having a buy 4 tire deal, where you get back an instant $100 right now = which would make these tires $72ea !!!! These Falkens seem to get good reviews.

bB2NER

The correct size is 215/35/18 so here is how 225/40/18 compares
http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp?postId=906
Now here is how 215/40/18 compares to 215/35/18
http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp?postId=906

The decision is yours but if you plan a drop and rear spacers
I'd stick with a size more closer to 215/35/18 or you might have rubbing issues down the road. Food for thought.

205/40/18 would be a nice size. You get 1/2 inch taller tire over the 215/35 for added pothole security without the risk of future rubbing issues.

HeathenBrewing

Remember, tire rotation is your friend.

orcas1013

Could I go with a 225/40/18 as of right now and not have any rubbing slash other issues? My car has been sitting for a couple days because I blew out a tire... so i need to get this resolved today lol

bB2NER

I just ran that size through my tire calculator and it ends up being 1/2 inch taller than 215/45/17s that were rubbing on mine with a mild drop. They will be very close to rubbing the side skirt in the front of the rear wheelwells. I couldn't even get my fingers into that area with the 215/45/17s so it will be very close with your size.
Why such a large size? If you wanted more sidewall height you really should have went 17"s or smaller.

orcas1013

lol well I really didnt have a choice the rims came with the car. Otherwise I wouldnt have went that big. And the only reason I am seeing if those would fit is to save some money. When you go up to 225 from 215 the price drops a bunch!

orcas1013

could rear wheel spacers take care of this problem?

bB2NER

Spacers are in and out clearance. This is front to rear issues. The tire being that tall places it too close to the front of the rear wheelwell right at the rocker sideskirt. If you are looking at the drivers side tire it would be located at like 9 oclock position