stock tire size: 225/45/18, diameter = 26.0 inches
my current tire size: 245/40/18, diameter = 25.7 inches
tire size i want: 245/35/18, diameter = 24.8 inches

my current tire is a little more sidewall then i was hoping to have when i got these tires a few years ago. i'm down to about 3/32 and my inspection is due in february, so i'm starting to research tires in case they don't pass me with the condition of my tires now. even if they do, i'll need new tires soon i guess. i wanted to save up for new rims by now, but haven't so i'll be keeping the stock wheels.

so...anyway...besides a rougher ride, i'd like to get 245/35/18 for my next tires. would they be too low profile? i have tein s springs, just ordered konis so i'll have them on by the time i get tires...

my concern is the size of the fender gap (it's perfect now, but i'd be "losing" an inch of tire. so will the whole car drop that .9 inches (resulting in me scraping the speedbumps in my apartment!!) or will there be a .9 inch bigger gap in the tire/fender?? is this a dumb question?

as a point of reference in case not many people have tein s w/ this exact tire set-up, here are some similar diameter set-ups to the potential of 24.8 inches...

255/30/19 (25.0 inches)
255/35/18 (25.0 inches)
265/30/18//19 (24.3 inches//25.3 inches)

 

Lots of people run a 35 sidewall and have no problems. Your wheel gap will increase a tiny bit, and you will be a bit lower to the ground.

 

^ thanks. i know a lot of people run a 35 sidewall, but it depends on the width. i was wondering if anyone ran a 245/35. also, i think a lot of people that run 35 are running 19's too. could be wrong, just seems like that's what i've noticed.

 

carefull.... if you go to low and you take a corner hard enough you might "roll" onto your rim

 

Have not run the 245/35-18. But I do run the 265/35 which is fine with me. Speedo is off by about 4 mph (low) at 75 mph

 

thanks guys. i'll probably go for it then when the time comes. i'll take before and after pics to see if it's noticeable.

 

considering that ullloooosseee races 245/35/18 tires i dont think thats a problem. he has won the b-stock championship for several years now. if that was a serious issue, he would have done it by now.

i wouldnt go below a 35 though.

also, a 225/35 has a smaller sidewall than a 245/35.

 

going from a 40 series to 35 series is only 5mm not that big of a gap will b seen

 

sure you can do it,

but why?

you dont seem to be doing track days, or auto x.

your are going to gain worse gas mileage and really off speedo.

btw, the stock 225 /45 / 18 are 25.9"

the only logic would be track or auto x.. but what is the point?

beers

 

I hope All the roads that you drive on are nice and smooth. You are loosing sidewall that can help protect the rim when you hit a pot hole.

 

it's about .9 inches different; it's a percentage of the width, but i agree, it shouldn't be that noticeable.

 

how is the only logic track or auto x? i don't like the look of the bigger sidewall that i have now. i just like the look of lower profile tires. and they are cheaper, at least the brand that i'm looking into. and they should weigh a pound or two less...

 

where i drive they're fine. some roads in texas are terrible, but austin, at least where i am, is fine. i just have stock rims that already have a bit of curb rash anyway!


sorry...i don't know how to multi-quote...

 

yeah mine are 255/35/19 and I love the look of the lo pro tires... I'm just not sure if its right with 18's? Seems like you would see a lot more wheel/fender gap

 

yeah, that's what i'm worried about. i have tein s drop though. do you have a drop w/ your set-up? maybe a tire shop would be willing to put some on to see if i promise to buy the tires from them!! ha ha

 

Buy the box that says Quote, there is a box that has "+. Click on that for all the posts you want to quote in your next reply.

 

ha ha, wow i swear i've tried that before and it didn't work! maybe my mac at home can't do it? either way, thanks for the tip alnielsen

 

yeah I have Tein S-techs on stock struts and I wished they went a lttle lower; so my bet is you'd still have some wheelgap even with the lowering springs

 

hmm, i hope not. it's about an inch total between my current sidewall and the new one, i just don't know if that will all translate to the fender gap. i still have a while, so maybe at some point i can get discount tire to throw them on for me to see. i just order konis, but i don't think that will make it any lower...

 

You want fender gap.... 245-35-18 with stock springs.

 

Hey ULLLOSE are 19's allowed in BS?

 

^I don't think so.

 

Only on an R3. In stock class wheel width and diameter must be stock for your year and model. The only change you are allowed is +/- 1/4" offset allowance, this allows a lot of the aftermarket wheels that don't have our 50mm offset legal.

 

As ULLLOSE cites, you want some fender gap. We're discussing an integral component of the vehicle's suspension system after all. Unless you always drive on super smooth roads, you've got to have some room to absorb what the road will throw at you, especially if you lower your '8.

 

that's what I thought. Last season I ran 2 BS days and no problems; but I think if I get serious and into points and everything I'll have to change to OSP? Or is there another class I can run that's not quite as broad as OSP?