thoughts on 245/45/16 tires

[Huntervf]

I don't like the look of big rims so 16 inch is where I want to stay...maybe 17 inch rims if they were nice. I'm thinking of going to a 245 series tire; I run Kuhmo 225/50's right now...I'm just wondering if anyone else has or is currently running a 245/45 series tire on 16 inch rims?

 

[cRaZySHO.]

Good question, I was looking into this at one point in time also. My ride with the Intrax's is rough as it is. I want to go wider than 225, and keep a 16" rim.

 

[noSHO]

You'd want (preferably, not an asbolute necessity) an 8" rim with that, which might make for a tight fit in the rear (umm... eek! ), but at far as IF you can do it or SHOULD you, yes, absolutely.


afterthought: You have the Reign if I remember right, no? You'd probably be safe putting a 245 on and it would save you from having to buy wider rims and sell the ones you have, but if I had it to do from the start, I'd put them on an 8" rim. In your position, probably just put them on, but 235 might be a better fit all around (both on the rim and in the rear of the car). How do you like the Khumos? I hear grip is pretty good, but how about wet traction and wear?

 

[SHOZ123]

I have the 245/45/16 Kumhos 712s on my '97 with 7.5" rims. They were hard to balance but otherwise a great road course tire. Very noisy when pushed to the limit. Excellent rain tire, better than the SZ 50. Wear is probably going to be in the 25K to 30k range with some track use. No good at all in temps <32F. I will buy another pair. I wish they came in the 235 size.

 

[shojuan]

I'd only want a wide tire like that if I had wide rims to back them up. IMHO a 7.5" wide rim is perfect for a 215 size tire, an 8" wide rim is perfect for a 225 size tire. Get into the 235's and 245's and you are really compromising maximum handling ability just for the sake up running the biggest section width tire you can, that is unless you are able to move up to an 8.5" rim.

 

[drivinhard]

A 225 tire fits on a 7.5" rim very nicely.

 

[1fastsho]

and 235 tire fits perfectly on a 8" rim

 

[shojuan]

Yeah, they fit. But handling wise a 225 tire would do better on an 8" rim. A 235 would be even better on an 8.5" rim.

 

[SHOZ123]

So why does Furd put 215s on a 6" and 225s on a 6.5"? The minor amount of sidewall of the 245/45 isn't going to flex that much on a 7.5" rim. The bums at Wal-Mart couldn't even break the tires loose from the rims on my Kumhos.....

 

[shojuan]

I implore you to drive a car with the rim/tire matches that I mentioned above. Whatever reason auto companys have for using skinny rims it isn't for ultimate handling performance. They probably do it to keeps costs low and for a quiet ride.

 

[shojuan]

That extra rim width translate to extra support for the tire. Instead of trying to picture the sidewall flex you should be thinking in terms of the extra square inches of rim area beneath the tire. That extra support translates to extra control.

That 7.5" rim width you run with your 245's, I used to drive a car with 7.5" rims beneath 205's. That worked really, really well. And it looked damn good too.

 

[Huntervf]

Hmmm....thanks for the info all! I'm very happy with the Kuhmos, they have outstanding grip in the dry and wet. Not a snow tire though! As for wear, well I only have about 15k on mine and they're pretty much done at this point. Then again that mileage includes several track events and I can't resist pushing the car a little on the twisties around my house. I have the Konig Reign 16 x 7.5...I really don't want to buy another set of rims (saving money for a brake upgrade and a kick ass nitro RC car ) so I may go ahead and try the 245/45's. That's one of the benefits of my job...I can get some tires, mount/balance them myself & see how they fit. If it's not a good setup I just take the tires off & send them back thumbs_u

 

[ACV1081]

I may go ahead and try the 245/45's. That's one of the benefits of my job...I can get some tires, mount/balance them myself & see how they fit. If it's not a good setup I just take the tires off & send them back thumbs_u [/QB]

Keep me posted! I need tires soon for the 16's I picked up for my 93 and I believe they are 7.5"... borbets. I like the look of a meaty tire and I ran 245/45/17's on my old konig reigns and they looked awesome and handled awesome. Anyways let us know thumbs_u

 

[Huntervf]

Willdo...but I won't be doing this until mid April at the earliest eek!