Tire & wheel question for the masses...

[PuckHead]

Hiya!
I have the chance to pick up a set of 18"'s for the SHO, but am unsure about fitment and what tires to get for them. I have Eibachs and Tokicos right now, and am running 235/45-17's on my 17X7.5 Momos with no rubbing or fitment problems.

Can anyone give a little opinion? Thanks!

Later!
boink

 

[ChrisR]

I would use 225/40's. They will give you a little more sidewall, and not be too harsh of a ride. You could go 235/35 if you wanted a little beefier tire, but sacrifice ride quality.

 

[PuckHead]

Thanks for the info. I am hoping to stay as close to the stock overall diameter of tire also. I was thinking of 235/45-18, that way my gearing and speedo won't be as messed up.

Can you offer any specific brands and/or models of tire?

Later!
boink

 

[twr]

Kelly,
Those rims are from Sieger's 92 SHO, He's running Intrax and KYB's with no fitment problems at all. Don't recall what tire size he has, but I can ask him.

 

[RI-SHO]

Chris what were you thinking when you posted

Try finding 235/35/18 tires out there, if you find any at all you'll have like one brand selection if that.

Even if they do make the 235/35 tires it would still be barly over 25" overall diameter, stock is 26.3" with a 215/60/16 tire, the same goes with the 235/45/18 you want just not many are made, if any. Those 225/40's would also be way too small, barly 25" in diameter.

Only way to be close to the stock diameter with any 18" rim would be a 245/40/18 with a 25.7" diameter, then one step down would be 235/40/18 with 25.5", but then with the 245mm tire you run into rubbing issues if lowered enough or with very aggressive driving.

BTW dont even think of going higher with 235/50 tires, there past 27", that would give you a very high gearing and just a no no to go past the stock tire diameter unless you have 20"+ rims to back up those tires.

 

[wuzzzer]

Well Puck, the Tire Rack has a whopping 1 tire available in 235/45/18, the Continental ContiSport Contact 2 @ $194.

So, there you go!
wink

 

[PuckHead]

Thanks all for the opinions and advice. After reviewing the pics and pricing out tires, I have decided to stick with my current setup and just replace the tires when need be.

On a side note, Whalen Tire (www.whalentire.com) has 235/45-17's going for $96 to $199 right now.

PS
Mark (wuzzzer), I'd like to meet up and see what your SHO looks like with your HIDs. Let me know if sometime this weekend might work. I may be over in St. Cloud on Saturday.


Later!
boink

 

[ChrisR]

I should have known the tire/rim expert was going to chime in on this subject wink

Anyways, Edien is totally right (as usual).
So my 225/40's are way small, I never knew that. Although, does it matter what the width of the rim is? cause mine is only 7.5, so maybe that would make the tire a little more squished, thus making it taller? (then an 8" wide rim).

 

[ChrisR]

Oh yeah, do they make 225/50 series? That might be close to stock diameter?