chrisc543

I'm decided in a gforce rival tire and want to get some rims for them. I was looking at 15x8 but wondering what a 225 45 15 tire would fit like ok a 98 coupe. It's going to have koni yellow with gc 450 f and 400 r. Been reading on other forums that you cannot run a 205 tire on 8 in rim. Want it to be safe as its a dd.

TunerN00b

BFGoodrich says the 225/45-15 Rival is approved for wheels 7" to 8.5" in width. The 205/50-15 is approved for 5.5" to 7.5" wheel widths.

Can you stretch the 205/50-15 on the 8"? Of course.
Safely? Probably not, or the manufacturer would have approved it for such (why limit potential sales?).
Will it be optimal for performance? Probably not.

Ignoring all of that, wheel offset is going to matter heavily here, in terms of whether the tires will fit well or not.

chrisc543

Its enkei j speed is 15x8 +25 offset.

Is that enough to run 225?

chrisc543

Does anyone have feedback on 15x7 vs 15x8 for 225 tires?

TunerN00b

The section width, absent an aspect ratio, is meaningless. That makes the question, as asked, unanswerable.

A 205/40-16 is approved for 8" wide wheels. A 205/50-15 is approved for 7.5" (or only 7" for some tires) wide wheels. Just as an example that I happen to remember.

If you have 15x8 wheels for a 98 Civic, you should be running a 225/45-15. There are no other tire sizes that preserve the correct diameter and are approved for that wheel size. That's the burden of trying to run a wheel size that really isn't correct for the car.

If you have 15x7s, then you have better sized wheels for the car and have much more selection in tires. 205/50-15, 225/45-15, and 195/55-15 are then valid sizes.

Obviously, check the information for the specific tire you intend to run to verify that the fitment is correct. Some tires don't follow exactly what is considered normal for a given size.

chrisc543

Thanks

Not sure what to do... get 15x7 with 205 50 or 225 45 or then do the 15x8 with 225 45.

Everything I'm reading for autox people run 15x8.

I just dont want to buy wheels twice or buy wheel that is to big anyways.

TunerN00b

Auto-x use changes EVERYTHING. Quite literally.

One starts with "what are the class allowances?" and goes from there.

What auto-x people run a 15x8?

Auto-x people either run the stock size in stock/street class, or 15x7.5 in STC. If you're going to run in a class that allows things beyond street tires, then it's time for the 15x10s for the front and 275/35-15 A6s.

And I already explained how to not buy wheels that are "too big" (assuming street tires). Get 15x7 wheels, or 15x7.5 if you can find them, in an offset that will work for the car.

chrisc543

Thanks ill start with 15x7 and go from there.

Unfortunately I'm in smf so I don't have much chance of being competitive.

I just want to do it for fun.

chrisc543

Yup started with 15x8+25 and 225 45 15 shall see how they fit. Fender rolling time...