redline870

so ive decided on buying motegi racing 16" traklite rims for my 93 del sol. i have swapped the motor with a jdm type r b18c. i want to take it to the track every once in a while so im looking for good performance over good looks. the car is lowered so what size rims and tires should i get? 16x6.5" or 16x7"rims? 205-40-16? 205-45-16? or 205-50-16 tires? i know 205-40-16 is the same size as the stock tire but that looks kinda small in the wheel well with a lowered car. will any of these rims and tires have rubbing problems? please help!

Sprinter86

I know i put stock sized tires from a coupe on HX wheels for my hatch, and those look thin as hell. Besides, on the track you want more surface contact, so the wider the better, i say.

I mean, think of the design of a tire, changing width determines the coefficient of friction between the tires and the track, which is similar to the molecular compressibility of the rubber. So, "the softer the rubber, the better the friction." But, when you use a softer rubber, you need to make the tires wide enough to give them strength. So, "the softer the tire, the wider it needs to be", to withstand design forces and moments.

And as far as rubbing, it shouldn't matter the rim size, as long as you get proper tires for it. But i think my 15" HX rims are fine, 16 is pretty common i would assume. With coupe tires and 15's, i don't have rubbing on my hatch.

*Credit to Gokul43201 for the physics aspect*

-Gambit-

in a simple answer the correct tire size you want to run is a 205/45/16. if you arent slammed you arent going to rub unless you are going up a crazy bump with your steering wheel at full lock, in that case you will rub with anything.

redline870

what size rim though 16x6.5 or 16x7?

-Gambit-

id go 7 with a 205/45