My car is 1993 Honda civic dx coupe with all the suspension works.

I have a set of velox vx8r's 16x7 and I'm trying to decide if 215/50/16 are going to be to big for auto cross. I know they will run good for drag racing.

The tire is the Falken Azenis rt 615. I just don't want to lose the handling because I'm afraid the tires will not clear easy when turning at this size. And If I go smaller than I will sacrifice the drag performance potentials. I need to reach A mid point.

If there is anyone out there that can understand my situation please help. Peace!


Modified by Hecdosage at 3:28 PM 3/23/2006

 

A 215/45 16 is gonna be the biggest you will want to go without fender modification (you may still need to trim the inner fender lip though).

On a performance street radial, the higher profile isn't going to help much at the drag strip. No need to stuff the taller tire in there. The only benefit will be the bigger circumfrence which will give a tad longer contact patch, but nothing much.

The Rt-615 is a good tire and still does pretty well on the strip compared to a daily driver performance tire.


Hope that helps.

 

Thanks for the input. It helps alot.
I just thought it makes sense that when you have a taller tire it gives you more rubber giving more flex especially when you lower the tire pressure a little so that it can grip better and give you that rubberband effect and increase your launch.

 

215/50-16 and 215/45-16 are both WAY too big for a '93 Civic Coupe (8.0 and 4.3 percent bigger diameter than stock - that's HUGE). Get 205/40-16, which is available in the Azenis RT-615. That's the right size for your car, won't rub, won't slow your acceleration, and won't throw off your speedometer and odometer.

205/40-16

 

Well right now I have 205/45/16 pzeros and they don't rub. I also have adjustable coilovers and skunk 2 camber kit to assure proper clearencing. But before the suspension upgrade they rubbed on hard turns only.

I don't like 205/40 because they don't last long and they're not durable for street also they have to many limits. Thanks though for the suggestion I do appreciate it. Peace!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hecdosage &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well right now I have 205/45/16 pzeros and they don't rub.
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I don't like 205/40 because they don't last long and they're not durable for street also they have to many limits.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's not because of the size! 205/40 lasts just as long, and is just as durable, as 205/45. But different MODELS (not sizes) of tires last longer. The PZero is going to last longer than the Azenis. So does every other street tire.

 

Yeah you're right about the tires. I guess I should have been more detailed. The compounds on the azenis is softer. But what I mean is that the 40 wall is thinner than the 45 and 50 so theoritically the 40 will go first. Also the 40 has less "meat" as I like to call it.

You have hardly any traction with 40 walls when you have 400+ whp ya know peace!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hecdosage &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the 40 wall is thinner than the 45 and 50 so theoritically the 40 will go first.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nonsense. The height of the sidewalls, which varies with the aspect ratio, has nothing to do with how long the tires last.

What determines how long the tires last are the softness of the compound, and the thickness of the tread. For all the tires I know, the tread depth of the 205/40-16 is the same as the tread depth of the 45 and 50 aspect ratio sizes. (It's 8/32" on all sizes of Azenis, for example.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nonsense. For all the tires I know, the tread depth of the 205/40-16 is the same as the tread depth of the 45 and 50 aspect ratio sizes. (It's 8/32" on all sizes of Azenis, for example.)
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Measure from the rim lip to the tire and you will see that there is more rubber the bigger the sidewall 40mm, 45mm, 50mm and so on it get bigger if thaey were all the same than they would not make so many different sizes.

 

It's logic I don't see your argument here Einstein LOL I'm not talking about tread......

 

Yes, more rubber is visible on tires with a higher aspect ratio, but they don't last any longer, like you claimed they do.

And don't be an ***.

The bigger tire is just going to make your car accelerate slower. Get 205/40-16 and you'll be fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hecdosage &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's logic I don't see your argument here Einstein LOL I'm not talking about tread......</TD></TR></TABLE>

What are you talking about then. Side side wall raitio (it's 40%, 45%, 50%, not 40mm, 45mm, 50mm) just determines how big or "tall" the sidewall is.

Like stated many times before. Size of the tire will not affect the life of the tire. The tire model is what affects the life of the tire.

Yes tires are made in many different sizes, there are many different kinds of cars out there.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And don't be an ***.
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Let me explain since you guys are starting to get frustrated. The more rubber you have/bigger sidewall the less friction you create. The bigger sidewall absorbs more friction because of its potential to flex.

Rather than having low profile tires like a 40 which have very little to no flex capabilities it will have to burn and withstand all the friction. This is why I can assure you that the 40's have a shorter lifespan its obviously burning more rubber.

There are many other variables that may be considered but the fact of the matter is that you won't be able to lower psi levels safely on 40 wall tires, so 40 is not good for drag period!!!

And as far as accerlation goes it does not help when you're burning rubber and the gut next to has past you with less accerlation. that why they made huge slicks for drag not 40's.

I ain;t mad at ya it's all luv here Peace!!

 

You said that these tires would be used for "road and drag racing". And then you chose a street tire, rather than a track or drag tire. I'm getting all confused.

If you want to get tires for the dragstrip, then get drag radials. They're made for straight line grip, and you can reduce pressures and whatever else you want to do for dragstrip use.

If you want to get tires for road racing, then get R compound track tires. They're made for great cornering and braking.

If you want to get tires for the street, then get street tires.

The Azenis RT-615 is a street tire. You can use it on the track as well as the dragstrip, but it's not as ideal as those purpose-built tires.

There is NO advantage to taller sidewalls on the track or on the street, and they will NOT make your tires wear faster. On the dragstrip? I have no idea; I haven't tested tire lifespan on the dragstrip. For all I know, you may be right - but that's ONLY for dragstrip miles. Or, I should say, dragstrip quarter miles.

Peace backatcha.

 

I have some more fuel for your argument...

...205/40/16 has a smaller diameter than a 205/45/16. A smaller diameter by default results in a smaller circumference. A smaller circumference results in more revolutions per mile. Given that the tread compounds are the same between the two sizes, the shorter tire (which has to spin faster to cover the same distance as a taller tire) will wear out sooner.

 

Thanks for the knowledge