Trying to decide on my front wheel and tire combo on my CRX. 400whp is tough to hook. Debating on BFG, MT or M&H drag radials but just need to know if anyone else has tried to fit 225/50/15 or even 235/60/15 tires on a 15x6.5" wheel with a 40mm offset. I'm more concerned about inner suspension rubbing at the front. I will just raise the ride height to prevent the tire from hitting the fenders so a tucked wheel is not a concern of mine. I've been able to fit 38mm offset wheels with 225 Hoosiers using a loaner wheel with no rubbing issues. So far the only wheels I can find that are ideal are Rota's or Nippon's that are 15x6.5" with 40mm offsets so if they will work with at least the 225's then that's what I'll plan to use. If not, can anyone direct me where I can buy lightweight 15x6.5 wheels with 38mm offsets. Thanks


Modified by mrchris1979 at 9:05 PM 2/3/2008

 

Stick with 205/50-15.

 

I've thought about using 205's but It just seems that a bit more rubber on the road will have better performance. 225/50/15 on BFG and Mickey Thompson drag radials or even the 235/60/15 with BFG, MT and M&H. But a 26" tire is a tight squeeze in a CRX so I probably won't be using that profile. Can you briefly explain how a 205 tire can perform just as well as a 225 given I use the above drag radials.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mrchris1979 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It just seems that a bit more rubber on the road will have better performance.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wider tires don't put more rubber on the road. They just change the shape of the rubber on the road, not the size.

Let's say you have a 2000-lb CRX and you let some air out of the tires at the dragstrip so that they're all at 20 pounds per square inch. Then the area of the "rubber on the road" (usually called the contact patch) will total 100 square inches, regardless of the tire size. You can read more about it in this article.

The other thing to remember is that the 225/50-15 and especially 235/60-15 have a larger diameter, which is going to hurt your acceleration; it's just like getting taller gears on your car.