Is wider ALWAYS better? I got my wheels finally, and they are 16x7 Primax 767 Hyperblack. They look sorta like gunmetal buddy clubs. (Hey, they were cheap ) . The shop I got them from had shitty tire prices though, so I'm getting my tires from Tire Rack. I've narrowed it down to 3. Either Yoko Parada Spec 2, 205/45/16, Falken Azenis 215/45/16, or Kumho Ecsta 712 225/45/16. What I want to know is if wider is always better? The parada's and Ecsta's are both 300 AA A, and the Azenis is 180 A A or something crazy like that. They are all pretty close in price as well. What should I do, go with the widest tire I can get? Any help is much appreciated

 

i am pretty sure the 225s will rub on an ef. maybe not up front, but def. in the rear.

not sure about 215s rubbing.

i have 205/40/16 on my car with no rubbing problems. fender lips are rolled though.

 

I guess 225 will rub if it doesn't it will be a miricle, 205 fit mine only after I rolled the rear fender and that was on narrower rims than you have I hade the 15 X 6 GSR rims with 205/50-15 a 205/40-16 would be real close to the same diameter and width as mine and even those are about 3/4 of an inch bigger in diameter than is optimum for accurate speedo reading (against the stock rolling diameter of OEM tires). Guess what fits is purely based on the backspacing you have, my guess it you will be real lucky to get those to fit, also have you checked ti diameter of those tires I'll bet they are much bigger than you want, I would guess 205/40 would be a better choice but you really need to trial fit to be certain. you are going to be so close on that one fitting the differences between tire manufacturers will make all the difference.


[Modified by virginia_dude, 2:43 PM 7/12/2002]


[Modified by virginia_dude, 2:45 PM 7/12/2002]

 

Did you consider the Yokohama A520, 205/40/16 or 205/45/16?Of the ones you mentioned i'd go with Falken Anzenis just a different size.

 

I'll look into the A520's, I'm definately ordering my tires for sure tomorrow. I thought lots of people had 205/45/16's on EFs but I guess I was wrong. I really didn't want to go with such a low profile tire as a 40 series but I guess if a 205/40 will cause less problems, then that is the tire I will go with, although I'm definately leaning towards the parada's.

 

I ordered my tires from the Tire Rack today. I got Yokohama Parada Spec-2's in the 205/45/16 size. They were $388 shipped 2 day Fed Ex. I hope I don't have any problems with rubbing, I just didn't want such a short sidewall as a 40 series


[Modified by MOCrxHf, 12:19 PM 7/13/2002]

 

Well if you want 16" rims on an EF you have to consider the total tire diameter, if you don't you will be ending up driving faster than your speedometer shows, and killing your performance due to changing your overall gear ratio, that means 40 series tires. A 205/50-15 is slightly taller than the tire that is speced for the car. your 205/40-16 should be real close to the diameter I have on mine. Your wheel offset is what you wil have to worry about most with that tire choise. I never measured the backspacing of a stock GSR rim, but it is about as far outboard as you can go without problems.

 

205-45-16 worked the best on my EF. I had a 89 Si with Eibach Sportlines with tokico HPs. Never rubbed..

 

I've got 205/40/16s, and my only complaint is that theres really not enogh rubber to protect your rims from potholes and **** like that. I think my next set will be a set of 215/40/16s, as opposed to 205/45/16s... this way, you get a slightly larger contact area, without too much of a tall profile

 

i just picked up some new tires today for my newly acquired rims
i got the pirelli p7000 supersport
(i'm a big fan and quite partial to pirelli )
got the 205/45zr16, the rims i got came with 2 sets of different tires, 205/40 front and 205/50 rear i think the 40 is just a bit too small for my liking, and the 50 is too big (rubs in dips) also chose the 45 because (using the miata.net tire size calculator) its only ~.6in larger in diameter

 

I had 205-40-16 on my TE37's, it rode ruff....maybe try something like 205-45.

 

205/40 over here

 

well, we will see how it goes on Tuesday, as that is when my tires come in. I don't think I'll have any problems though. I'll post up some pics after I get them mounted.