So currently I am running 16x7 Rota Slips with 205/50/16 Tires.

I was wondering if it is possible to go up to a 215/50/16 or even a 225/50/16.

I figured a wider tire means more contact with the ground which is a good thing.

Are there any positives or negatives to going with a wider tire?

I searched all the wheel and tire forums and threads and couldn't find something that was directly related to this question.

Thanks in advance.

 

wider tire means more rolling friction, which equals to less power to the ground and worse fuel economy, which is also a result of the heavier tire

but a 205 to a 215 you really won't see a difference and i'll venture to guess that you can go with 215s no question and probably 225s but since i don't know what car or what suspension you're on, i really can't help you

 

if you go with a 225 you'll need 45 series tires.

225/45/16 will give you a closer match to stock diameter than any combination you do with 215

 

Stock suspension for now. Going to D2 full coil over suspension within 4 months.

 

You'll probably rub on stock suspension and 225 fronts. Just to let you know.

 

Cool Cool.

Thanks for the info. Can anyone confirm this?

I don't really NEED to go any wider of a tire. I just figured it would look and perform better since it would fill up the wheel well better and also give for better contact patch on the road.

But again, I know NOTHING about wheels and tires other than basic knowledge.

 

Hope this helps. Compliments of PZ. http://www.preludezone.com/showthread.php?t=170

4th Generation (1992-1996)

205/55/15 - Stock Size, Recommended 15" Size Tire
205/50/15 - Better Acceleration, Overall Diameter is Smaller
215/50/15 - Larger Contact Patch, Better Acceleration, Overall Diameter is Smaller
225/45/15 - Even Larger Contact Patch, Minimum of 7" wide wheel is recommended, Overall Diameter is Smaller
225/50/15 - Even Larger Contact Patch, Minimum of 7" wide wheel is Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
205/50/16 - Recommended 16" Size Tire
215/45/16 - Larger Contact Patch
215/50/16 - Larger Contact Patch, Overall Diameter is Larger
225/45/16 - Even Larger Contact Patch, Minimum of 7" wide wheel is Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
205/40/17 - Overall Diameter is Smaller, Not Recommended w/ 7.5" wide or larger wheel
215/40/17 - Larger Contact Patch, Recommended 17" Size Tire
215/45/17 - Larger Contact Patch, Overall Diameter is Larger
225/40/17 - Even Larger Contact Patch, Very Limited Selection of Brands
------------------------------------------------------------------------
215/35/18 - Larger Contact Patch, Small Profile means Less Protection for Wheels
215/40/18 - Larger Contact Patch, Overall Diameter is Larger
225/35/18 - Even Larger Contact Patch, Recommended tire size for 18x7.5" with at least a +48mm offset
225/40/18 - Even Larger Contact Patch, Overall Diameter is Larger, Not Recommended if car is Lowered

 

Thanks dk4ever! And everyone else for that matter that responded.

If I were to go up to a 215 I would have to get a 45 series...so...what would be the minus to that? Anything? I know its a smaller sidewall...but anything else to be aware of?

Only reason I am asking about all this is I can get a good deal 215/??/?? tire.

 

smaller sidewall means, tad bit bumpier ride, since ur tire doesn't
absorb much of bounce from the road.. if you're going through
nasty road..

 

a 215/45/16 would only be slightly smaller though so you wouldnt even notice the difference really. Im on 205/45/16 which is a good bit smaller than stock size and I dont notice much difference if any. Youll be fine with the 215.

 

If you want to know what it will do go here also: http://www.bigcustomwheels.com/rt_specs.jsp

 

You should note that, in general, tire size does not affect the size of the contact patch, only the shape (however sidewall stiffness will also affect the size of the contact patch, hence the qualifier). All else equal, the only way to affect the size of the contact patch is to alter the air pressure in the tire or alter the weight of the car.

 

I believe what you meant to say is that you lose some speed due to rolling friction, but the tire is capable of putting more power to the ground before it begins to slip. Bigger tires hurt your fuel economy because the rolling friction slows the car down faster, which means you need to use more fuel to maintain speed.

 

negative, i was rolling on 225/45/16 and they were fine, offset was +42 16x8 BBS's

here is how it looked







here you can see the wheels tucked in just right


car is fs now

 

It might just be the photo, but that back left wheel looks to have 5 or more degrees of negative camber.

 

ok. so ya, you could do 215 or 225 all around if you wanted. I had 215's all around on my 17" bbs rc's, and the car handled pretty nice even before the gc/koni setup I added.

However, if I was setting up a prelude to be fast from scratch, I would choose narrower tires in the back instead of using a firm rear suspension to get the car to rotate. Generally Americans will use a stiff rear suspension, which works, but can be a pain on the street. The Japanese tuners(take a look at the JUN car or any spoon civic) use narrower tires in the rear, so the rear is more likely to lose grip sooner relative to front, reducing(or eliminating) understeer.

Now I wouldn't say you should use 235front, 215 rear like JUN does on their heavily modified lude, but you should consider going staggered if you plan to do autox or anything similar. Staggering tires is a big deal over in the s2k forum, but here nobody talks about it. Figured I'd throw it out there.

good luck,

mike.

 

I just drove the mountains of Dahlonega, Georgia in my SH with 205/50-16" tires. I ripped the car up and down the tight twisties and it was amazing.

Going to larger tires may give you more roadholding, but will you be sacrificing other things like feedback and chuckability? I've been telling my friends that Preludes are Japanese Lotuses. They are not the most powerful, fastest or skidpad champs, but they speak to you (something missing from 92% of cars out there).

I say buy the gummiest/best tires in your size.

 

Well put!

 

Looks like I will be getting 205/50/16's again.

Doesnt seem to be any positives to getting a bigger tire.

Unless some great deal comes along.

Thanks for everyones input. If someone else has an arguement for why it IS better to go bigger I am not getting tires for another week or so...feel free to chime in.

Also, if anyone knows of a good tire on sale currently if you could PM and link me or link me here. Thanks

 

good call
I had horrible tram lining problems when I was running 225s

 

Try this site out to give you a good idea of how changing your tires is going to look and perform http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

Negative? Take it to the track jackass and it will rub, or if you're too boing to take it to the track then go into and out of some parking lots where there's a lot of rise from the gutter and it will rub then too.

225/50/16 Falken Azenis 615 on 40mm offset Rota Slipstreams rub in the front in the wheel well when the suspension is significantly compressed and you've got a lot of steering input. I'm not just giving my opinion. I've got experience.

Of course if you have shocks with better compression damping and stifer springs then it probably won't be an issue.

Pirate

 

Of course it doesnt rub when the car is not moving. Sheesh.. But suspension travel and physics of a moving object happen to change things up...

 

Everyone be nice to everyone else please. No name calling or being disrespectful to each other.
It was merely a simple question...nothing to argue about. We all have the right to have differing opinions...its really ok.

<3

 

Positives: Wider tire = slightly bigger contact patch = slightly more traction
also, a wider tire gives more rim protection for people who can't drive and tend to rub curbs.

Negatives: Wider tire = more expensive, heavier, increases odd of rubbing, and usually results in incorrect spedometer reading due to not having same overall circumference.

Exceptions do exist.