New to the honda scene and looking to buy my first set of wheels for an ej6. I want to be as functional as possible since it would be a daily driven car so I was thinking about getting some 15 X 7 rims, what I'm confused about is what offset to get and if the width of the rims are a good choice. Do I go with +40 or +45 or does it really not matter that much? I was thinking of getting the +40 but wanted to double check with more experienced drivers.

What do you guys think? Is 15x7 with +40 a good choice?


I know there is also tire sizing that may play into this, any suggestions are appreciated

 

If your EJ6 is a 1996 DX or hatchback, get 195/50-15. If your EJ6 is any other '96, or any '97-2000 Civic, you can use either 195/55-15 or 205/50-15.

All of these sizes are approved for rims 5.5-7.0 inches wide, so 15x7 is fine; so are narrower widths like 15x6 or 15x6.5. If you like any of the stock Integra GS-R wheels (fat fives, blades, etc), those are 15x6 and will fit your car, and you can often pick up used sets in the $200-250 range.

Remember, the big determinant of performance is not how wide the wheels (or tires) are, but how sticky the tires are. So if you're looking for the best grip and handling, get the stickiest tires you can. There are a lot of sticky tires available in all three of these sizes. Let us know if you need advice on tires.

 

Extremely helpful, thanks a lot man. So the +40 offset is fine?

Once I buy the rims, I'll definitely need advice on tires.

 

would 205/45/15 also work?

 

No, because it's an oddball size. Total number of tires available in that size at the Tire Rack: Zero.

 

if the wheels are the same bolt pattern as your car, go conservative and get an offset that is around a 35-40 then get a custom spacer to get the wheels flush. Depending on how low you go depends on the tire. I am running a 195/45 on my 15x7's...

 

Ok, so I guess i'll stick to the 205/50/15, would that be my best bet?

Would I have to deal with any tire rubbing? I'm planning a 1.75 inch drop.

So, my last question, before I go ahead and order the rims and tires, what would be some good tires for starters?
I am planning on getting involved in autocross but am completely clueless as to which tires are sticky and which aren't, just want a good combination between daily usability and performance on the occassional autocross.

 

Yea I think I am going with 15x7s +40, do you happen to have pics of your set up?

 

Already answered:

They shouldn't, as long as you get wheels with the best offset, i.e. the offset that gives them the most clearance in your wheel wells.

Well, there's a trade-off between daily usability and performance. The tires with the best performance tend to be more expensive and tend to not last as long, compared to the tires with the best "usability".

Here are the stickiest street tires and which sizes they come in (again, the best size depends on which model you have, which you haven't answered):

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec 195/50-15, 195/55-15, 205/50-15
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 195/50-15, 205/50-15
Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50-15
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/50-15
Toyo Proxes R1R 195/50-15, 195/55-15, 205/50-15
Falken Azenis RT-615K 205/50-15

If you want a somewhat longer lasting and less expensive tire and you're willing to accept performance that's still decent but not as high as the previous group, consider:

Yokohama S.drive 195/50-15, 195/55-15, 205/50-15
Fuzion ZRi 205/50-15

All of the above are summer tires, and should not be used on snow or in frigid cold.

 

Thanks for the information, really appreciate it.

Its a 99 coupe.

In conclusion, I'm getting 15x7 rims, and Dunlop Direzza DZ101 205/50/15, objections anyone?

 

Only objection would be because of:
You're going to hate them for auto-x use.

If you want performance, look to the list nsxtasy provided.

 

Ah I figured they were similar but the DZ101s were much much cheaper. I migth try and get the Advans then.

Thanks for pointing that out to me.

 

Yes, the Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is a longer-lasting summer tire, and its performance isn't even as good as the S.drive or ZRi. Don't confuse it with the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, which is an excellent sticky tire (as noted above).

 

I see, I think I'm going to go with the Advan Neova AD08 but am buying them once I figure out where there are places that I can autocross in my area. I'm currently going to run the rims with Falken Ziex 912s, their all season so I don't have to worry about switching them out for the winter.

I couldn't find the rims I wanted in 15x7 so I got them in 15x6.5 +40 and 205/50/15 tires. They're ordered and I can't wait to get them. Planning on using the rims for daily driving and probably going to pair up the Advans with a lighter set once I get into the autocross (hopefully soon).

Thank you all for the help and if interested I'll post up pics once I get the wheels in.