I tried posting this in the wheel and tire sub-forum but there doesn't seem to be much activity there. Maybe someone here can help me.

I have a 1994 Honda Civic DX with a 97 JDM ITR engine and transmission and I am using a UKDM cluster reading in MPH. The car is lowered on Buddy Club N+ coilovers, not sure on exactly how low but definitely not slammed. The top of the tires are about even with the bottom of the wheel well. I have a set of Enkei RPF1's 15x7 with a 41 offset and a set of Dunlop DZ102s in 195/55/15. Two questions,

Will this wheel and tire size be acceptable for my set up?

Second, with regards to the speedometer, what directly affects what my speedometer reads? The Type R transmission speed sensor? The UKDM gauge cluster? The 97 JDM ITR had a 195/55/15 tire I believe which makes me think this tire size would be ideal. The FAQ on tires in this section of the forum states a 195/50/15 is ideal for pre-1997 Civics, but I am not sure if my modifications make any difference to this recommendation.

Thanks for any help.

 

That tire is too tall for the '94 Civic... the proper size is actually a P195/50R15. The wheel width and offset is perfect for this chassis.

 

I looked at the specs for a 1995 Civic VTI with a B16 from the UK, because I am using that gauge cluster and the stock tire size is 195/55/15. Also, the 96 (at least) JDM ITR has a 195/55/15 which would match with the transmission and engine I am running. I am honestly not sure if I have a 96 or 97 ITR transmission. Do these two modifications not make any difference to the standard 195/50/15 recommendation?

 

You are absolutely right that the P195/55R15 is the correct tire size for the engine/transmission, but it is not ideal for the USDM Civic chassis. If you leave the car at factory height, you MAY be OK and have minimal rub/contact when turning. However, if it is lowered, you WILL have issues. Conversely, having the correct P195/50R15 tire will reduce the issues with rubbing, but WILL affect the accuracy of the speedometer/odometer... these devices will read slightly higher than they should. You have to decide which issue is more important to you... tire and body damage OR speedometer accuracy.

 

Thanks JRCivic1 for the advice. I ended up being able to return my 195/55/15 Dunlops since I haven't mounted them yet and ordered the 195/50/15's. I am comfortable with the speedometer reading higher than my actual speed. I just did not want it to read lower than what I am actually going. Based on my ITR transmission built for the 55's, It looks like it will end up being about 2.1 mph slower than the speedometer.

 

Smaller tire than stock diameter = actual vehicle speed is slower than the speedometer reads.
Larger tire than stock diameter = actual vehicle speed is faster than the speedometer reads.

The error (difference from actual vehicle speed to indicated speedometer speed) will increase as speeds increase.