Just wondering if you guys can help me out; is there any reason at all, from a performance standpoint for me to run a 16 inch wheel instead of a 15. This question is in regards to tires that I can run, wheel weights, widths, etc.... Thanks.

 

15 inch all the way... lighter wheels and cheaper tires

 

16 inch are lot more stable in high speed.

 

If the 16 is wider than the 15 go with the 16 if your lookin for performance because you can run a wider tire=better traction

vic

 

and if 16 was offered from the factory (in some countries, not this pile we live in, dont get me wrong. i love america, i love bbq's drinking beer and strip joints. but honestly, i ******* hate bush, makes me wanna move over to japan and pay 4.50 for gas and live in a 6 x 4 apartment, woot) you cant really go wrong, wider tires = better traction.

 

if you haven't noticed JDM 98 spec R's run with 16" wheels along with 215/45/16 Bridgestone Potenza RE010. and you know there is reason for that instead of running 15" that were on 96 spec R

 

okay...basically this is the decision i'm trying to make. 15x 7 slip or a 16 x 7 slipstream? I can't find any reason in getting the 16x7 except for being able to mount wider tires...?? wouldn't a 205 50 15 azenis perform well enought.... I know i'm being a noob but i'm trying to find solid reasons for me to get the 16. Thanks.

 

I guess it depends on where you'll be performing

i went with Toyo T1S 225/40/16 and use 16x7 rims when I used to autoX and track (only 3 times for the track )


-aoib0t, who doesn't own an ITR, but has ITR "height"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AoiGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I guess it depends on where you'll be performing

i went with Toyo T1S 225/40/16 and use 16x7 rims when I used to autoX and track (only 3 times for the track )


-aoib0t, who doesn't own an ITR, but has ITR "height" </TD></TR></TABLE>

looks nice

 

from a performance standpoint there should be absolutely no reason to go with 16" unless

1) you are running rotors that require the clearance.
2) you want to run a wider wheel than 15" provides.

 

i ain't 100% sure but regardless if u have 15" wheels and u can fit 195 or 205 and as for 16" that fit 205 and 215

i thought there is perfect tyre fit for each rim size where it's not over or under, if you are under or over doesn't it cause a bit more stress on the rim (area depends if you are under or over?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by machgo5go &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">16 inch are lot more stable in high speed.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

This doesn't make ANY sense.


Read here for more on the subject:

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=929505

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95integGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If the 16 is wider than the 15 go with the 16 if your lookin for performance because you can run a wider tire=better traction

vic</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why ?
The tire width is not responsible for the contact patch... only weight on the wheel and tire pressure.

And to top this: The size of the contact patch is not responsible for the grip. What counts is the friction-coefficient of the material (rubber).

So no, there is no reason to go to 16`` unless you make the power to achieve better results on bigger overall wheels or need the clearance for your calipers..

 

With 16" you can also run tires with lower sidewall (assuming same overall diameter)-&gt; less flex -&gt; more steering precision.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by machgo5go &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">16 inch are lot more stable in high speed.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
If you know why that is, please explain.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xc1097 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you haven't noticed JDM 98 spec R's run with 16" wheels along with 215/45/16 Bridgestone Potenza RE010. and you know there is reason for that instead of running 15" that were on 96 spec R </TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly what he said.

 

i have tried 15"/16"/17" volk te37 on my itr.
i prefer the 16" wheel as it allows me to run a 45 series tire.
i noticed that the car autocrosses/road races better with the thinner sidewall.
for me the turn in is more crisp and the sidewall flexes less (street tire).
with the 17" wheel i get rubbing/cannot get the proper rake i like/sits too high/heavier imho.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Primo. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have tried 15"/16"/17" volk te37 on my itr.
i prefer the 16" wheel as it allows me to run a 45 series tire.
i noticed that the car autocrosses/road races better with the thinner sidewall.
for me the turn in is more crisp and the sidewall flexes less (street tire).
with the 17" wheel i get rubbing/cannot get the proper rake i like/sits too high/heavier imho.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can run a 45 series tire on a 15" wheel.

I've run both a Hoosier R3so3 and Kumho V700 in 225/45/15 on 7" wide wheels and they fit, with only minor rubbing from the Hoosiers simply because they are wider.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95integGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If the 16 is wider than the 15 go with the 16 if your lookin for performance because you can run a wider tire=better traction

vic</TD></TR></TABLE>

less sidewall = less traction

You arn't going to notice the difference going from a 205 to a 215 or a 215 to a 225 anyways, so that is basically a moot point.

 

tire choices in 16" are very limited, VERY limited.

15x7 or 15x7.5 is the optimal size. 205/50-15 is the size tire you should be shopping for.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boosted92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

less sidewall = less traction</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually compound dictates traction not sidewall height. Notice I didn't say thickness.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You arn't going to notice the difference going from a 205 to a 215 or a 215 to a 225 anyways, so that is basically a moot point.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Also incorrect.

You personally may not notice the difference but I and many others here can tell a great deal of difference when as mating these different sized tires to 6", 61/2" and 7" wide wheels.


Be careful when preaching personal opinion as fact.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Actually compound dictates traction not sidewall height. Notice I didn't say thickness.

Also incorrect.

You personally may not notice the difference but I and many others here can tell a great deal of difference when as mating these different sized tires to 6", 61/2" and 7" wide wheels.


Be careful when preaching personal opinion as fact.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wasn't comparing an all-season goodyear to an AO32R or anything, but if you take a 205/55/15 tire and compare it to a 205/50/16 tire that is the same model of tire the 15" one will hook better.

If you think that some joe schmo driving his ITR on the street is going to notice the difference between a 205 and a 215 tire on the same wheel you are foolish. Race track where you're pushing the car hard, then yeah, you might notice something from that whopping 1 centimeter difference. Just keep in mind that not everybody lives on a race track, and chances are the tires he's buying are going to be 99% street driven so I really have a hard time believing that on that high intensity trip to the grocery store or to the car show that he's going to notice less than half of an inch of additional rubber on each tire.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boosted92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Race track where you're pushing the car hard, then yeah, you might notice something from that whopping 1 centimeter difference. Just keep in mind that not everybody lives on a race track, and chances are the tires he's buying are going to be 99% street driven</TD></TR></TABLE>


But he asked for a performance related answer. If 99% is street driven, then it really doesn`t matter what size you choose performancewise... For street application, take what`s cheapest. Nobody is going to really perform out there on public roads...

He asked for performance, so we are on the track-playground. And as a driver who tracks his ITR I can tell that I tried 215/40/16 on 7,5*16 lightweight rims (cp035) and was not pleased with the overall grip the tires offered. I decided to go back to 15`` wheels. I accept the little more wobble but i definetly get more grip from the 205/50/15 (street)-tire.

For track application I use 195/55/15 on 6*15 wheels (stock ITR), one set slick, one set rain-tire. You know what ? The BEST combo in my eyes is a 195/55/15 slick on a 6,5*15 spoon rim (or comparable).... Beasty light and stiff as hell.

 

Oh my god these answers are all over the board and some provide the worst explanations I have ever seen.

Like has been mentioned in one form or another, available tire size and driving application should dictate what size/width of wheel you go with.

Personally, I'm moving to 16" wheels to get the tire width and sidewall size that I need for my particular application. You need to determine what will be optimal for *your* particular application.

When you ask a non-specific question like you did, you will get some crappy replies and replies that are all over the place. You might want to let us know, specifically, what kind of driving events you will be doing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DutchITR1689 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">With 16" you can also run tires with lower sidewall (assuming same overall diameter)-&gt; less flex -&gt; more steering precision.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Less sidewall = Means more rim, and More rotational mass, being the rim itself from the center of the hub to the edge of the lip.

Less sidewall= Also means a more abrupt break away

You want a little push from the rear, but not so much that you lose the natural balance of the car.



You can acheive the same stable characteristsics, with a 15 inch wheel, if you just pick the right rim, and tires.

16's =

Just because the JDM ITR came with 16x7 17+lb rims, doesnt mean thats whats best for it.