ein020

Hello H-T. I'm trying to size my 99 civic hatch a new set of wheels for Auto X. I'm currently running USDM ITR wheels and want to upgrade to a 16" rim. I do not want to roll the fenders unless I have to, or it allows a significant increase in tire size. What size (width and offset) is the largest wheel you can get into the wheel well without rubbing? I am running USDM ITR five lugs on all corners with Progress Suspension Coilovers and Adjustable Camber Links front and rear. I have been looking at RSX stock wheels as a cheap temporary fix and BBS RS's for a permanent (and pretty expensive ) solution. Thanks for the help, I don't seem to be able to get the search to work too well. I did look around but to no avail.

ein020

Work BUMP.

Somebody's got to know something...

H22Ej1

why dont you just stick with a 15" wheel and upgrade to a better tire, the extra inch of diameter is going to do nothing but add weight. get a 15x6.5 or 15x7 +30 or something in that range and toss a trackable 205/50r15 on it

if you were set on getting a 16 id stick to a 16x7 +30 range with a 205/40r16, but dont cop out on the tire

TunerN00b

A 99 Civic should be using 205/45-16 or 215/45-16, not the 205/40-16 that the older (pre-96) Civics should run.

H22Ej1

and thats what i get for skimming

ein020

I hear you on the smaller rim size but the selection or rubber seems better in the 16" range. I'm also pretty low right now ( 12" +- from the top of the arch ). This is the starting point the mfg. recommended. I would like to see a 16" x 8" under there but that is asking for alot. BTW I'm leaning towards Toyo for tires RA1 ( I think ) or better.
Thanks for the replies.

ein020

Interesting also: Why do you say the difference in year makes a difference in the front track?
I was not aware there was a difference. I am running 01 ITR 5 lugs on EX control arms and ITR knuckles/spindles. I think this setup increases the track of the car a little too (before the wheels are put on). I believe the ITR factory wheels are A 50 ET but I cannot confirm without removing the wheels.

da9leo

iTrader: (5)

http://www.949racing.com/index.asp?P...on=Custom&ID=1

nsxtasy

He's correct. Different years came with different size tires (i.e. with different outer diameters). The reason is that different years have different amounts of room in the wheel wells, and the speedometer and odometer are calibrated expecting a given outer diameter size. So the best size is almost always one whose outer diameter is approximately equal to that of the stock size. With a '99 Civic, that means 205/45-16 or 215/45-16, and not the 205/40-16 that pre-'96 Civics would need.

If you're referring to the offset, +50 is correct.

ein020

Just took a quick peek at that link. I'm gonna give that a real look tonight when I get home. Seems like good stuff. This might tell me if I'm gonna try the RSX 16's Or the S2K 16's. Any one have ET and width on these two wheels?

ein020

Bump

chargeR

RSX 16s are 16x6.5 +45. S2000 16" fronts are 16x6.5 and +55 offset although I am not 100% sure of the offset.

Are you sure you want to run 16s? Performance and race tyre choice in 15s seems to be better to me.

nsxtasy

For the supersticky street tires like the RE-11 and XS, there are good choices in 205/45-16 and 215/45-16. But if you're planning to be competitive in autocross (or on racetracks) and you want to get R compound track tires, you're absolutely correct - there are very few choices in appropriate 16" sizes.

ein020

So Funny! I was just looking at the post you made in regards to a similar topic and was gonna IM you. I'm glad you agree about the 16"ers, I thought I was totally missing something. What kind of mileage do you think you'd get out of the RE-11's under normal driving? You mentioned the Falken's mileage but not the Bridgestones. Just to see if you have thoughts on the idea I think I might try, 4 S2K rears on the car? 16" x 7.5" seems like a good fit. But I have not checked ET's and tire sizing to see whether its possible or prudent. I have some data but not enough to risk buying a set yet, I need to crunch the numbers and jam a rim in myself to measure.

nsxtasy

Obviously I can only guess, since they're new to our market, but I would guess somewhere around 15K miles, maybe even a bit more, based on the treadwear rating and how it compares with the treadlife and treadwear ratings for other Bridgestone tires I've used.

I have some thoughts. Keep in mind that I own an ITR (with 5-lug ITR hubs ) and S2000 rims are similar to NSX rims, which I have. I've tried to get NSX rims to work on the ITR and basically there are too many stumbling blocks to overcome for it to work. And that's quite aside from the difficulty in buying four front wheels or four rear wheels, unless you want to buy two sets of used wheels. The offsets on the NSX/S2K rear wheels are 60 mm and they will rub on the ITR unless you want to start getting into spacers, extended lugs, etc. And the center bore on the NSX/S2K front wheels is 70.1 mm which means they will be susceptible to vibrations unless you want to get hubcentric rings for them. I started down this road, then eventually gave up and got myself an extra set of stock 15" ITR rims for track use, which has worked out extremely well (since there are so many R compound track tires in 205/50-15 on the market).

ein020

I have two sets of ITR wheels and I would love to run them but they're not wide enough ( there is more room in the wheel wells for more rubber ). The most important thing in any motorsport is tire. The more you can stuff in there the more acceleration, braking, turning you can do. I'd like to go the JDM 16" ITR but they're not that wide either. Trust me I don't want another set of wheels. I've got too many as is from other projects. I'd like to get RPF 01's but I'm refusing to buy any more new wheels and they don't come up for sale too often cheaply enough. Thanks for the reply.

Blackcatn2o

what's your bolt patteren? 4x100?

nsxtasy

NOT true. The most important thing in any motorsport is tire - the type and design of the tire, including its compound and tread pattern. NOT its size or tread width. A stickier but slightly narrower tire will virtually ALWAYS give you more acceleration, braking, and turning than a less sticky but slightly wider tire. If you want better performance and better lap times, concentrate on getting the stickiest tire you can get, rather than the widest tire you can get. If it comes in a wider size, that may give you a somewhat minor benefit as well (in autocross, not in street use, where the difference is insignificant).

Since you have two sets of ITR wheels, you can test this out. Try some 225/45-15 street tires (like the Hankook Ventus R-S2 Z212) on one set, and 205/50-15 R compound autocross tires (e.g. Hoosier A6) on the other set. The Hoosiers should be better by a second or two per lap - which, as you know, is a huge difference.

ein020

I am running ITR five lugs @ 5 x 114.3 bolt pattern.

KayTran

sorry to thread jack, but how would 205/40/16x8 be on an integra?

nsxtasy

Not good. That tire size is too small for an Integra, and also for that wide a wheel. If you want 16" wheels on an Integra, get 205/45-16 or 215/45-16 tires. 16x7 works better than 16x8 because you can use either of those tire sizes on it; with 16x8, you're stuck with 215/45-16.

The Destroyer

Also what class are you going to run in, as there are wheel width limits in certain classes.

KayTran

Thank nsxtasy, you're the best. (no homo)

ein020

I gave up on being mechanically competitive last year. The motor swap bumps you way up in class but Street modified is what I think I'm eligible for but that throws me against some heavy duty gear ( crazy EVO's mostly ). The class below limits you to 7.5" max rim width so I might be able to keep myself away from those damn EVO's if there is a rule stipulation for swapped hondas. I have to really look into this if I get serious. I kinda just want to go kill cones though.

ein020

I just found a guy with two sets of early S2K wheels that I am probably gonna go get this weekend so I will be keeping this thread posted or starting another one on how they do or do not work out. I'll keep you posted via PM too. I'm sure I'll have more than one question pop up.