[Shotimes] Tire/rim width

[Carl Prochilo]

This is slightly off the thread, but TR's database will also take into account
the type of car when they apply the fitment guide.  It seems that Gen 1 and
Gen 2 SHOs are lumped together.  So, if you say you want a 16" wheel and go to
tire selection, they only offer the 215/60 size.  They say this is due to
fitment problems customers have reported to them in the past.  But if you ask
for a 17" wheel they give the 225 width choice.  Go figure.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Ron Porter
  To: 'Leigh Smith'
  Cc: Shotimes@autox.team.net
  Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 3:49 PM
  Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Tire/rim width


  The best source for the tire dimensions, recommended rim widths, and the
  spec rim size are on Tire Rack's site for virtually every tire they sell.
  Just look under Specs for a given tire.

  Ron Porter

  -----Original Message-----
  From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
  On Behalf Of Leigh Smith
  Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 2:56 PM
  To: dean james
  Cc: Shotimes@autox.team.net
  Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Tire/rim width


  The old thumb rules still hold up pretty well. However there are
  specific manufacturer's recommendations for suggested rim width, for
  each size tire. BFG and Goodyear both do a great job at this and have
  tire info posted on their websites.

  There is another major issue with wide tires on the SHO, wide wheels.
  True a 8 inch wheel would support an 8 in tire ideally. But the tire
  sidewall dimension grows as well. That "thumb rule" is "add 0.5 in. to
  sidewall width for every 1.0 in added to wheel width". This means you
  need to know the "spec rim size" that the mfgr uses to come up with his
  sidewall dimension. It's in the flyers. A 8 in wheel may make the
  sidewall dimension grow as much as 1 inch.

  IIRC, and the reason I bring all this up, is that the major limiting
  factor on tire width on a SHO is sidewall clearance. Mine is 1/2 in.
  (Max) away from the swaybar link "BOLT". with stock size tire/slicers.
  IIRC someone had a stock size tire blow-out at high speed on the race
  track during an earlier Atlanta convention due to rubbing this bolt and
  tearing out the sidewall. There can be a lot of sidewall movement under
  high loads with tall 60 series sidewalls.

  Ian F. has 8 in wheels and 225/55 tires (or /45), but I believe his
  offset is not stock, it is outside a little bit. He has the same bolt
  clearance as stock, but the tire sticks out the fender lip 1/4 in. If he
  were to go to a stock offset to tuck the tire in, he'd tear the sidewall.

  My 0.02 advice, deal with the real threat and sawzall off half the d***
  sway bar link bolt. There is at least another 1/4 - 3/8 in or so til the
  tire rubs the smoother strut. Go with 7-1/2 to 8 wide, and tuck them way
  in with the right rim offset.

  Lee
  "I put 10 in wide wheels inside the stock fenders on a 70 Z28 when
  everyone said it couldn't be done"



  dean james wrote:

  > I had to go out to the parking lot in 100+ degree heat and take some
  > measurements. (109 degrees yesterday!)  Both sets of my Yoko 225's
  > have a tread width of about 7 5/8" which would be 194mm.  So these
  > tires are right at the limit of tread width 1" larger than rim width,
  > and an 8" wide rim should be good.
  >
  >> Equate terms like "the old rule" to "old wives tales".
  >>
  >> If in doubt, go to the Tire Rack Spec site for the particular tire
  >> and size
  >> that you are looking at. That will tell you what the mfr feels is the
  >> best
  >> setup.
  >
  >
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