Light Weight Wheels and why, add yours to the list, read the requirements first

[Nitelife]

Are you on them now? What size tire do you have on them if so?

Wish they came in matte grey, as I think that would look best with kona blue, but I could live with black.

@GregF Stock suspension with 16x8 Dekas sporting 205/45R16 Sport Comp2's summers

 

[M-Sport fan]

Same wheels, factory suspension, with 205/50-16 Nitto Neo Gens.

 

[GregF]

Damnit. Right when I thought I had my mind made up you had to share those bronze wheels those are nice and subtle.

 

[kevinatfms]

16x8's and 215's fit perfectly. Ive been daily driving my car the past three days due to my truck breaking down and they have been fine. They are Azenis 615k's though so a bit of noise when just humming along the highway(yes, that was a pun).

The stretch on the 205's worked but if you dont have enough camber set it will rub the sidewalls on track. No matter the pressure the car just rolls too much and ends up scrubbing the very outer edge of the sidewalls. So i went up to a 215 and the section width increase is enough to stop that. 225's in a 16" size would be fantastic but rubbing isnt on the table for me.

So i went 15" on the group buy and will run 225's. The gearing is going to suck but its the only way to get more tire on the car without beating, bashing or running those ugly ass flare kits.

 

[Pablo Pistoffo]

16x8's and 215's fit perfectly. Ive been daily driving my car the past three days due to my truck breaking down and they have been fine. They are Azenis 615k's though so a bit of noise when just humming along the highway(yes, that was a pun).

The stretch on the 205's worked but if you dont have enough camber set it will rub the sidewalls on track. No matter the pressure the car just rolls too much and ends up scrubbing the very outer edge of the sidewalls. So i went up to a 215 and the section width increase is enough to stop that. 225's in a 16" size would be fantastic but rubbing isnt on the table for me.

So i went 15" on the group buy and will run 225's. The gearing is going to suck but its the only way to get more tire on the car without beating, bashing or running those ugly ass flare kits.

I really don't think that the gearing issue is as big as a lot of people think- there isn't nearly as much difference as you would see if you were in a truck going on to huge mud bogger tires.


edit- added the resulting speedo error, which would be hard to even see on course

 

[M-Sport fan]

16x8's and 215's fit perfectly. Ive been daily driving my car the past three days due to my truck breaking down and they have been fine. They are Azenis 615k's though so a bit of noise when just humming along the highway(yes, that was a pun).

IF I lived somewhere where the daily lows never dipped below ~45*F to 50*F, my daily driver Dekas would have a set of of the 200 tread wear stickies on them, in the 215/45-16 size.

But I do not, and it never actually snows enough around here to justify burning up pure winter tires for the whole winter season, on the mostly dry and clear, but very cold at times, roads in my locale.
Hence, my desire for the 'all compromise' compromise, all season donuts, which are ONLY available in the 205/50-16, 205/45-16 sizes, of which I personally think the Neo Gens do the best.

 

[Pablo Pistoffo]

Ford sized the car just right so you can fit in 4 mounted 225/45R15 tires, and 4 fresh ones at the same time.

 

[LionsTooth]

Ford sized the car just right so you can fit in 4 mounted 225/45R15 tires, and 4 fresh ones at the same time.

Good to know!

 

[M-Sport fan]

Ford sized the car just right so you can fit in 4 mounted 225/45R15 tires, and 4 fresh ones at the same time.

Is that with the full back seat still installed?

 

[Pablo Pistoffo]

Is that with the full back seat still installed?

yep, just folded down the seats, cargo floor is in place.

 

[kevinatfms]

I really don't think that the gearing issue is as big as a lot of people think- there isn't nearly as much difference as you would see if you were in a truck going on to huge mud bogger tires.

edit- added the resulting speedo error, which would be hard to even see on course

I certainly notice it on track. I ran a 205/50R15 for a while and now run a 215/45R16 and it was very noticeable as far as gearing through corners. The taller gearing helps with wheelspin(even with an LSD) and holding a specific gear through a corner. Holding 3rd versus shifting into 4th or holding 2nd versus shifting into 3rd....etc. That can make a fair difference when on track in a competition setting. For daily driving it doesnt really matter to me where the car sits RPM wise as long as it isnt 3500+.

 

[Pablo Pistoffo]

I certainly notice it on track. I ran a 205/50R15 for a while and now run a 215/45R16 and it was very noticeable as far as gearing through corners. The taller gearing helps with wheelspin(even with an LSD) and holding a specific gear through a corner. Holding 3rd versus shifting into 4th or holding 2nd versus shifting into 3rd....etc. That can make a fair difference when on track in a competition setting. For daily driving it doesnt really matter to me where the car sits RPM wise as long as it isnt 3500+.

Huh- I certainly noticed the difference in grip 225 vs 205, but haven't noticed a gearing difference. I haven't had the opportunity to try them out side by side, though.

 

[GregF]

Went with the Dekagrams, 205/50/16 Conti extreme contact. Ride is definitely a bit smoother over hard cracks, still has some choppiness so I'm considering coilovers.

Tires seem pretty decent but it's been super wet so I haven't tested grip. Turn in a little less direct but not worse than expected.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Went with the Dekagrams, 205/50/16 Conti extreme contact. Ride is definitely a bit smoother over hard cracks, still has some choppiness so I'm considering coilovers.

Tires seem pretty decent but it's been super wet so I haven't tested grip. Turn in a little less direct but not worse than expected.

Does this setup rub anywhere (even if it is just on the front Rally Armor mounting nuts which seem VERY close to the tire's shoulder on my setup), under any conditions/scenarios for you, on the factory suspension?

I ask because my same size, but wider section width Neo Gens on that wheel, do rub at high steering angles, while under hard braking, on the factory suspension.

 

[ronmcdon]

Huh- I certainly noticed the difference in grip 225 vs 205, but haven't noticed a gearing difference. I haven't had the opportunity to try them out side by side, though.

that's really good to know. I've also switched it up from 205/50/16 to 225/45/16 but w Z3's, no rub so far at all with canyon runs and daily. no rub lock to lock. 225/45's actually are not as tall diameter wise. Maybe it becomes an issue only if one lowers their car too much and/or springs too soft. My car totally stock would rub a little when driving sweepers with sharper incline/decline. Do not have this issue after installing 8/6 coilovers and close to oem ride height.

hoping to go back out to streets of willow and see if there's a notable difference in lap times w 225's.

 

[GregF]

Does this setup rub anywhere (even if it is just on the front Rally Armor mounting nuts which seem VERY close to the tire's shoulder on my setup), under any conditions/scenarios for you, on the factory suspension?

I ask because my same size, but wider section width Neo Gens on that wheel, do rub at high steering angles, while under hard braking, on the factory suspension.

Haven't experienced any rubbing yet but I haven't had a chance to do much aggressive driving since putting them on. Will let you know.

 

[GregF]

Thinking about some lowering springs, have my eye on mountunes. Anyone run these with 205/50-16s? I'm imagining that would be tight. Considering some sticky 215/45-16s instead, possibly AZENIS RT660? Any thoughts?

 

[M-Sport fan]

Even though they are slightly wider, being at least a half inch shorter than the 205/50s, those 215/45s would be much less likely to rub on a lowered ride height suspension than the 205/50s.

I personally would not have those 660s on the car in New England after the end of October, or before the end of April.

 

[GregF]

Yeah, looks to be quite close to stock diameter. I still have all seasons on the stock wheels, could run those for the winter.

I'd just have to lose my shirt reselling the 205/50 all season contis

 

[mdirks]

Anybody had a look at the Konig Heliogram? What are the odds they make it in 16x7 for a reasonable price?
https://konigwheels.com/wheels/flow-formed-wheels/heliogram/

Also if anyone finds a 215 width tire with good tread life let me know. I'd love to run super gumball deluxes but I commute 50 miles a day.