Meaty Tires Thread

[airjor13]

I love meaty tires!!

 

[M-Sport fan]

^^^Yes, I wish we could fit a 245 under these cars without major; flares, bodywork, and surgery!

 

[Corrosion]

Yesterday was a good day! Added some more meat! The ride quality is so much better but it's too early to know more about handling characteristics.

16x7 maxxim winner et 40
205/50 nitto neo gen
Stock suspension

A bonus for the day was my first experience of having to machining a part for an install! Discount only sent me 3 hub spacers, so I made one! Took about 30min from drawing the CAD to in my hand, this is what my last 20 years of car wrenching has been missing hahaha

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[Ext569]

New TD Pro Race 1.2 installed, 15x8 +35, running BFG's sport comp 2 in 195/55/15.

First impressions:
- the higher profile of the 15" tires provide a smoother ride (no need for this to be any other way)
- I'd say there is less road-noise (this will vary with tire choice)
- better grip under acceleration compared to stock
- steering feels more solid, like if it were heavier, but obviously that is not the case.

Bottom line I am very impressed with the quality of the TD's and really happy with the swap. I would recommend this to anyone willing to go with 15" wheels in 4x108 bolt pattern.

 

[ericr]

Nice exact match to stock diameter! There's even a few 205/55x15 tires available that would fit but would be 0.5" larger in diameter.

 

[garyakiger]

The bfg sc2 195s are just as wide other brands 205s according to tire rack measurements.

 

[ShadowInDaNight]

Great, you will love the improved performance and ride

205/50/15 would likely be a better fit as possibly closer to stock diameter, the 225/45/15 I run, which are good on an 8" wheel though mine are 9" wide, are 23" versus the 23.4" of the stock tires.

The right 205 on an 8" rim is a great way to go though depending on the tires you choose and the use of them you may want to go a bit wider.

What are your thoughts about 205/50R15 RE-71Rs on 15x8 1.2 TDs?

I currently have 205/45/16 RE-71s mounted on my 16x7 1.2 TDs, however I'm looking to swap over to the 15x8 wheel for next summer's track events.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Crap, I just sent 1/2 hour going over all the tires in 205 for 15's and lost it....dang.

Bottom line my first choice would be the 205 Star Spec II due to weighing less and having the second widest tread at 7.5" versus 2lbs heavier and 7" wide in the RE-71R.

Or try the 205 in the Federal 959RS-R but I have nothing to compare them against in experience or test reviews.

If you want to be faster and can run the tires all the way to the cord the best is the Toyo RA1 which I have for track tires, I run the Rival S for the street and they are perfect for my needs as do not need warmed up but would overheat on the track.

 

[M-Sport fan]

IF they are not shaved down to 4/32nds, or even 3/32nds, the RA1s are not too 'tready' for hard road course use at full molded thread depth (to prevent 'chunking'/etc.)?

 

[RAAMaudio]

I always bought shaved, heat cycled, barely used and some times no laps at all track tires from JBRacing tires. When I had my track Vette it was a killer deal considering new tires were around $1800 a set and from him around $400, that was back in 07/08, I paid around that for the RA1's in 225/45/15 but still a great savings over new.

I have not heard of the RA1 chunking when at full depth, with proper camber, toe and not pushing them to hard at first maybe they would not do so. I have ran the R888 full depth without issue which is a very similar tire.

 

[M-Sport fan]

True, but the R888 tread blocks are MUCH larger and 'blocky' than the RA1, and the tire overall, is much more 'cut slick-like', so less prone to chunking at full depth, even though made from the same compound.

 

[RAAMaudio]

I was going to get a set of full depth for rainy days on track but decided I never wanted to risk a car with 1000 plus hours invested and lots of money though the time was more important and I do not like working on dirty cars, just two times in the rain with the FiST took a lot of time to clean the entire underside of the car. I keep the running gear cleaner than the body usually

 

[M-Sport fan]

The RA1 at full molded depth, seems like it would be a GREAT 'rain tire' for those not wanting to invest in the Hoosier Radial WET H2Os, or Kumho V whatevers (or for whom those rain tires are not even made in the sizes they require).

DEEP standing puddles might still be a problem though even for these at full tread depth.

 

[OffTheWall503]

Any suggestions for the best tire size for my 16x7 Sparcos? To keep the speedometer on point, it looks like 215/45/16 maintains the ratio, but there is almost nothing available short of competition or extreme summer tires and I'm in need of all-season tires for daily driving.

 

[BronxBomber]

Any suggestions for the best tire size for my 16x7 Sparcos? To keep the speedometer on point, it looks like 215/45/16 maintains the ratio, but there is almost nothing available short of competition or extreme summer tires and I'm in need of all-season tires for daily driving.

205 45 16 =23.26". Stock 205 40 17 = 23.46" This is the closest to stock wheel height and circumference. If you go to tirerack.com there are some pretty solid options in this size.
http://www.tirerackwholesale.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?width=205/&ratio=45&diameter=16&x=5&y=7

 

[OffTheWall503]

The wheels came with 195/50/16 which was around 23.7" diameter if I remember right, but they just seem to skinny even though they can be mounted on a 7" wheel.

I will have to look at the 205/50/16, that will probably be my best option.

 

[BronxBomber]

The wheels came with 195/50/16 which was around 23.7" diameter if I remember right, but they just seem to skinny even though they can be mounted on a 7" wheel.

I will have to look at the 205/50/16, that will probably be my best option.

There are also good options in that size, just know that that size will throw off your speedometer as the height is 24.07.

 

[Hijinx]

Here are my meats.

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[Goingnowherefast]

Here are my meats.

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Looks great. Any rubbing? You going to lower the coilovers at all?

 

[SeanBonham]

15x8 225/45/15?