THUNDERZ Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 I did some searching around, but didnt find a definitive/satisfying answer. I have a 73 240Z, and I will be installing GC coil overs and camber plates. I want to know how wide I can go with the tires fitting under stock fenders. The guy at Discount tire said 205 60's. They did not look even close to a proper size. The car is going to be used at track days, so I wanted as much rubber as possible without rubbing the fenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhm Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Not sure what kind of tires you're considering (i.e. street, R-compound, slicks, etc), but anything in the 225-245 range would work well with 8" wheels. The coilovers will give you more clearance on the inside of the tire vs the stock struts, and the camber plates can give you more clearance on the outside of the tire. It's all a balancing game. Check out the thread called "Show your wheels"...it should give you several examples of what can and can't be done. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 (edited) 225/55-15 if you can find some will fit your fender well and keep your speedo accurate. 205/60's are a standard "Plus 1" size and will maintain the speedo accuracy. If you want to fill the wheel well go for the 225's. If he is willing to fit the tires for you try a 235/50-15. It will be a very tight fit with your fender wells and suspension and may not work. With the 0 offset the issue is going to be the edges of the fenders, not the suspension if you install coil overs. I'm running a 0 offset wheel on my 280 and the 225/50's sometimes touch the inner fender lip on a hard bump. Edited August 22, 2014 by Phantom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THUNDERZ Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Thanks! Thats what I was hoping to here in regard to coil overs increasing the inside clearance and camber plates giving more outside space. I was thinking 225 50, or 225 45. I am hoping someone with the same set up will chime in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 225/50-15s are a perfect performance size for a 15 x 8 wheel. I ran that size for years on mu autocross and TT 240Z. I've also run 225/50-14s on 14 x 7 wheels where the rules required a 14" wheel. Those worked great also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THUNDERZ Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 225/50-15s are a perfect performance size for a 15 x 8 wheel. I ran that size for years on mu autocross and TT 240Z. I've also run 225/50-14s on 14 x 7 wheels where the rules required a 14" wheel. Those worked great also. Thanks John. Were you running coil overs when you had the 15x8's ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypertek Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Here is a pic of 195/50r15 on my 15x9 I think the fit is great. 225/50 would be balloons on 15x8 http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xpa1/l/t51.2885-15/10523522_1514658738763664_1760785431_n.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THUNDERZ Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 Here is a pic of 195/50r15 on my 15x9 I think the fit is great. 225/50 would be balloons on 15x8 http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xpa1/l/t51.2885-15/10523522_1514658738763664_1760785431_n.jpg Those look a little "stretched" IMO. Thanks for sharing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THUNDERZ Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 Does anyone have photos of 225/50's on 15 x 8" with 0 offset? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Does anyone have photos of 225/50's on 15 x 8" with 0 offset? I believe that's what Glenn is running on his 15X8 Wats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
310z Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 These are photos of my car the Enkie -92 are 15x7 -0 offset 225-50-15 The photos with the three piece BBS race wheels are 16x8 -0 offset 225-50-16 With the 16 the stock lower front valence came .030 from touching with the wheels turned. So, the the air dam was changed. The front fender lip was rolled. The rears were ground down to the spot welds. Tires have never touched. The suspension is a stock configuration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-E Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Another option for maximum tire http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/119399-240z-camber-adj-rear-coilover-adapters-bolt-on/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THUNDERZ Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 Thanks....all very helpful. It seems like the 225 50 is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 You may already own the 8" wheels, but if you don't, I can't imagine that you would have a big improvement in performance with a 8" wheel over a 7" wheel. If you can stick to a 7" wheel, all the uncertainty about fitting the car will just evaporate and you can bolt on and go. Versus having to worry about spacers, rolling and trimming fenders. The difference between 7s and 8s can be an awful lot of sugar for a dime. And 225s fit a 7" wheel like a glove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 You may already own the 8" wheels, but if you don't, I can't imagine that you would have a big improvement in performance with a 8" wheel over a 7" wheel. If you can stick to a 7" wheel, all the uncertainty about fitting the car will just evaporate and you can bolt on and go. Versus having to worry about spacers, rolling and trimming fenders. The difference between 7s and 8s can be an awful lot of sugar for a dime. And 225s fit a 7" wheel like a glove. However, if you push the top of the rear tire in with about 3-degrees of camber, the wider wheel will just fit. Take the camber out for street driving, and you will have trouble. I have a beautiful set of 15x7 RBs that I plan to take to Z Nationals to try to get rid of. Shipping would be less than the cost of buying a single wheel, but if it would help a brother out, I could ship you a wheel with 225/50/15 R1 on it to trial fit. I would just need it back by October so I can take the set to try to sell. A wheel and tire are pretty heavy-I bet it would be as much as $100 to ship. The tire is old, hard and dry and has no value other than for a fit check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THUNDERZ Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 You may already own the 8" wheels, but if you don't, I can't imagine that you would have a big improvement in performance with a 8" wheel over a 7" wheel. If you can stick to a 7" wheel, all the uncertainty about fitting the car will just evaporate and you can bolt on and go. Versus having to worry about spacers, rolling and trimming fenders. The difference between 7s and 8s can be an awful lot of sugar for a dime. And 225s fit a 7" wheel like a glove. However, if you push the top of the rear tire in with about 3-degrees of camber, the wider wheel will just fit. Take the camber out for street driving, and you will have trouble. I have a beautiful set of 15x7 RBs that I plan to take to Z Nationals to try to get rid of. Shipping would be less than the cost of buying a single wheel, but if it would help a brother out, I could ship you a wheel with 225/50/15 R1 on it to trial fit. I would just need it back by October so I can take the set to try to sell. A wheel and tire are pretty heavy-I bet it would be as much as $100 to ship. The tire is old, hard and dry and has no value other than for a fit check. Thanks for the offer. I do have the wheels already. From the sounds of the research I have done and people who have the R15 225 50's, they should work with my set up. Thanks for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypertek Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 You will find more rubber options (better priced tires in better compounds) in the 195/50 and 205/50 range rather than all-season passenger tires at 225/50 Those look a little "stretched" IMO. Thanks for sharing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 15 x 8s pretty much require coil overs and for racing there is a noticeable difference in performance between a 7 and 8" wheel when running 225s. To get the most out of that wheel and tire combo you need to get 1/16" rear toe in and at least 1.5 degrees of negative camber in the rear suspension. It's all about the back of the car with 15 x 8s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THUNDERZ Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 15 x 8s pretty much require coil overs and for racing there is a noticeable difference in performance between a 7 and 8" wheel when tunning 225s. To get the most out of that wheel and tire combo you need to get 1/16" rear toe in and at least 1.5 degrees of negative camber in the rear suspension. It's all about the back of the car with 15 x 8s. Very good to know. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeemuM Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I have 205/55/15 7.5" in front and 225/50/15 8.75" in rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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