for the guys running 16's and wide! tire help please!

[shika805 10]

I have searched and searched, but still cannot make up my mind about tire size and tire brand selection. I know many people have had experience with this issue before, but a lot of the tires that have been discussed are no longer being produced.

 

here's the low down...

 

I'm running wats; 16x9 front and 16x9.5 rear. I really want to get tires sizes in 245/45/16's all around. I know it will have to be stretched slightly to fit but thats not a big deal. The issue is, as we all know, finding tires for 16in (w/wide width) wheels are vertually impossible. I'm beginning to lose hope in finding the right tire I want?

 

Should I go with a stretched looked (which i dont really want) 225/45/16 but get the brand tire that I am happy with?

 

or

 

Go with some tire brand that is NOT to my liking but get the tire size I want for the wheels?

 

Anybody with suggestions, photos of stretched/non stretched or experience is greatly appreciated.

 

thanks in advance guys!

[johnc 724]

If you don't lower your car too much a 245/50-16 will fit. The BFG gForce Sport is a good tire in that size. You can still get plenty of DOT-R tires in 245/45-16.

[310z 12]

I looked at Tire Rack and see your problem. However, when I switched to 245-50-16 the options are almost endless. You may try looking for the smallest of the 50 series tires. You may find a set to your liking that is almost the same actual size and/or will fit as the 45 series tires you want.

 

Tires of the same size are not the same size from manufacture to manufacture. Sometimes the same brands different models are not even the same size. Tire Rack has the exact measurements vs brand measurements that you can evaluate. Tire availability is a must. Changing body modifications to fit a one time tire is senseless.

[shika805 10]

definitely, i still have yet to find a nice 50 series tire... will look again right now. Does anyone have photos how 50 series tires look like on some wats?

[akuma-z 0]

Austin had 50 size tires on his wats.

 

There were pics on his for sale thread:

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=158647

[NZeder 4]

You guys in the US can't get 245/45/16? Well here in NZ they are easier to find than 245/50/16?

 

I have some Toyo T1R in this size and locally here in NZ they indent (ie not stocked but they will import at a cost) a 245/35/16 in this same tyre.

[shika805 10]

i love austin's car but the 50 series seem way to beefy for me. I really want 45's... i gotta keep looking

 

Hey Nzeder, is there a website where i can take a look at some tire sizes in that area?

[shika805 10]

i love austin's car but the 50 series seem way to beefy for me. I really want 45's... i gotta keep looking

 

Hey Nzeder, is there a website where i can take a look at some tire sizes in that area?

[shika805 10]

i'm gonna bump....

[NZeder 4]

Hey Nzeder, is there a website where i can take a look at some tire sizes in that area?

Not really we don't have a site like tirerack.com I just visit the manufactures sites and checkout what they have listed = what is imported or can be imported locally (remember here in NZ we only have a pop of 4.5Mil)

 

ie http://www.toyo.co.nz

etc.

[JustinOlson 13]

This is the rear tire I'm looking at running: 315/45-16 MT Radial

 

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip.php?item=ETStreetRadialII

 

Also there is the Kuhmo XS 265/45-16:

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Kumho&model=Ecsta+XS&tirePageLocQty=

[shika805 10]

315 are a little to wide for me but, the kuhmos look like a good choice hmmmm.

 

anyone runnin nexen tires??? look like another possible candidate??? there 3000 series, 245/45/16???

[S30TRBO 1]

Here is what mine looked like 5 years ago when I had wide Wats in the rear.

 

Specs:

 

~16x8.5 -6 225/50 Fuzion Zri

 

~16x9.5 -19 245/45 Fuzion Zri

 

~Sectioned struts, coilovers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I run: ~16x8.5 -6 225/50 All around, since I didn't want to flare it. Also it all boils down to if you want matching tire sizes all around for ease of tire rotation.

 

 

Edited February 9, 2010 by BRAAP
A few pics makes the point. ;-)

[leftover z 2]

Those look GREAT. Think I will go that route.

[shika805 10]

hey there s30trbo, i think i spoke with you before asking about your wats. one of the main reasons why i got them also! fuzion Zri's looks like a good choice. Its weird though, some places i spoke with said they discontinued them and some said that they were a special older.

[S30TRBO 1]

Thanks!

 

225/50/16 $94 each in stock.

 

245/45/16 $102 each in stock

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp?make=Fuzion&model=ZRi

[gmac708 11]

Watanabe 16x9 -13 offset (front)

225/50ZR-16 Mich Pilot Sport AS plus

Watanabe 16x9.5 -19 offset (rear)

245/50ZR-16 Mich Pilot Sport AS plus

 

without flares

 

 

with

 

 

Haven't had a chance to try them out yet, but they have been tested and compare well with other performance tires.

 

Hope this helps.

[SSS-S30 10]

gmac708,

That will be an awesome beast when it's done!!! Don't mean to take this thread off topic but 2 questions for you: did you need a spacer for the fronts with the -13 offset, if so what size spacer? And is that the Kameari seat you have installed?

[gmac708 11]

I used .625 Baer spacer so the Wats would clear the brake caliper. I don't think you would need it for Arizona Z caliper...not sure.

 

The inner diameter of the spacer needed to be machined out to 2.85" (72mm) to clear MM wheel hub as well...seems there's always something.

 

And those are Kameari seats.