Tire Size... What size are you running?

I know most have a 165-15 setup on 4.5", but i am going for a slightly different look.

I've poked around in magazine articles, this forum, thesamba, etc, and can't seem to find info on tire sizes.

I have 5.5" wide steelies (5 bolt pattern) and have seen 185-65-15 on a 6" porsche wheel. I am leaning towards a 185-55-15 tire, but i am not sure if that is too wide a tire for 5.5". I don't want the "balloon" look.

I was curious what size tires you guys have and that fit well on these cars.

thanks.

Paul,
Before you consider whether the 185/55-15 look dorky on 5.5" rims, perhaps you might want to consider how that diameter tire will look in those BIG wheel wells. A 185/55-15 has a diameter of about 23". The "normal looking" 165-15 is almost 2-1/2" taller at 25.3".

Even if you go up to a 225/55, you will still be over 1/2" short of a 165-15, and you will definately be in another world of rim widths compared to 5.5".

Just a thought,
Mrak

that is a really good point.

This is my first speedster - so, i had not considered that.

The car is going to be loooow. i just installed CB drop spindles and an adjustable beam - so i definately don't want the full sized 165.

I used http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html to play around with the tire sizes. the speedo would be out about nearly 10% with the 185-55!

hmmm... since the rims are static (already bought them) at 15", i can only play with the width and sidewall. I believe a 195 is getting close to the max that can fit under the rear fender of a non-flaired, so options are getting pretty small.

I've got 205x55 on a 7 inch rim if you want to look a my pics. I found the car too low for me so I increased the ride height. It still rides low although you cqan see hte entire rear rim now plus about an inch of sidewall. To me it does not look too bad. The bad pic with the car in the snow is how it looks now.

Paul,
You can go to http://101tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp? and there calculate diameter and speedo effect. I just mounted a 185x15 on a 5.5 Porsche wheel and the look is fine. I think the ratio is 75 on the tire I got from a salvage yard to try. I was concerned whether the 185 would fit in the un-flared wheel well, but the clearance is almost the same as the 165 on a 4.5 inch wheel. Since I have all four disc's, I will use the narrow 5 Porsche wheel from the 911 that's 5.5 wide. I am having a local shop re-drill the rotors for the 5 lug. Summit has a moon cap the fits that wheel, it's just not as large as the wide five cap, but with the IRS rear I couldn't find a rotor that didn't add width to the rear and the fender is too close for any more track width. I'll check the ratio number on the tire tonight and let you know.
John W

Paul, I just tried the website I posted and it won't work. Just go to www.1010Tires.com and look for the tire size calculator to make the comparison. It's a very handy chart.
John W

Interesting and just what I was looking for but what is the "stock" tire that would result in my speedo being close (its way off now!)?

The speedo in my IM is a mechanical unit taking its drive from the front driver's wheel. The speedo itself is a 150MPH unit with black face and black bezel....makes me think its not stock 356 or VW but probably Porsche from the 70's. But didn't those tachs get their drive from the transaxle? Since my car has a 901 transaxle and I do have another shell of a 912 perhaps I should take the speedo cable out of the 912 and stick it in the IM and see if there's much of a difference? Its way out now...or everyone is speeding way over the limit in this town.

Brian

to get a speedo baseline - i usually drive beside a stock car (like my wife's civic) at a certain speed.

I just ordered 165-15 Vredestein radials from Coker tire. Vreds aren't well known in the states as far as I can tell. They are a premium tire, not Nanking or some other $39 tires that are available in that size.

I used to collect British Alvis autos and switched from 185-15 Michelin to 185-15 Vredesteins and was very happy. Very happy. Also used them on a Triumph TR-4.

Michelin 165-15 $191.00 vs. Vreds 165-15 $89.00!

Four Vreds, a total $483.66 FedX and sales tax.

Paul,
I checked the ratio of the 185 tire last night. It's a 185 70 R15. You can plug that into the tire calculator, but there is not ratio posted for the 165 R 15. I've compared it to the outside circumference of the 5.60 15 in the chart. Hope that helps.
John W

I've been really humming and haw-ing over the tire. I don't care about how much they cost.

I've had cheap tires in the past and i felt literally like i threw my money away. Went and bought Toyo T1-S and was more than happy to pay twice as much.

no point in cheaping out on tires IMO.

I really think i will go with either a 185-55-15, or a 185-60-15. (probably the 60 series)

>70 series is too tall for the outlaw-ish look i want and 185 is as wide as i want.

I'd love to see pictures of folks tire/rim combos.

Paul, I always buy the el-cheapo Crappy Tire tires for normal driving up here. Usually we get flats from the damn stone "arrow heads" they call gravel and lay down on the roads in the winter or the tires "flat spot" from sitting overnight in minus 35 then the next morning when you drive off the sidewalls on premium tires crack and you've got a leak that can't be fixed.

Crappy Tire addresses both these problems. They fix flats for free and their cheap tires and so damn hard that they don't flat spot as bad and the sidewalls don't crack

Brian,

I hope you didnt take my comments about cheap tires at a hit to you. it was a general comment based on my experiences / location. I have family in the Yukon that own a cab company and i understand the harsh weather (Extremes) and what that does to the car.

I'm getting ready to buy some new tires too. I think I'm going with 195/65/15. It seems to be the closest to stock diameter and will give extra rubber on the asphalt. My friend has the same size on his bug. Sam's Club has Goodyear's for $360/set. The tight spot might be the outside clearance on the rears.