I"m scared of small sidewalls...

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Shaman

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Since losing two 40 series tires and a two rims to roads, small sidewalls worry me. I just picked up a car that has 17" wheels, and stock at 215/45/17, with most using 235/40/17. I need tires, and would like to go bigger on the sidewall. There is enough room for bigger tires, and I have a way to electronically adjust for the new tires. I know that small sidewalls mean less "give" in turning, but I am not an SCCA star in training.

What issues would a a bigger sidewall have aside from above mentioned problems? What size tire should I be looking at?
 
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Your manufacturer should have a plus size. If you go too big your speedometer will be off. Otherwise you'll have to buy smaller rims so you can then buy taller tires.
 
If you want to go much taller profile, I'd advise that you get smaller rims (eg 16s). Going too much bigger overall diameter risks affecting the suspension geometry (scrub radius, for example) even if the tire/wheel combo physically fits. that imaginary line drawn through the steering axis won't hit the same place in the tread contact patch with too large a tire diameter.
 
If you have enough room so that the tire won't rub, you could try 215/50/17 - that's about 1 inch taller than your current tire, which means half an inch more sidewall.

ABS/traction/TPMS might be complaining on some cars when you mount non-OEM size, but if you have a way to adjust for it, it should be fine.
 
45 and 40-series is not that bad, especially if you have a 235-width tire. Remember, the sidewall height is a RATIO, not an absolute number.

I have run tires like 235/45R17, 235/40R18, 245/35R19, and other small sidewalls for years and have never bent a wheel, even in the pothole-ridden streets of downtown Chicago.
 
I used to run 205/40r17....and went through two sets of aluminium wheels.

Then I was running 205/55r15s....and went through two sets of steelies.

The trick...is slowing down.

My average speed per oil change used to run high 60s...when you factor in a lot of city miles, I was flying.

These days...55-60 on the interstate. Of course 9 inches of sidewall doesn't hurt...
 
The only practical solution is to get a set of smaller 16" rims if they will clear your calipers.

I have 205/60-15s on my BMW and I love the ride and I don't have to be concerned with pot holes and the like at all. I hit a curb a while ago while cornering with the inside rear tire and enough force to actually burst the tire but the rim was undamaged.
 
I have been there. In my GTI I have lost 2 225/40 18 tires at a cost of $600. Ironically in my past lancer evo that I owned for over 5 yrs running 235/45/17's I never had a problem ha ha.

My Moms Lexus IS300 that she bought new in 2001 omg same size 215/45/17 they went through 2 sets of oem rims one set of centerline forged rims until my folks gave up and bought 16's with a 205/55/16.

Since then been about 3 yrs or more my parents have had zero issues.

So in your case I would do the same. If I keep blowing tires myself I may need to go down a rim size as well.

If your really concerned that's what you gotta do.

Jeff
 
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85 series on my Jeep
laugh.gif
 
If you keep the same Overall Diameter (OAD) then there should be no fitment issues. For example, at the TireRack.com I found that the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus in a 215 45 17 is 24.7" OAD which equals 844 tire revolutions per mile (TRPM). That is in the Ultra High Performance All Season category.

Dropping down to the High Performance All Season I found the Dunlop SP Sport Signature in 205 50 17 size has a OAD of 25.1 and 832 TRPM. That is pretty close to the Michelin 215 45 17, close enough that you shouldn't have any issues.

The same Dunlop in a 215 55 17 has a OAD of 26.3 and 795 TRPM. That is getting to be quiet a difference in OAD from the stock tire. I wouldn't want to try it, but it may work OK.

Most tires of the exact same size will be very close in OAD. There are many other tires that you can look up at TireRack.com and see if the OADs are close enough to try.

Start here, http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/index.jsp

It would be a tremendous help if you would tell us the car they will go onto and what tires are on it now.
 
I think 215/55R-16 is about the optimal tire size for anything and everything except more exotic cars and any trucks.

Big enough to have decent brakes on a decent size car, but not too big, nor too small, etc. And far less of a concern of losing a tire/wheel.
 
Originally Posted By: dparm
45 and 40-series is not that bad, especially if you have a 235-width tire. Remember, the sidewall height is a RATIO, not an absolute number.

I have run tires like 235/45R17, 235/40R18, 245/35R19, and other small sidewalls for years and have never bent a wheel, even in the pothole-ridden streets of downtown Chicago.

I agree. I've been using 235/45R17 for around 175,000 miles on my GTI and I never had a tire blow-out and only slightly bent an alloy wheel when hitting a log at 50 mph. But this sidewall height is the smallest that I'm comfortable using. I replaced the stock 225/40R18 setup due to the small sidewall height. Using stiff, high quality tires is important and so is keeping the pressure at recommended or higher pressures.
 
I havent had any issues on 215 45 17's. And we have some of the worst roads..although i guess it depends how fast ur going and what you hit.
 
I'm not afraid of low profile tires and wheels. They are dumb on a daily driver. The ride on my 528es and even the Rat is enhanced by 70 and 75 series tires and wheels. The tires are part of the suspension. If lo-pro tires are essential for your commuter car, you're going too fast.
 
Originally Posted By: JAG
Originally Posted By: dparm
45 and 40-series is not that bad, especially if you have a 235-width tire. Remember, the sidewall height is a RATIO, not an absolute number.

I have run tires like 235/45R17, 235/40R18, 245/35R19, and other small sidewalls for years and have never bent a wheel, even in the pothole-ridden streets of downtown Chicago.

I agree. I've been using 235/45R17 for around 175,000 miles on my GTI and I never had a tire blow-out and only slightly bent an alloy wheel when hitting a log at 50 mph. But this sidewall height is the smallest that I'm comfortable using. I replaced the stock 225/40R18 setup due to the small sidewall height. Using stiff, high quality tires is important and so is keeping the pressure at recommended or higher pressures.


Your 2003 GTI stock set up were 18's??
 
On my 88 325is, I'm seriously consideirng going from the low profile 16's, to a nice 15. Stock is 14, I think I'll notice a nice improvement in ride comfort and quietness over the 16's
 
andyid, low profile tires are not essential, they are stock. Car is a Saturn Ion Redline with 17" rims stock, and stock at 215/45/17 like stated in the OP. Most use a 315/40/17 as the OAD is less than 1% different. I am looking at picking up some 16s this weekend for winter tires, and that will give me enough time to decide on selling the stock 17" and swapping tires on the same rims, or looking for a different set of 16s. 5x100 bolt pattern makes it hard to find rims.

16s, and possibly 15s will fit. I don't have the brembo upgrade that practically requires 17s.
 
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