Tires & Wheels ?!?!

[doubleadesign]

I like to change to something wide like these. Not really that wide but wide. More contact with the road. Something that fits on 18's or 20's that has more rubber though. I live in Chicago so I have snow and crappy streets to deal with and I don't want to have to think about what I'm driving over. Does something like this exist? I'm not sure what to ask if I got to a tire and wheel guy. The experience I've had so far is "How about you get this or that from the selection I have here" The is a Proton and an Ebony that have the same rims I'd really like.

http://doubleadesign.com/VX/no_meat.jpg
I love these rims, but not enough meat.

http://doubleadesign.com/VX/tow2.jpg

I like the width here, maybe a little to wide. But, I think it make my point.

OK, so, is there a combination out there that works? I love to two VXs I've shown here, but can you get tires with more rubber?

[mrtew]

That proton is not even a VX dude! That's a vette! The Nitto Terragrapplers meet the description you are looking for in size 285/60/18. They are the meatiest toughest widest tires that can fit on the stock 18's with no mods. They're great!

[jim.LR>AR]

Do a search on tires and you should have plenty of info... Then when you're done reading go and buy the Kumho 285/60 18 good side wall 1.5" wider than stock and not so "all terrainy" as the nitto grapplers. not as pricey either. But do Search and find the answers to your soul and spriit. Damn that was good...

[doubleadesign]

I was searching. My problem is that I have an idea of what I'd like but, I don't understand the numbers enough to know what I'm looking at or wether or not what I think I'd like is practical. Such as the MT's I have on. I had no idea they were going to be loud. I went for their awesome look. My VX looks bad *** but those bad *** tires are driving my wife nuts.

[doubleadesign]

I just caught my mistake! I had a link to another VX but the first one had all the elements I needed. I don't expect you guys to do my homework, I'm kinda looking for advice to enlighten me that what I'm looking for either exists or that I'm crazy. I'll follow up on the fisrt two leads and see where this leads me.

[jim.LR>AR]

there is a site ....miata.com ??? it has a tire comparison deal. you put in what you got (size) and put in the new size and it will tell you hieght and wideth comparrison. there is a link some where . You have stock rims ??

[Cyrk]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[t2p]

dd:
.
snow and crappy streets just about rule out 20" wheel/tire combinations .....
.
imo - 285-60-18's have some drawbacks ........
.
there is a strong chance they will require the cladding to be trimmed and may require a lift for proper clearance .....
.
and because of the increased diameter, the speedo reading will be off significantly .....
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they are wider than the recommended size for the rim .....
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they are considerably heavier than the OEM size of 245-60 .....
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also, the increased sidewall height can be a detriminent as far as feel - turn-in ......
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just my two cents ......

[jim.LR>AR]

285/65/18 only reguire alittle trimming,, 1-2 inches took 5 min with a rotary tool. Speedo is 2 mph at 40 about 21/2 mph at 50 and 3 mph at 60 prob. 4 at 70 . I just ignore they wont ticket you for that . maybe not recommended width but looks good .Heavier yes can't tell in performace brakes are 4 disc no problem. Love the size minimal draw backs.as so far.

[paparon]

Just replaced my OEM Bridgestones at 33,000 miles with the Nittos,but the 255/18's not the 285/18's. Think the 285's are too big a footprint for New England winters.

[doubleadesign]

you guys suggesting these cool tires...Do you have pics of your rides? Are they in the gallery? Then I can see what I like and hunt you done to get more specific specs of the look I want.

[doubleadesign]

what kind of rims those are?

[Bantan]

Originally posted by doubleadesign
what kind of rims those are?
Which ones are you refering to? :confused:

[VCAMILO]

I just got my Nittos put on yesterday for 600 bucks and some change. Thank god for the hook up otherwise they would have been 900 w/ the alignment.

[jim.LR>AR]

my kumho's 891 with allignment and they threw in a fre oil change thank heavens for discover card

[doubleadesign]

The ones in the top post VX pic.

[t2p]

dd:
.
Check out picture gallerys of Cyrk and Bantan .......
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Also searches with '255-55' ........ '265-60' .......... 'Kuhmo' ......
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A few sizes you may want to consider:

255-55-18's (conservative) ........
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or 265-50-18's ........
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or 285--50-18's (adventurous) ...........
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265-60-18 and 285-60-18 sizes will work - they will have alot of 'meat' - but they may require trimming and/or lifting - and do have some disadvantages .....
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I have purposely refrained from listing 20" sizes ......... I'm just too conservative ...... (and don't know jack about them !) ....
.

[t2p]

.... more ......
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also do a search using .... 'Toyo' and 'Pirelli' .... 'Pirellli Scorpion' ........ Pirelli Zero .....
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information and pictures (also) can be found with the searches ...... ........
.
The Pirelli tire looks like a good one ........
.

[Bantan]

Originally posted by doubleadesign
The ones in the top post VX pic.

Okay Those are 20x9 KMC Thunders with Goodyear All weather 275/45 tires.
1. Same height as stock so it does not mess up the speedometer.
2. Wider(sticks 1"-1.5"outside the wheel well).
3. Has enough side wall to take on these NYC potholes.
4. Great on road handling & cornering, best Mod I've done so far.

Updated Photo:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/225vx_205.jpg

[doubleadesign]

Now we're getting somewhere. KMC Thunder's (I need to see if they come in 18's. I like Bantan's VX. Though I'd like to find out what happens if you added more meat to the tires he's got. Can they get a little wider? Does this mess up your ability to turn? Will it reduce your speed performance? Kill handling or improve it? Since I want more meat it looks like I should look at 18's. I'd really like 'em wide. How do these sound? Or is that not even an issue? OK itlooks like i need to look at tires that start around 265 in the 45-65 area. Is it best to just get these round about numbers and go to a dealer or do I want to hunt these down piece by piece?

[doubleadesign]

Called Costco and they can get me some Bridgestone Dueler H/P's for $157 a piece (285/60/18)
http://doubleadesign.com/VX/tire.jpg
I need some info on fit if I get some KMC Thunder's (18x9)
http://doubleadesign.com/VX/thunder.jpg

or how about KMC XD 315's (18x9.5)
http://doubleadesign.com/VX/315.jpg


What issues am I going to run into? Will these fit?

[mrtew]

OK, here's some pictures I took of my new Nitto's Click here to go to my webpage and the top three pix are the TerraGrapplers and the rest are my old Yokos.

http://home.wideopenwest.com/~mrtew/VXpix.html

http://home.wideopenwest.com/~mrtew/sVCRnitto1.jpg

[TDAWG]

Hey doubleadesign,
Here's my personal run down on tires. For winter and fall I run a konig NRN 16X8 rim with Mickey Thompson Baja Belted 32X11.5 tires. Spring I run American Racing HYPE 20X8.5 rim with Hankook Ventus 275/55 R20 and for summer I run the Diablo Macho SP6 which is a rim with a spinner with Pirelli
Pzero Rosso Asimmetrico 265/35 R22. Hope this help. I had to do some fender trimming in order to get the 32 and 275 to fit without rubbing but the 265 don't run and are just a little bigger then stock. I've been where you are so I hope this helps. If you go through some of any members picture galleries you'll be able to see and get an idea of what fits, looks good and decide.

[doubleadesign]

About your 20's. say I get some 20x9's with 275/45/20 tires. am I going to have enough meat 1. for the road and 2. for aesthetics_and visual appeal. My concern is all metal and not enough rubber.

[doubleadesign]

here's a ride I believe is the closest to what I can get:

http://doubleadesign.com/VX/best.jpg

I think these are 18's. So, I'm going to investigate those Thunder's in earnest.

What is the best way to store a second set of tires and rims for the winter? I doubt anyone will want my MT's on stock 16's so I think I need to keep them for winter.

Also, how do you guys feel about safety from the image posted here? I know I feel a little unsafe with the MT's which is why I'm doing this.