235/65 18

[Cobrajet]

The advantage of using the 285 width series is that it will give your VX a much wider stance, better look, better handling performance and will still easily fit onto the OEM 18x7 rims.

I highly recommend the following tire make/model for your VX in either 285/50R18 (29.2" O.D.) or 285/55R18 (30.0" O.D.).

The MAXXIS - MARAUDER MA-S1

The only problem with a tire this wide with this short aspect ration, is that our rims are not really wide enough. They recommend 9" (8"-10" range), and ours are only 7". I ran Pirelli Scorpion Zero 285/55-18 tires on my VX, and they looked OK, but just didn't feel right. I would NOT recommend them. Absolutely no trimming required, though. I've backed off to 265/60-18 Kumho's and feel these are perfect for unmolested cladding.

[Riff Raff]

I ran 285/55-18 tires on my VX, and.......... Absolutely no trimming required.......

Excellent news!!! Exactly what I thought that the 285/55R18 (30.0" O.D.) shouldn't require any cladding trim. The Pirelli's may have a different "feel" than the Maxxis - Marauder MA-S1. True fact about the rim width versus tire, but it has been poven here many times over that our OEM 18x7 rims can still handle the wider 285 series width without issue. The narrower OEM rim helps prevent the tires from rubbing when turning lock-to-lock. Thanx.

[etlsport]

Excellent news!!! Exactly what I thought that the 285/55R18 (30.0" O.D.) shouldn't require any cladding trim. The Pirelli's may have a different "feel" than the Maxxis - Marauder MA-S1. True fact about the rim width versus tire, but it has been poven here many times over that our OEM 18x7 rims can still handle the wider 285 series width without issue. The narrower OEM rim helps prevent the tires from rubbing when turning lock-to-lock. Thanx.

285/60/18 has been fit many times on our OEM rims because of the taller sidewall. As cobrajet pointed out, when you reduce that aspect ratio, the fact that a 285 is too wide for our rims becomes more apparent. I wouldnt put a 285 on with anything less than a 60 sidewall. It will deform the tire and reduce its handling characteristics.

Daly, i don't think you said before what your intentions were for the new tires. Is there a particular look you are going for, or a performance/handing characteristic you are looking for?

For a "beefy" look a 285/60/18 looks fantastic and requires very little modification to the cladding

For a more aggressive look but less extreme, a 265/60/18 gives a wider stance and taller profile but with no need for modification to the cladding

if you are going for gas mileage, a skinny tire is better but i wouldnt go any skinnier than the factory 245/60/18

if you are going for performance/handling a 255/55/18 or 255/60/18 would give you a wider tire without introducing a ton of weight or sidewall flex.

keep in mind these general rules....
wide tires give good traction in dry and very deep mud/snow (when you cant reach solid surface underneath) Wide tires also reduce gas mileage and add weight

skinny tires improve gas mileage but decrease dry traction. They also resist hydroplaning better. For mud and snow skinny tires push through and get to the road for better traction.

taller sidewalls protect your rim better and make the vehicle look more aggressive

shorter sidewalls help improve handling and allow you to "feel the road" (and bumps) more

tire sizing 101:

245/60/18

245 = tire width in mm

60 = aspect ratio (ie 60% of width) per sidewall.

18 = rim diameter in inches

so 245 x 0.60 = 147mm sidewall (5.79 inches)

5.79" + 18" + 5.79" = 29.58" overall diameter

[TheGanzman]

Again, I know *I* am in the GLARING minority here, but I went with the STOCK size; specifically Continental Cross Contact. I've gotten 51K miles on them (yeah, all paved miles) and will prolly get ~3-5K more miles on them - at which time I will put the very same brand and size back on! Continental tires are VERY well-made (in Germany - D'uh!); I run 'em on my bicycles too...

"Hey Pops - Better get home - your soup's gettin' cold..."

[Riff Raff]

Okay, then this might be a better alternative-- 275/55R18 @ 29.8" O.D. It's damn near exactly the same O.D. as OEM (29.5"), and the 275 series width is much more comforable on a 7" wide rim.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes