Tire profiles?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: West Slope of the Sierras California
Tire profiles?
Has anyone gone from a 50 series to a 45 series? Wondering if that would be that much of a change. I know that the 50 series is 50% of the tread width, and so on. I currently have 255 50 17 and found a heck of a deal on 4 255 45 17's that's gonna be hard to pass up. I might mention that my car currently is sitting almost 2" higher than the AIM says it should! Was that way when I bought it, something a PO did. Definately want to lower it all the way around. So, just wondering if that little change to a 45 series will be THAT noticeable, from someone that's gone that route.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
You need to look at the overall diameter of the tire, Sounds like you have a big gap between the fender and tire now and going to 45's the same width is going to make the gap bigger because the diameter is smaller. 
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
A rule of thumb in my business is once you go below 45 series, ride compliance really begins to suffer. Also, most people don't realize until it's tooo late is that as profiles go down, and rims get larger, they get heavier and you end up with four extra flywheels on your ride, adding unsprung weight, slowing your acceleration, overworking your brakes, and increasing fuel consumption.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 132
Likes: 9
From: California
How about a picture
Has anyone gone from a 50 series to a 45 series? Wondering if that would be that much of a change. I know that the 50 series is 50% of the tread width, and so on. I currently have 255 50 17 and found a heck of a deal on 4 255 45 17's that's gonna be hard to pass up. I might mention that my car currently is sitting almost 2" higher than the AIM says it should! Was that way when I bought it, something a PO did. Definately want to lower it all the way around. So, just wondering if that little change to a 45 series will be THAT noticeable, from someone that's gone that route.
Thanks.
Thanks.
The 255 50 17 is supposed to be the same height as a 255 60 15 which is the same diameter as the stock tires. Now if your car is sitting higher than stock then reducing the diameter of the tire will make it look more like a 4 wheel drive than a sports car.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,935
Likes: 3,344
From: NYC NY
Yes you are right. At 60 MPH is makes a little over a 2 MPH difference. Here's a link to a tire size calculator. http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.htmlI think the biggest issue is the ride height not the difference is tire diameter. There are plenty of people here running 26" tall tires. If you don't mind less sidewall and it's a great deal buy the tires but lower the stance reguardless so you get the look you want.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
A rule of thumb in my business is once you go below 45 series, ride compliance really begins to suffer. Also, most people don't realize until it's tooo late is that as profiles go down, and rims get larger, they get heavier and you end up with four extra flywheels on your ride, adding unsprung weight, slowing your acceleration, overworking your brakes, and increasing fuel consumption.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: West Slope of the Sierras California
Thanks Guys for the replys, all have been helpful. Here's a shot to give an idea of my current stance. Might just hold out for some 50's.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...g?t=1217161768[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...g?t=1217161768[/IMG]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: West Slope of the Sierras California
Here's what I was looking at...
for $78 each...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....rce+T%2FA+KDWS
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....rce+T%2FA+KDWS
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Spokane WA
I agree, the frot seems a bit more out of whack. The car as a whole doesn't look too far off, at least in the photo that you posted. I would also agree with the opinions of many others in that dropping in sidewall height will make the gaps in your wheelwells sem more dramatic. The pricing on the tires seems pretty good. The tire has a good reputation even if it isn't the newest design in that series. A 45 series tire would be appropriate on a 17" rim just get the stance down a bit closer to where it should be. Good looking car by the way.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: West Slope of the Sierras California
Thanks to all for your input. By the way, been talkin' with Drew @ Corvette Stop on new springs for the front that'll drop her down.
Last edited by firstimer; Jul 28, 2008 at 08:18 AM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 592
Likes: 3
From: Austin Tx
Thanks Guys for the replys, all have been helpful. Here's a shot to give an idea of my current stance. Might just hold out for some 50's.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...g?t=1217161768[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...g?t=1217161768[/IMG]