Ok so im new to CL!!
Hi everyone.
love my car.
love what ive read about in this site.
im a poor high school student so mods come slow.... sad i know. lol

Anywayss...

I broke my stock rims not too long ago (too much fun in the rain)

and i got 18inch rims

but i didnt know what size tires to get so i just got the cheapest ones i could find for now.

they are
225-40-18 in the front
225-45-18 in the back

and it sucks!!!

the ride is not the same,
its hard. lol.

(the back aint so bad, but the front is)

i have saved up about 600 dollars
and looking to buy new tires

thinking of buying 255-45-18 or 245-45-18

yall guys know like 10x more than i do, so what would yall suggest?

something to keep my ride soft, yet good for launching

prefer luxury over performance, but still want both, reason why i bought a GS400

THANKS

 

When buying tires, you have to keep factory spec diameter in mind, otherwise, you will run into lots of other issues such as rubbing, and speedo error.

In other words, the overall diameter has to match the factory size, or be close to it.

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

Use this calculator as a tool to figure out whats best, make judgments accordingly.

Stock tire size is
235/45/17 or
215/55/16

For 18 inch wheels, depending on width (I'll assume 8inches) 245/40/18 is suitable. The wider the tire, the lower profile you have to get to maintain that ratio. So the trade off is of course between width, and comfort, or sidewall ratio.

Now you can deviate from the factory diameter, but you must stay within 5% to be safe. Currently, I'm 245/45/17's on my stockers. Wider tread, along with more sidewall for comfort, whiel still beign very close to stock spec.

 

The stock tire size is 215/60/16 and I thought for an 8" wide rim it was better to get 235. Grand, do you have pix of your setup because I just bought some stock 5-spoke 17's and was thinking of getting that size tire.

 

Go with 245/40/18. That is the closest to the stock and what I currently have on my car... Got Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's. EXPENSIVE but I see why people love them. Great tire!

 

+1 Agree.....

 

the ride will be HARD cuz you got 18" wheels.
(but, Falken is pretty quiet and the ride is pretty soft in my opinion.)
if u REALLY want soft ride, go back to 16" wheels.

if your wheel spec is 18x8.5 (pretty standard for 18" wheels)
u should go with 245/40/18

check out the Falken tires, they are pretty cheap with decent tire-thread. (last about 25k miles for about $150 each)

check it out atwww.discounttiredirect.com
(free shipping)

GL

 

damn, that's a lot of cars for a high-schooler. good luck with the tires though.

oh, WELCOME

 

go to this link
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp
type in your car and compare sizes. 245/40R18 is suggested.

 

I stand corrected, it is 215/60/16. I parked next to a GS300 a couple of hours ago, and noticed the tire size, and thought I'd come in here and edit my post. The GS4x0 with 16's comes with 225/55/16 though.

I went through the pictures i have, and its not something you would be able to notice in a picture, or in person really, if I didn't tell you. We're talking less then 10 Millimeters. But I strongly suggest 245/45/17 to anyone getting new tires.

Actually, here is the best pic showing the sidewall (at the beginning of a snow storm)...

 

I actually run 245/45/17 also, the ride is so smooth too, on tein CS of course

 

how is the ride going to feel with 245-40-18?

 

little harsh, since there's less side wall, just run PSI a bit lower

 

If you go too low on PSI, you might start having cupping issues. (roaring sound on the highway)

 

would you recomend 245-45-18 instead?