16x8 tire sizes for performance?

[zavala]

i've just gotten a set 16x8 +15 for my S13 to be my daily driver/track rims. and i'm trying to decide on a tire size in terms of performance not just looks. the two basic sizes that i'm working with is 225/50 and 245/45. now i've had 245/45 on another car before (subaru wrx) and i loved the wide look of them but the car got stolen before i really got to enjoy them. but everyone i've talked to about using that size again says the sidewall bulge is bad for track use cause of rollover and squirm, is this true? then that leaves me with the 225/50 and i'm not really to sure what these would look like on a 16x8. i highly doubt i would have the sidewall bulge issue with using these tires but i'm really worried about them being streched across the rim. and i'm really not into that whole look, meat>tighty whites. has anyone came across this problem too? pics of both sizes would be great. or if anyone has track experiance with these combos? and yes i do know how to use the search button and have manyy manyy times but haven't found the answers i'm looking for

[johngriff]

225/50

255/50 is monster truck status for the x8.

Dont go lower than a 50 sidewall on a 16 either, it sucks.

[arkive43]

wrd biggest tire you should be running is a 225, and nothing taller than a 55...imo.(i had 2 205/55/16's and had to use em or let them go to waste. there not that bad) anything wider you have sidewall flex.

[zavala]

225/50

255/50 is monster truck status for the x8.

Dont go lower than a 50 sidewall on a 16 either, it sucks.

lol sorry i ment 225/50 not 255/50 that's like nasty old school muscle car tires

[cdlong]

i've got 225/50s on my R32 GTR wheels, there is a very slight stretch. they work well and there's no slop so i'm happy with them. plus they still look pretty meaty and they protect the rim well. 245s might be a problem depending on tires. some race tires are designed to buldge a bit but you probably don't want to mess around with that. some 615s are a decent tire that can be driven on the street if you don't have a lot of water to deal with.

[lillaozboi]

what's a good a stretch on a 16x10? i run 225/50 right now but i want to run a smaller sidewall

[racepar1]

Unless you ar an incredible driver you will never feel the sidewall flex on the 245/45's and the 225/50's will have pretty much exactly the same flex. As far as the bulge I wouldn't worry about it. I had 245/40's on my 17 by 8 5-zigen's and there was minimal bulge, not ballooned or anything like that. What you do have to worry about is clearing the fenders, the 245's may not fit and you will definitely have to run aggressive camber and roll the fender lips. Also don't listen to the idiots preaching about stretching your tires, a little sidewall flex is actually good cuz it helps the tire stick to the ground.

[trsilvias13]

225/50/16 are not even a stretch on an 8in wheel. Stock fd3s come with that set up. Also just to ask what do you consider performance.. what kind of driving style do you have? What kind of track event? If drag racing, then go wider than 225 ( I would go with 245)

[Kuzumi]

if you are going for less sidewall flex get a 205/50 that fits nice.

[69datsun510]

I have some 16x8 rims and 225 on the width is perfect. Your preferred profile depends on what you will be doing mostly with the tires, manufacture, and grade. Tire flex frome one manufacture can very quit a bit. The high end lines and major manufactures give better performance with less tire flex. You can change the way a tire gribs and flex with air pressure and the norm tempeture the tire runs at. Here is the problem you will be facing with the +15 offset on your 240sx. With the 225 wide tire,+15 offset, you will have to roll your fenders and run tons of chamber. I bought my set of +15 rims from a guy who had them on his 240sx. He had the fenders rolled, some chamber, and still rubbed. He didn't want to put more chamber in the set up because the tires would wear out to quickly. I can run the +15 cause I have them on 510's. You would be better off with +19 as much as +35 on the 240sx, but you lose the sick lip you get with the +15's. Here is a pic of the 16x8 225/45.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/ebaypics010.jpg
My 510 with 16x8 +19 225/40 rear and 16x7 +25 205/40 with a Maxima strut assembly
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/car1.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/KylesCar2.jpg
My project 510 needs lowered still, 16x8 +15 225/45 rear, 16x7 +15 215/45 front with 280zx front strut assemblies.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/P9250064.jpg
Make sure your enlarge the pics by clicking on them to get more detail. I hope I have helped you.

[zavala]

^ best advice and pictures i've gotten yet, thank you very much. i'm pretty set on the 225/50 with the 16x8 +15, tires will be RE01R's for mountain driving a DD. i understand having to roll the fenders so as not to rub but i'm also not really planning on slamming my car, i'll be happy with a 1-2 finger gap all the way around. the main theing i'm also looking for in terms of looks is just to have the wheel flush with the fender, not sunken in or sticking 2 inches out like a lowrider. does anyone have a pic of 16x8 +15 on stock fenders?

[69datsun510]

I will put my +15 16x8 225/45 on my S13 tomorrow and take pics for you. My car is lowered some, but the fenders are not rolled. I have to go to work. So, can't do it until tomorrow. I will do it first thing in the morning. So check back then.

[69datsun510]

Ok, here is what I did for you. I took pictures with the 16x8 +15offset and 225/45 tires. I also took pics of the stock set up with 15x6 195/60 +25offset I think is stock, if not, pretty close. What I notices is the +15 offset sticks out farther in the front, then I would like. The front is where you will get the rubbing. It would be better to have a +19 or +25 for your front rims. If you are staying with the stock height and don't plan to lower the car, the 50 series would look better then the 45 series, the 50 series would fill the wheel well better. What type of rims do you have? If you have Watanabe RS-8's, I would be willing to trade you a pair of 16x8 +19offset for a pair of your 16x8 +15 offset. You could then put the +19 on the front of your car. You would only have to pay the cost to swap my tires off to your rims. You would get two good things out of the +19 offset, a stagered look between the front and rear, and the front tires won't stick out. I hope this helps you out.
here are the pics:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/Stockrims.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/16x815offset.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/TopViewRear.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/TopViewFront.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/TopViewFront2.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/RearTopViewStock.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/FrontTopViewStock.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/RearViewStock.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/RearView.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/FrontViewStock.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/FrontView2.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s224/69datsun510/FrontView.jpg
I hope I helped you out. Good Luck Dean

[zavala]

dude thanks very much man, great effort! i have just the idea of how they'll look now. nice and wideeee