Will 205 width race tire fit 6 1/2" wheels?
 

Picked up some used race tires for HPDE events. 205/50/15 BFG R1's. I have a set of Motegi Traklites in a 6.5" width I was going to put them on but don't know with the stiff sidewalls if that set up works OK. Anyone else running 205 track tires on a 6.5" wheel? Problems to expect? These will be used for track days and not real racing.

Yes, and you can fit a 225 on a 6" wheel if you'd like. Your tire mounter will hate you, but it is doable. I have several sets in my garage to prove it. ;)

You could probably get a 245 on a 6.5" rim, ideal? No. Possible? Yes :)

a lot of miatas run 225 V710s on the factory 15's

I have 205 V710's (that are dead)

and am going to pick up a diff brand of R-cmps in 225 in about a week or so

hmmmmm, good to know. I see 225/50/15 RS2s in the future.

is that the size you run? how does it look? i assume that's a lot bigger diameter compared to OEM 185/60/14...oh well, lower rpms in 5th ;)

So a 205 race tire on a 6.5" isn't perfect but isn't too bad either. Obviously people have done far worse but I'm looking for a good running combination on the cheap. The 6 tires with reasonable wear left were only $100 and I already had the rims.

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm hoping to have these mounted up today for my 1st track day in the Miata Friday.

205/50/15 are designed to fit anywhere from 5.5-7.5"

205 will work just fine on a 6.5" rim. I had Ra-1 205/50/15 that I autocrossed with on a 15X6.5, and as my street tire I run a T1-S 195/50/15. It's all good.

About 1 1/4" more in diameter. 225/45/15 is nearly the same size as OEM.

might be a tight fit on a 6" rim

As long as you aren't to poor fucker mounting it :)

Braineack,

I've always heard that race tires are more sensitive to rim width than street tires. High G's and really stiff sidewalls. With your range of 5.5 to 7.5 I'm right in the middle. Even though most of the track guys run 7" (because of spec miata regs I would figure) I guess I shouldn't have been concerned.

Thanks for the input. We'll see how my little underpowered (RE not FI yet) miata does.

Stock class autocrossers squeeze retard tires on stock sized rims. One example:
http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/233985.aspx

I remeber reading a thread about a 245 on the stock 5.5" rim.

I'm so happy I don't drive Honda's. I'm way too old to drive a huge fart can down the road on tires way too wide or way too narrow for the wheels on the car. I can't wear my pants sagged below my butt either.

I run 205's on a 6" rim, no problems (205/45/16) ..Now, after reading above, I wish I went with 215's(215/40/16)...

I mount my own so that's not an issue...