How wide can a 225 go?
 

So here is the deal. I have a set of 15x9 6ULs, and a set of 15x10 6ULs:
- The 15x9s have Nitto NT-01s on them, still plenty of life left, maybe more than half.
- The 15x10s have mostly dead Hoosier slicks on them, one unusable (flat-spotted to the cords).
- I also have a set of Hankook Z214 DOT r-comps in 225/45-15 that are not mounted. One new, three with most of their life left.

Unless it is completely insane for track use, I would prefer to mount the Hankooks on the 15x10s and keep the NT-01s on the 15x9s. That way I can use both sets at once. FWIW Hankook says max rim width of 8.5" for these tires so I know it is a stretch, no pun intended. However we all know that going to at least a 9" (when rated at 8.5" max) is a win, like with the NT-01s for example.

Thoughts? Does anyone know anyone that has tracked a 225/45-15 on a 15x10? This is for a DE event so I do not care so much if they fall off on speed a bit, just as long as they do not fall off of the wheels. This is for utility, not mad tyte lookz yo.

I'm looking for a quick answer. I will be at the track in two days (Saturday). No conjecture please, just the straight dope.

I could ask Hankook USA but I suspect I will get a liability-inspired CYA response like "No, you cannot do that. They are not rated for a 10" wide wheel. You will die. Small kittens will die. Space aliens will mate with supermodels and contaminate the human race."

I could also dig around at CR.net for strechage info. Though they are into mad-tyte-yo stretching and I suspect do not get out on a proper road course much and drive flat-out. Which is how I drive. Flat-out.

Can't honestly say from experience but I would be lead to believe you would be faster on the 15x10's with the 225 than the 15x9's and no I would no be concerned about them falling off the wheel. I would esentially make them wider and more responsive but to get a true answer I would wait for Emilio or Savington.

They should fit fine, but it depends on the tyre and wheel. Some wheels (like certain work meisters) do not like stretch, same with certain tyres.

I cant say from experience, but I know drifters like stretch to limit sidewall flex and help break traction. Just something to consider.

I just mounted some 225/45r15 Z214s to 15x9 6ULs and they already have a bit of a stretch. When you set the tire flat it sits on the wheel instead of the rubber. Compared to the 225/50r15 V710s they are quite a bit narrower.

No comment on 15x10 with them but another data point for you.

I don't have anything useful to add (irony incoming) but looks like you have three posts of conjecture, zero of the straight dope type.

Very helpful...

Noobs...

I did get some straight dope from Emilio. Long story short it should be OK and I am going to try it tomorrow.

Told Ya! I have a 225 on a 9.5 in rim and they look fine. couldnt imagine the extra half inch would push them overboard.

*

All I was trying to say was you wont know for sure unless someone has tried those exact sizes on those exact wheels.
My point of reference comes from 17" rims. But I know a 205 fits on a 17x9.5 URAS rim (I don't recall the model) with no issues. But on a 17x10 Work Meister S1 the thinnest we could get on was a 225/45.

So cheap/street tyres in your sizes should fit, but that will be with a fair bit of stretch. I'm not experienced with the hankooks you are trying to stretch, but I'm led to believe that semi-slicks and slicks tend to have thicker sidewalls, making stretching more difficult.

So the only way to know for sure is to find someone with those exact sizes on rims the same size, preferably the same rims.

Post pics of mad tyte stretch please.

Yo picts for shizzle, nizzle.

Pictures

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J...0047.jpg?gl=US

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-w...2259.jpg?gl=US

Worked fine. I ran those tires for all they were worth with no issues.

225 r888 10"6ul
 

Rise from the dead!

Figured I'd help people out who are interested in 15x10 6ul's for street/weekend cars.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1351819323

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1351819323

Good enough for me!

No worse than a 205 NT-01 on a 15x9. Probably not any faster than a 15x9, but it still works.

I put a set of 225 nt01s on 15x10s this weekend. The first two leaked and then the shop tried trimming off the nubs with a razor and it looks like that fixed the problem. I'm not sure what's worse: watching the tires get violated as they were put on the rim or having the shop tell me these stretched tires were "easy" to mount compared to most. Definitely don't feel comfortable taking these out on the track.

That's odd, i have not driven on my r888's yet but they are solid. Still holding 38psi.

If it helps at all to give you an idea on stretch this is a 215 -55-16 on a 16x10 wheel. They are hankook tires not sure what model they are stretched more than I would like to go but hold air fine and drive fine as well no strange feelings from the car.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1353480624

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1353480624

With all the 9" rims you own why would you want to do this?

I only have 1 set of 9s now and they already have nt01s on them. It's useful to have a spare set of tires and wheels at the track. Not having a reasonably priced 245 r-compound tire is killing me.

We only saw the leak when spraying the whole edge with soapy water/409. You can't hear it or feel it.

Both local Discount Tire shops won't mount a 225 on a 9 here becuase they think its too stretched. lol

When I contacted Nitto about my 205 50 15 NT01's they said that I can mount them on up to 9 and a half inch wide rims with no problems. All tires have different limits though.

I have seen drifters in San Francisco runing 155/55/15's on15_8's. 175_55_15,'s on 15_9's.
On the street and the track.(Infinion raceway) By the way they were cheap ass pos street tires. It was a shop that only worked on drift miatas. The broken down white miata out front has JIC Majic shocks on it. Lowest miata I've ever seen.

This is relevant to my interests, do you have some more pics :P?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1353627069

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1353627069

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1353627069

Those look fine they have a little stretch but nothing insane

That's just great, I know many on this board will hate it though :P.
I wonder... will they fit rolled/pulled fenders + have enough room for a BBK?

They fit my 11" wilwood Kit with 4 piston dynapro's. Since the outer edge is equivalent to a 15x8 et0 there isn't much difference of this setup than my old 15x8 et0 xxr w/ Hankook 225/45 rs3' mostly rolled/pulled. My alignment during that setup was the icehawk I believe, pinchweld at front was 4 3/8" I think. Tein flex stock springs, rb tubular, it rarely made contact. New car, new suspension, same alignment basically. I will be rolling the fenders in the next couple weeks and will post pictures etc. I do plan to cut my fender at the body line which will allow a more flat roll, more room at trailing end of wheel well.

I guess they could use a small spacer to clear the suspension on the inside.
They sure poke a lot less than 225/45 on a 8" +0 wheel, so I guess fitting them will be doable even with a small spacer :P.
How much room is there between the spokes and the Dynalite caliper, my calipers are a bit fatter than the Wilwoods.

You shouldn't need a spacer, besides that would cause you to have even less clearance & change the intended offset. I'm not sure on caliper clearance don't remember them being close. These wheels specifically state bbk fitment on 949's site I'd assume they would fit. I have seen slicks on these with stock rolled fenders, you need about a 25mm of a roll/pull.

That's pretty legit but still reaffirms my decision on 15x9's instead of 15x10. Personally didn't want to deal with cutting the fenders more than cost / difficulty of tire fitment. Nice to see 225's don't look that terrible on 10's.

For the record in case anyone searches; 15x9 6UL w/Hankook R-S3 225/45ZR15..

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1353648205
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1353647834
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1353648068
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1353647834


Functionally speaking, I believe the car is probably too low. Slight rub on fenders with only me driving in hard corners, however mostly rubs under bumps. With a 140# passenger they rub a lot worse. Simple fender roll should resolve all rubbing. They're amazing.

So does anyone have pictures of 205 50 fifteens on 15 by 9's.

I think this would look and work great on the street and the track. Really stiff sidewall could air down nicely.

To many people go to wide on the tire. The miata only weighs so much so only so much tire well touch the ground. You just change what part of the tred touches the pavement. With allot of negative camber and too wide of tires you well get a bad contact patch and poor wear and life out of tires. Depending on the way car is used also. Track only street only ect...

205 on a 9 is pointless when a 225 fits better, performs better, & not much of a weight difference, choose lighter wheels if you care about rotating weight. If you want grip than it is not practical, but if you want flushness then go for it.

Hey Alex
Reread my last post. I want pictures. I am obviously not talking about unsprung weight. Because of the weight of the car only so much tire is usable. Right now i only need 205's.

My fenders are so stretched I'm almost positive I can run 225's on 9's already. If i decide to run 225's I'll probably run them on 10's. I have one set of proto type rims that cost over $5000 so i know my rims. I don't have that much horsepower to need 225's yet. I like having fun on the street and i like the quality and cost of 205.s. I also like every aspect of tire stretch. I can almost guarantee I have more race rubber then you. At least five sets.

I have been working on race cars longer then you've been alive kid. Not everybody has a v8 or wants one in their miata..

I am old school take a class kid.

Here is a 205/45r15 on a 15x9.... Could not find a picture or video of a 205/50

You sound like an idiot. Keep your d*** in your pants, I didn't say anything about being more experienced. You are old school for sure.

I have 205/50s on 15x9. can post pics on Monday... Left the car at work.

Yes the 225 45 15 fits better on 15 by 9.s ,and i well put those on my car at some point but thats not the point. The 205,s are very jdm and work great and are cheaper.

225,s are pretty much just for the track or for looks or people who have alot of horsepower. I have about 100 hp now with bolt ons on stock old engine. Looking to replace motor and turbo it, but it is a daily driver.

Have had victoracer 235 45 13,s on 13 by 6,s . Worked ,car was lower on them. Changes gearing alittle bit. Was fun and still have them.

Sorry about being a real d,,k to you.

225s make sense on anything with more than ~115whp IMO. I've tested 205s and 225s back to back (both on 9s) on a 120whp car and the 225s were ~1sec faster on a 2 minute track. The only reason to run 205s is if you are limited by class.

I have over 238k miles on the stock short snout 1.6 engine with a header and exhaust and drop in K&N filter. To be honest I'm lucky if i get 90 hp. I feel most people with a stock 1.6 are in the same condition.

On top of that i have added a 95 type M quaife with 410 gears instead the 430 gears with an open differential. Making it harder to spin up the tires. Have 99 pss Bilstien shock set up and inch and one eighth RB front bar no rear sway bar. Some bracing, a custom upper shock brace i made that is scca legal. Ect...

At this time the 205,s are my best option without a power adder.

Sense I drive it on the street every day, the benefits of the exceleration outway the potential benefits of 225,s. Not currently taking the car to thunder hill.

In autocross the car won ospu (basically like ssm2) and the over all championship for our club . Competing against alot of fat cat and tien set up money no object cars that are on hosiers.

Wow. I felt like my bone-stock-from-the-ground-up '97 was limited by the engine, not the suspension!!