Tire/Wheel decision made!
 

Former Azenis thread no longer applies: https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24647

So, after some serious thought about money and logistics, I've decided...
In mid-October I'm going to Tom'sRiver,NJ for 3 weeks for a school. This place: http://www.philstireservice.com/ is 949Racing's East Coast distributor and it's only 3hours north of where I'm going to be.

Phil is a TireRack dealer and can cut me any deal that's on their website. I figured I'd buy the tires/wheels over the internet, and drive up there on a Sat for the install... maybe avoid tax and shipping?

15x8" 6UL's in silver is the easy choice.

Tire Rack doesn't sell Falken, so Zeix 912's are out... and that's the tire I really wanted.

In my pricerange in 225/50/15, it's either:
Khumo Ecsta AST's: $58
Sumi HTR 200's: $69

6UL's: $149x4=$596
AST's: $58x4=$232
Mnt/Blnc: $50?
SubTotal: $878
Sell Heliums for $300

Total: $578

225/50/15s will not really fit up front. 225/45/15s probably will. granted it was on +15 offset wheels, but I dont see anyway the overall diameter would work.

Only advice I have for you is don't get Sumitomo HTR 200's. It the only street tire I have to choose from in my size (13" wheel) and I hate them with a passion.

the khumos are good tires. the 225/50/15s fit on the rears..might need to trim a little bit, when you fully compressor the suspension it may rub, nothing major.

225/50/15s on the front was simply too large in overall diameter, could only go about half lock both ways and the wheel would wedge against the fender wall. so do a 225/45/15 up front. or 205/50/15.

FWIW I have 225-50-15's all the way around on my 99 on stock suspension. lock to lock it never hits or rubs, even when turning hard and launching hard, etc. Drivers side rear rubs in first gear on a 100 shot though.

NB != NA when it comes to tire clearance.

As for 225/45/15's rubbing, I get none, but that isn't fair. The local stock 94R on 225/45/15's on +36 8 UL's on flex gets no rub with no flares, no rolling. And he has a nice drop.

A 205 or even 195 (RE-01R) fits fine on the 8's if you can't afford the 'kooks. Why get such a wicked wheel with such a POS tire.

I have ASTs on my GTI...they are a great All season.

^Well, fuck!

From the 949 site:
15x8 195/45 - 195/50 - 205/50 - 215/45 - 225/45 fit standard length dampers no rubbing at all ride heights. 225/45 may require trimming liner with short body coilovers with short body coilovers that allow the suspension to compress further than stock. 225/50 fit NB's fine, NA's require trimming liners with short body coilovers. 225/45 at least -1.25* front camber recommended for the NA, NB's clear with stock alignment.

Does this thing mean with stock springs I'll be fine? I don't have "short-body-coilovers"... and they'll eventually go on an NB.

In a 225/45, there's T1R's, Proxes4, RS2... all too expensive.

The reason for crappy tires has been covered... need cheap, need last long. For the street, my choice of a 912 or AST will be fine.

If somebody wants to talk me out of a 225, then what's avail in a 215 for about $60 that has better performance and will give me 20k miles?

when you're over here in jersey hit me or paul up we live like 15min away or so.

It's possible you'll be fine. Brad was on +15 offset wheels and it's pretty slammed, but where he was hitting, i couldnt see it working even on a higher offset

Not sure about 215's, but Firestone has their Fusion ZR1's that are cheap.
They are a Firestone tire, but not badged so they are considerably cheaper. I've run the 205's for the street as a standby and will easily get 20K out of them. They are quiet, predictable, and not too shabby for a down the roader tire.

I would pretty much rule out fitting 50 series in the front, especially if your car is low.
225/45/15 hankook - 89 bucks a tire. Sold out on web atm, but call. Anything less then 225, would be uncivilized. Also, on your numbers, factor more like 20/whl for mount and balance. Get it done at a good shop so rims don't end up scratched. Also, spring the 3 bucks for nitrogen inflation... I had it done forever ago and lost nearly no tire pressure to this day.

http://www.edgeracing.com/tires/2254515/

^I'm hearing all the advice. Springs are stock, just running KYB AGX, so should be stock ride height. I fully intend on keeping stock springs on my future NB purchase with the addition of shocks/sways.

I want the 225 for looks, but it the 6UL offset is in +36 or +40.

And after making a small spreadsheet, the only thing in range in a 225/45 is RS2's. That's the only thing under $100.

I've got a 6-8 choices in 225/50, and the Zeix-912 is still the frontrunner.

I really need a definitive answer on the 50's on stock NA suspension.

Stand by.

Just got off the phone with Emilio and he confirms that 225/50's will rub on stock NA suspension, requiring a slight fender-roll at a minimum and my 250lb ass will probably mean liner rubbing on the drivers side often.

So back to 225/45's... he immediately tried to talk me into RA1's. I know that's the smart move for total performance, but it's another $300. He says the mileage penalty won't be all that much more significant than RS2's and it'll be track ready every day. I just can't do it.

The final decision:
15x8 6UL's in silver
225/45/15 RS2's

Thanks all for your advice and thoughts. I'll call Phil later today and set things up to be sure he still has some silvers left when I get up there in October.

In the end, I can't believe I was looking at buying Zeix912's with the intention of putting them on my future 300whp 99.

you can always get your 225/50s for the rear and get whatever 225/45 up front you can find....


hell, maybe Brad will sell you his (2) 225/50 proxie4s sitting in my parent's basement ;)

225/50/15s Do fit on the front if it is a NB (just as a side note)

Thats what I run at autoX

You are running stock 6" wheels with a stock offset. A 6UL is not 6" wide and does not have a stock offset.

Besides, earlier in the thread Emilo confirmed that a 225/50 on a 6UL will work on an NB.

Those are for when I blow mine out on the driftzzz

Good choice on the RS2. I love mine.

225/50/15 should fit. Even a lowered NA. You will have to mess with the fender liners a bit, but other than that you should be good. I'm running 225/45/16 RS2's which are .1" taller according to the Tire size calculator.