Tire size and fit

[Dr Gnarlson]

I've searched threw the forums and what not but I'm limited on what I do since the only source of Internet I've had for the last month or so is my iPhone. I have a 97 eclipse that I replaced the suspension with adjustable coilovers and smaller struts. Now it's riding on stock 14" rims and with the lower suspension my car is extremely low, so low I have a hard time getting to work over the speed bumps and what not. I was thinking that if I buy larger rims, that it should raise it enough. Since I'm stationed in Germany I have to order everything online and don't want to buy something to big or wrong. I found a set of Mitsubishi 17" rims with 235/45/r17. Would those be too big or do you all think they would be fine? And if anyone wants to sell their wheels and tires let me kno. Thanks.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Yes, those should fit just fine. I think I have heard of some people having to roll the rear fenders a little when using an extremely low coilover setting though, so you might have to do that. Maybe someone who has ran a 235/45-17 on a 2g with coilovers can chime in and add some input.

 

[Dr Gnarlson]

Now what does rolling the fenders of consist of. As in is it easy to do and what not? Thanks for the info and input, any and all will be greatly appreciated.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Rolling the fenders consists of mounting a tool to the hub after the wheel has been removed. The tool then rolls around the inside edge of the wheel well where the tire would rub. This helps give that extra bit of clearance for the bigger tires/wheels to fit without rubbing.

Like I said though, I'm not sure if you would need to do that. But if they did rub, you could roll the fenders and be fine. I believe you can rent a fender roller for about $50-$75 or they sell for about $250. Here's an example of what they look like.

 

[delta448]

I ran 235/45R17s on my 2Gb AWD, with +38 offset 17x8 wheels. Had Tein Basic coilovers on it as well.

I used an old wood baseball bat and rubber coated channel locks to gently roll the inner rear fender seam away from the tire tread. It did rub slightly on hard compression and I raised the rear coilover height to about -1" from stock in order to compensate.

 

[Dr Gnarlson]

Awesome not too bad. I mean right now I have the coil overs as high as they go, and I'm still bottoming out over holes, can't make it over speed bumps without dragging the bottom o my car, and now that it's winter I'm more of a snow plow than anything. I've even high sided twice just on the snow. Would getting new wheels and tires help or do is there something else you'd recommend?

 

[delta448]

You could put stock springs and struts back on it for more clearance. You could also use higher spring rates, but you'll suffer a harsher ride for it. You can't use a taller tire and still have an accurate speedometer/odometer, -also using a taller tire may decrease the car's performance slightly.

If your base model is using the stock 14" wheel and 185/70r14s size that came on it right now, going with the 235/45r17s will give you about 0.5" more ground clearance but will make the speedo about 3mph slow @ 60mph.

Try this tire size calculator out.

edit: I see you're in Europe. So, is your N/T a 4G63 engine? I don't know for sure what size tire came on your car stock, but the calculator should be able to help you figure out what you want to do.

 

[16vdohcturboawd]

I have evo 8 wheels with 235/45R17s and the only time they used to rub was when I had my stock blown struts and I went over a big bump. I have new Gr2s now and they dont rub at all. I have stock springs though.

 

[Dr Gnarlson]

Crap. Well the stock suspension was shot, so I threw it away. So basically what I'm gunna have to do is get a different suspension set up? The set up I have on now it's a mystery set up. I bought it from a guy here on base that had a bunch of extra parts for a talon he use to have. My eclipse has the 420a in it. It's American spec and all that.

 

[delta448]

Is the problem only in the rear?

Try these first?

 

[Dr Gnarlson]

The problem is my whole car is crazy low. So low that it is almost undriveable. I don't know what kind of suspension set up I have, but it's probably some cheap adjustable coil-overs with some cheap shorter struts. It's so low that I cant find a jack that I can get under it. I was thinking that if I just get some bigger wheels and tires that it would help with the "too low" problem. But as I read more and more, that getting bigger wheels and tires probably won't help with my situation. Any kind of information or ideas would be awesome at this point. Thanks for all the help so far.