2G Tire Size Recommendation

[wing3r09]

Okay so not sure what size rims to get or what tire size would be a good fit. I want to run fender flares with a wide tire like 250 +.Should I buy flares first, and then decide on tires to fit the flares? or Flare to fit the tire? Also 17" vs 18" for road racing?

1. My car is a:
b) 2g DSM

2. My wheel size is:
Diameter: _____
Width: _____
Offset: _____

3. My current or future suspension height will be lowered

c) 1.5 - 2 inches

4. If suspension is lowered,
a) Rear camber will be adjusted to less than 1° negative.
b) Rear camber will be adjusted to within 1° to 1.5° negative.
c) Rear camber will be more than 1.5° negative.

No Idea here

5. Rear fender flange rolling:

Planning on installing fender flares.

6. My driving style is:

b) Street only, but I like to feel secure on twisty roads.

Would like to build for road racing.


7. I have searched for and read the FAQ's, Tech Articles, and threads on wheel and tire fitment:
a) Yes, but I just need someone with experience to validate my choices.
b) No, I just want someone to tell me what to do.

Both, I have researched some, but probably not as much as i could haha.

 

[TehRiceBandit]

I'm by no means an expert. But I'll chime in because no one else has.

I would run around -1 degree in the rear. You definitely want more negative front camber on a GST to combat FWD natural tendency to understeer. At the height you listed you will probably be around -2 degrees in the front.

For tires they all have different recommended wheel widths. You can find the recommended wheel width for each size on tire rack.

 

[oneslowwdsm]

17x9 with 255/35/17s plus proper spacers to be flush with your flares. Anything wider is kind of pointless on a 2g unless you're making some serious power and is a time attack car or competition car.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

255/35/17 will be a short tire. You'll have to overly lower the car to lessen wheel gap. 255/40/17 on a 17x9 is the perfect 17inch setup.

 

[wing3r09]

Thanks for the input guys! I failed to mention the AWD swap taking place right now. I didn't think it would have an affect on wheel tire set up. Now for the camber will i need to find an aftermarket set up as far as control arm etc.? i have tien SS coils, and a new bushing kit for the entire car.

 

[ileagleracing]

First pick tire size(s) and go from there. For example, a look at tirerack.com shows no 255/35/17 tires for sale. So even if that could be the optimal size, if no one builds one, or if it is only available in an all season tire, it does you no good.

Go to tirerack.com and search tires by diameter and see what kinds of tires are available in the size(s) you want. For road racing you will want to look at Hoosier R7 and at tires in the Ultra High Performance or greater categories. The image below is of a factory AWD wheel/tire set-up, you can see that a 25.5 diameter tire is close to the front knuckle. So look at tires with a diameter less than that (and look at the actual tire spec, because the tire size is approximate, not all 255 tires are the same width). If you can find your optimal size in both 17 & 18, pick 17, the wheel will be lighter.

I have experience running my friends car (ACM on this forum) on 285/30/18 Hoosier A6’s with 18x10.5 15et wheels for autocross. Front fenders are cut, rear was not but we had enough rake in the car to only rub slightly on really grippy surfaces.

On my own car you can see what a 255/35/18 Hoosier R6 on a 18x9.5 10et wheel looks like in my Street Modified Profile picture. With unmodified fenders and stock ride height. I will be moving to a setup similar to my friends’ car this year.

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[oneslowwdsm]

Damnet, I meant 255/40/17, my bad.

 

[TehRiceBandit]

Thanks for the input guys! I failed to mention the AWD swap taking place right now. I didn't think it would have an affect on wheel tire set up. Now for the camber will i need to find an aftermarket set up as far as control arm etc.? i have tien SS coils, and a new bushing kit for the entire car.

For the front yes, although I wouldn't worry about it unless you start competing seriously. In the rear you will use washers or shims to push out the upper control arm.

Double wish bone automagically gains static negative camber as your car gets lower

 

[wing3r09]

Thanks ileagleracing, I will be P.m ing you soon cause I really want to run a 10.5 with 275 or 85. no real reason why, mostly for the looks!

 

[ileagleracing]

285/30/18 in action

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[wing3r09]

LOVE IT!

285/30/18 in action

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[gofer]

If you're a spirited (aggressive) street driver that plans to occasionally autox your 2g then this is what I'd recommend for wheels, tires, and suspension...

- DG Koni Coil over's from Jay Racing (600 to 700 F /300 R)
- Grab a 255/40/17 with a section width of 10" to 10.2" (255 to 259mm)
- Wheels, wrap the tires on a 17x9 +35
- 0° toe both front and rear // -2° to -2.5° front camber & -1° rear camber
​

You won't need fender flares and you can get away with minor fender rolling in the rear.

​

 

[Black95TSIawd]

If you're a spirited (aggressive) street driver that plans to occasionally autox your 2g then this is what I'd recommend for wheels, tires, and suspension...

- DG Koni Coil over's from Jay Racing (600 to 700 F /300 R)
- Grab a 255/40/17 with a section width of 10" to 10.2" (255 to 259mm)
- Wheels, wrap the tires on a 17x9 +35
- 0° toe both front and rear // -2° to -2.5° front camber & -1° rear camber
​

You won't need fender flares and you can get away with minor fender rolling in the rear.

​

I'm running more or less this setup with 800/350 springs on 18's and RM bars front and rear. Car handles better than expected. Although you cant and shouldnt lower the car too much. I rolled the rear to remove the lip but the tires still contact the body front and rear at highway speeds.

245/40/18 advans that are as wide as my prior 255/35/18 kumho's.

 

[tylersevo]

Interested if anyone here has experience running a 17x9 +35 rpf1 and 255/40/17 tire and getting it to clear a BBK without spacers. Specifically the Baer Claw track kit with 13in rotors.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

285/30/18 in action

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Wow, Charles' car is extremely flat in what looks like a high grip, tight turn.

 

[ileagleracing]

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Wow, Charles' car is extremely flat in what looks like a high grip, tight turn.

Unfortunately Charles car isn't cornering so flat these days, of course this picture was taken after I had borrowed his Penske Coilovers for my SM car.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

Sad to see it like that. Wish charles was still competing.


Post up pics of your SM car!

 

[ileagleracing]

Between DSM's getting the shaft in Street Prepared and shoulder surgery, Charles will be out for a while. Of course when he decides to dust off the helmet again I suppose I should let him codrive my car .

I keep seeing the light at the end of my nightmare engine build tunnel, and hope that it's not another train to dodge.
Charles custom offset bushing front upper control arms and 18x10.5 Enkeis will end up on my car as well.

Considering that the shocks on Charles car in the current picture are stock Tokico Illuminas and the tires are close to the same diameter of the hoosiers in the race photo, by eyeball it's gotta be a 2-3" drop from stock. I guess I'll find out soon.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

Charles custom offset bushing front upper control arms and 18x10.5 Enkeis will end up on my car as well.

Looks like you're getting all of the goodies! I've been trying to find someone to sell me their modified stock upper arms (cut and shortened) but with no luck. I lost all of my front camber when I installed Paul Volk's tubular control arms and there is nothing "off the shelf" that I like.