plus sizing...when is it too much?

i got some 17x7.5 for my 91 civic hatch , but i think they're a bit too big, when or what determines when a plus sized wheel/tire combo is too much?

When you need to jack up the suspension like a donk.

When the fenders start cutting the tires.

I use this to get an idea of how the speedometer readings and wheel/tire dimensions change:

http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

Toyman01 wrote: When the fenders start cutting the tires.

Which I why I go after the fenders with a West Virginia Turnin' Saw first then screw my flares in with sheet metal screws!

On an ef, 15 is max for me

Second that. It all depends on the car. I think 15s are as large as you should go on an EF. I can't stand people that put 17s on a 1st-gen RX7, I think it looks off.

You're probably looking at a huge gain in unsprung weight.

stealthfighter1 wrote: i got some 17x7.5 for my 91 civic hatch , but i think they're a bit too big, when or what determines when a plus sized wheel/tire combo is too much?

When it's larger than 15".

haha, that's what most people seem to suggest. now , what about width? i see 15x7 as a pretty common size for the 88-91 honda civics , but i have seen 15x8 and 15x9 used . as well as a few 16x choices ... i understand the physics of unsprung weight , but what about the stability / braking / handling vs width and size+? is a few test runs and a pyrometer my best bet? what if i don't have the resources to test a few wheels and tire settups and i'm looking for a wheel and tire settup that will be appropiate as suspension evolves from stock to extensively modified?

In theory, I should be able to run 22" wheels on a Miata if I can find a tire with 1/2" sidewalls...

The time you gain from the extra grip needs to be more than time lost in acceleration from the extra weight..

hmmm, I seem to remember an article from GRM about 8 or 9 yrs ago where they took a civic, no less, and ran all the different plus sizes on an autocross course to see which was fastest. I think they started with 13's and went up to 17's or even higher...dont remember. I'm pretty darn sure that they found the 17's were the fastest.

Anybody here remember this article?

yes i do remember that article , i have been trying to find it.

A large part of unsprung weight's effect on a car's handling is how it changes the cars reactions to imperfections in the road surface. A lighter wheel will be more willing to change direction suddenly, both when bouncing off a curb and when being pushed back down onto the road surface by the spring, and therefore impart less force to the chassis itself. I mean, it's a very very small part of the overall equation, but it's one of the many reasons unsprung weight is important.

In regards to your question about choosing a wheel without the budget to try several, just look to the pros. One of the recent issues had an article on Andy Hollis's testing of new 15" tires, and his setup is 15x7 and 15x7.5s, IIRC. I feel like there are plenty of tire choices in 205/50/15 to keep you busy, as well as allow you to pick a known-good tire and focus on suspension development.

Keith wrote: In theory, I should be able to run 22" wheels on a Miata if I can find a tire with 1/2" sidewalls...

If you ever do, I want to see that car.

2002maniac wrote: You're probably looking at a huge gain in unsprung weight.

The extra rotational inertia will be bad for the acceleration too. I've never put huge wheels on any of my cars, but some of my friends have and, especially on smaller, lightweight cars, they can go from peppy to slow in a hurry.

yeah i already posted them for sale , but i am thinking of a few 15'' wheels, namely kosei's and TRmotorsports , i really would like a 15x7 inch wheel...but i would love to buy them in 15x9 since the price difference is minimal...but i think they will be overkill for a while ...but they would be awesome to have...

In reply to stealthfighter1:

It would be hard to find a good STREET tire for a 15x9 though. (if thats what your looking for) If your looking for the "stretched" look then yeah... 15x9 wouldnt be a bad idea. Though i dont recommend it.

stealthfighter1 wrote: yeah i already posted them for sale , but i am thinking of a few 15'' wheels, namely kosei's and TRmotorsports , i really would like a 15x7 inch wheel...but i would love to buy them in 15x9 since the price difference is minimal...but i think they will be overkill for a while ...but they would be awesome to have...

This wheel looks absolutely pimp on civics.

http://www.erzperformance.com/DRAG_DR20_15_INCH_WHEELS_40_off_set_complete_set_p/135.htm

stealthfighter1 wrote: yeah i already posted them for sale , but i am thinking of a few 15'' wheels, namely kosei's and TRmotorsports , i really would like a 15x7 inch wheel...but i would love to buy them in 15x9 since the price difference is minimal...but i think they will be overkill for a while ...but they would be awesome to have...

The August 2010 issue of GRM featured a tire test that used Andy Hollis' Civic as a mule. Andy used 15" rims on his car and he has probably performed more back-to-back tests than anyone else - ever. He uses the 15's for a reason and he's not a multi-time Solo champ because he "lucked" into his success.

Going to a 15x9 "could" be a good choice, but it's still dependent on car limitations that include suspension set-up, available power and your choice of tire size.

Recommendation - get yourself a set of 15x7's and 195/50's for now, figure out the car and progress (from there) to the next level.

For some perspective, here's my EF/EG on 15x7's:

yeah, i'd just hate to get a wheel/tire combo ,and be unsat with it , against my better judgement i may just go ahead and get the 15x9's , if nothing else they maybe easier to sell/ trade for 15x7's down the road...the TRmotosprts 15x7 is 12.8 pounds while the 15x9 is 15.6 pounds ,although they have a 15x7.5 that is only 12.8lbs ... that actually may be the one i go with... plus i like the wheel style better...edit...just found 15x8 in the style i like...14.6lbs...

Personally, I think 15x9 is going to be waaaay too much tire for a car with anything close to stock output. I don't think you'll be happy with it.

oh , i should've shed some light on that , it's getting a b16a that is already sitting here , and it already has a few things done to it...even though that is still not a powerhouse, lol.

These are too far.

But big cars with small wheels look equally silly.