i was wondering if anyone knows whats the largest width tire i can run on the rears and fronts with a 13 x 5.5 rim. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Largest I go is 205's for my race tires....

 

205/55/13?

 

is that all around

 

205/60 works

 

You can actually go to a 215/50 on the rear. I wouldn't suggest it on the front though.

 

The problem with wide tires on the stock rim is you will get massive sidewall roll, which is not what you want at all. Sure, you'll have more traction in a straight line, but for turns....no. The car will be much better with a good tire that actually fits the rim right.

 

I got 205/60/13 for this past season, and this season I'm going to a 195/60/13. Less sidewall flex is your friend. On the street, the 205/60/13 will not be detrimental, but if you autocross, the 205 is a little too big.

 

Are 195/60/R13 hard to find? I've got a set of 205/60/R13 that are getting hard with age (dry rot), and I'll need to get some new ones eventually.

 

Ah.. I was wondering that too...205's will fit ok on a 13x5.5 eh? Cool

 

Someone told me they used to run a 235 in the back...but that's too much anyways.

 

Sumitomo offers the 195/60/13 in the HTR 200 summer radial. I can't recommend these tires enough. They have good dry traction and EXCEPTIONAL wet traction. I was keeping up with an AE86 with Toyo Proxies in standing water. The grip was only slightly less than dry.

The only caveat is that the great traction comes at the expense of wear. I spent most of the autocross season drifting around corners and burned off my rear tires quite handily in a season. On the street, they should give you 20,000 miles though. My fronts were hardly worn at all, except for the outside edge.

 

205s are pushing it, I'd stick to 195 and smaller.
Better gas mileage, too.

 

ok so 195/60/13 on the rears?? on a 13 x 5.5 rim and what about the front? the same size?

 

Thanks! 195 are what I'll replace mine with, after I've burned them off.

 

Bump for answer... better to bump than new thread it

 

I think with the 13' wheel you need the stock 70/75 profile to keep the speedo/mileage accurate, also with 60 profile on stock + wheels there is an ugly wheel gap unless youre cars dropped with aftermarket suspension.

Also buying a high perf. tire with a stiff sidewall will allow you to use a 205 size just fine and the added grip that comes with it more then makes up for any sidewall flex.

 

i thought the profile # was a ratio to the tire width?

 

For anyone has any doubt pm me, you can run 215/50/13 all the way around without any rubbing what so ever.

 

+1

 

Wow I wonder how. I used Sumitomos 215/50/13 front and back, but had to use 5 mm spacers in the front to avoid rubbing when turning more than a little bit.

 

+ 2

 

If only Michelin still made their XGT VR rated 205/60/13. I ran those on my 1st 7, A GSL many many years ago. The literally stuck like glue, on dry pavement and on wet.

 

I dunno what other peoples experiences are with that, but I have those same exact tires front and back and can turn lock to lock without any rubbing at all.