1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Wheel sizing help! What should I roll with?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 2, 2017 | 12:17 PM
  #1  
hat.paradox's Avatar
Thread Starter
hey bRotard
Veteran: Navy
Tenured Member: 5 Years
Liked
 
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 96
Likes: 4
From: East Coast
Wheel sizing help! What should I roll with?

(title pun slightly intended)

I just got my 15x7 Kosei K1s in pretty good condition. I test fit them on (still need to get hub centric adapters) but they look nice. Only issue is the tire is a bit small, the guy was running 185/55s in the front and 195s in the back. I was thinking maybe I could get them a bit bigger, maybe to 200-210 range, but I read it might mess up the final drive. Speedo is already expected to be funky, but I want to know what y'all think. Mostly just looking for increased grip since I hydroplane whenever it rains or snows. I kind of want to run larger tires in the back, but not terribly large. Thanks.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2017 | 12:44 PM
  #2  
K-Tune's Avatar
FD Daily
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,308
Likes: 14
From: Gulf Breeze, FL
205-50-15
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2017 | 02:25 PM
  #3  
Richard Miller's Avatar
Damn, it did start!
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 470
From: washington
I second the 205/50R15 It seems to be the standard. There are tire calculators that allow you to play with the numbers compared to stock.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2017 | 02:48 PM
  #4  
GSLSEforme's Avatar
ancient wizard...
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 262
From: Maryland
205
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2017 | 04:53 PM
  #5  
rwatson5651's Avatar
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
agreed.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2017 | 07:19 AM
  #6  
t_g_farrell's Avatar
Waffles - hmmm good
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,250
Likes: 464
From: Lake Wylie, N.C.
Thats what I run.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2017 | 08:06 AM
  #7  
tallbozo's Avatar
Work in Progress
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver, WA
205/50 for sure. Lots of good tires available in that size as well!
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2017 | 02:45 PM
  #8  
hat.paradox's Avatar
Thread Starter
hey bRotard
Veteran: Navy
Tenured Member: 5 Years
Liked
 
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 96
Likes: 4
From: East Coast
Y'all are awesome. Thank you so much!! I'll run 205s all around then.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 12:53 AM
  #9  
LongDuck's Avatar
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 542
From: Phoenix, AZ
Note that hydroplaning could be WORSE with the 205/50x15 tire, depending on the tread pattern. Usually, hydroplaning is due to worn tires with very little tread depth for the water to be channeled out of the way. With a wider tire, that water has further to move from the center to the edges and could hydroplane at lower speeds, plus the fact that you're increasing the surface area and by doing so, reducing the loading. Point being, don't expect you'll fix your hydroplaning problem by going with 205/50.

Also, you want to run the same size tires front and back - it makes it far easier to rotate tires, and you'll get better tire life and tread wear by doing so. The one time I tried to run skinnier tires up front, they work out more quickly and I couldn't rotate them which wasted time and $$$. They were Pirelli P6's in 185 up front and 205 in the back on American Racing 14" wheels. Bad combo...
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:43 AM.