I'm looking for some advice on what rim and tire size combos people are running on their Rx-4's. I'm planning out my suspension/brake swap on my Rx-4 for this winter's project and I'm planning on getting a custom set of panasports made up for the car. I'm doing a full GSL-SE front and rear suspension swap along with a Re-Speed big brake kit so I'll be running the FC 5x114.3 bolt pattern. My real question is how big of a rim and tire can I get away with and what kind of back spacing will I need? I plan on taking this car lapping when it's done so I want a good wide tire to keep it planted. Let me know what you guys are running and any issues you've ran into. Thanks.

 

The RE Speed RX2/3 rear disc brake conversion wont work on a RX-4. Backspace wise, 4.5 (4.75 is ideal) and 5 is pushing it but workable.

 

I'm going to modify and swap in a GSL-SE rear axle so the Re-speed rear kit should work just fine. Thanks for the backspacing info. How wide of a rim were you running with what size tire? I'm wondering if I can squeeze a 225 up front.

 

Sounds like we have the same winter project..... But I am not swapping in the rear GSL-SE suspension I am going to weld leaf perches on my SE axle and utilize the stock suspension.

 

That's basically my plan as well, I should have stated that a little differently. I am going to try and use the SE rear sway bar though and possibly engineer some other added rigidity to that rear suspension. I have to get the car up on the hoist and start taking measurements, comparing the two axles etc.

 

yeah I was thinking the same thing with the SE sway bar.
At least the PO of my car has already mocked the front suspension in place and bolted it up

 

Why dont you guys do a ford 9 inch in the rear or an 8.8? Mine is more for dragracing/street, maybe its just to heavy for what you guys inteand on using your cars for. I havent done mine yet though.

I have stock front suspention with lowering springs from Aus and it lowers it nice. Front rims are 16, dont know the width. 205 is all I was able to squeeze and it rubbed a little but it was a easy fix. The rears are 235 and I know I can fit more in the rear. I did role the fenders as well. Maybe a 255 I havent tried yet. Stock diff as well.

 

Ford 9" would be really heavy duty for what I'm doing, and I've had to replace so many bearings in the 8.8" rear ends there's no way in hell I'm using one of them. I'm running 205/60R13's on my car right now and I have absolutley no rubbing issues at all. Possibly has to do with the smaller width of rim. I'm thinking about a 215 might be as wide as I can go in the front, but like I said I'd like to go as wide as possible.

 

Thats prob it, I am running 16 's. I was rubbing in the front when I turned. 13's wasnt giving the car the look I was looking for but I was running the same tire size in the 13's that you mentioned about without any rubbing issues either.

 

front: 215 will work if youre not going to lower the quattro. otherwise, look into 195/45sh

 

Not to thread jack on this one. but they are much better off switching the front suspension over to the SE type stuff it gives them more options for struts brakes rotors and the like. On the rear end using the ford rear ends starts to become a tight fit for the center section. With you using yours esp as a drag car that is cool. Also for the other guys there are other parts out there allowing them to convert brakes over to turbo for the front and rear that were designed to be used together so you don't have the brake balance issues you might have other wise. I know you could continue to add other components to make everything adjustable just sometimes you want a hot rod with a simple clean look.

 

and rotary owners are bunch of cheap *** so we learned to improvise

 

I second this
Also I want to keep all the suspension from one model so when in the futuer when I need brake pads, wheel bearings or such I will know I just need everything for a 85' SE.

 

Exactly! I'm actually thinking now I may just use the stock SE brakes rather than upgrade to the 4 piston FC setup. The stock SE brakes should still be a large improvement over the stock Rx-4 brakes and rim choices seem to be better with the 4x114 bolt pattern vs the 5x114 pattern. Anything 5x114 seems to only be available in 16" and up. I'd like to go to maximum 15"x7".

 

Yeah I think a nice 15" rim suits these cars real nice..

 

I like 16's....they actually look bigger than 16's when they are on the car.