Questions about tire and rim sizes

[Halon]

Ok, I considered searching first, but these questions are probally going to just come as I'm typing, so It almost seems easier to just ask. I've read alot about offsets and camber angles, and how different rims can adjust things like this to make your car handle better or worse. But my question comes from wanting to have wider tires, for more road contact. Now I currently have stock bottlecaps, they're like 15's or something, with 195 tires on them. I understand the 195 represents the width of the tire surface touching the ground... somehow, so my first question - how is the 195 measured? and what kind of measurment is it? Then we move to the next question, if I want to run wider tires, what is the widest I can run on stock fenders? I've heard that 205's would be pushing it, which is sort of sad, because thats like... the next step up (isn't it?) - how could I make this a more comfortable fit in my car? I was reading a post about spacers, how do spacers work? I am afraid there is alot about this that even though I've read, just doesn't make sense to me yet. Next, how do I determine what elements make a good rim? I was looking around on tire-rack, and I was considering a set there - they were 15 inch rims, with a 14 pound weight, for like ... high eighty per rim. I thought that seemed pretty reasonable, considering I am almost always poor. So I guess another question is, are spacers semi-perminant? Like, if I took my car to have the tires rotated, the mechanic wouldn't take the rim off and then be like "oh damn, these spacers fell off... I threw them away, btw, your rim doesn't fit." or something. I'm confused. someone make it all better. :(

[Tony S]

From Tire Rack you can g et 15x8 Kosie's with a 22mm offset and 225 wide tires, 15 inch dia. These will fit with no problems.

There are some 16x9 rears that will work, and a 245 tire for the rear only.

A 225 tire all the way around allows you to rotate the front to rear tires.

The 195 225 numbers are measures in milimeters mm.

There are other rims that will work with a 225 tire but none that I know of that are 8 inch wide for maximum contact patch to the road.

Ronal makes a 15x7.5 that works well and looks great, many on this board have them, but they are not light weight wheels.

For the other stuff, just do a search and enjoy reading.

[Mystikal]

You can easily mount a 225 width tire with NO fender modification at all. Just need to keep the offset of the wheel between 23-27. Once you get past 225, things get a little sketchy.

[Halon]

Ok, i looked on tire-rack (not for the first time.) and noticed one set of kosie rims, but they were a 15x7, and their recomended tire size seems to be 205/50-15. I have also notice they're a little pricey at 130 dollars a rim... @_@ haha.

You can easily mount a 225 width tire with NO fender modification at all. Just need to keep the offset of the wheel between 23-27. Once you get past 225, things get a little sketchy.

I don't understand the 23-27 mm offset? I have heard that has to do with the centerline of the rim or something, where it mounts, but I don't understand what that means even still... lol.

Thanks for being patient though, and answering this for me. :)

[Brew]

Ok, i looked on tire-rack (not for the first time.) and noticed one set of kosie rims, but they were a 15x7, and their recomended tire size seems to be 205/50-15. I have also notice they're a little pricey at 130 dollars a rim... @_@ haha.

You can easily mount a 225 width tire with NO fender modification at all. Just need to keep the offset of the wheel between 23-27. Once you get past 225, things get a little sketchy.

I don't understand the 23-27 mm offset? I have heard that has to do with the centerline of the rim or something, where it mounts, but I don't understand what that means even still... lol.

Thanks for being patient though, and answering this for me. :)

The 15x8's K1's are a blank wheel that tire rack will drill out for your bolt pattern. You need to call them up as they are not listed on the website.

Check out the FAQ section for all your wheel and tire questions. Tire Rack's website also has a nice little tech section.

[Tony S]

Call tire rack and ask for Jim,
Tell him you want the 15x8 kosie for the 30 bmw.

They don't show on the site.

[UNHCLL]

for someone who wont convince his mother to spend the $ on good brakes instead of shitty Midas ones... is looking to buy new wheels and tires really an intelligent decision???

[Halon]

for someone who wont convince his mother to spend the $ on good brakes instead of shitty Midas ones... is looking to buy new wheels and tires really an intelligent decision???

Assumptions make an ass out of you and ... ptions? Just because I'm trying to learn about new rims doesn't mean I can get them. In fact I'm just trying to get everything figured out so I don't have to buy rims twice. Can't afford damn brakes, let alone fluid flushings... (well, the replacement fluids...). Dick.

[UNHCLL]

nothing wrong with learning, but it sends the wrong message if you make it sound like you're looking to purchase when you're crying poverty in another more essential technical matter.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/perform.htm

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/plusone.htm

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/tech101.html

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/pad_rotor_bedin_procedures.html

learn away

[Rob]

i'd rather have brakes than new wheels

[Axxe]

i'd rather have brakes than new wheels

Amen.

[e30Matt]

i'd rather have brakes than new wheels

Amen.

x2.