basketweave tire size

[ColdAccord]

I have my basketweaves at my parents house, and I'm at school. I need new tires. what size?

is 205 the widest I can fit without looking weird/rubbing? Also, what are some good tires in this size? (what are you guys running)

I want something better than the kum hoe 712s, but would rather not spend a lot of money.

[rscheiring]

Here is what Mike Miller (from Roundel) had to say on the topic when I asked him many moons ago:
"You'll want to run 205/55-15 or 205/50-16 tires on 7-inch wide wheels. The 225/50-15 size sometimes works on E30s, but usually not without rolling the fender and quarter panel lips. It's actually a better E30 M3 size -- no clearance problems there due to the flared body. You can also run 17x7.5-inch wheels and 215/45-17 tires but it is difficult to find wheels that will work without spacers. In my opinion, spacers are to be avoided if at all possible -- BMWs have enough problems with wheel balancing and vibrations without adding spacers to the mix. The beauty of 15-inch wheels on an E30 is that you can buy them from the factory in the BBS cross-spoke style. Obviously, no matter what wheel you choose you want the correct offset for an E30, which is about 24mm in 15 and 16-inch sizes. "

I like the yoko ES-100 and they are real reasonable. Can't beat Tirerack.

[ColdAccord]

I already have wheels, they're basketweaves, and they're 14". so what width and profile should I look for?

[franz]

205/60/14 is probably best.
Also from Mike Miller:
"Larger sway bars are also an easy upgrade for the E30 and other BMW models. And if you're running the stock 14x6" alloys, consider upgrading tires to 205/60-14, and also consider the Yokohama AVS ES100 in this size -- these tires will rock your world."

[M42Technik]

205/60/14 is probably best.
Also from Mike Miller:
"Larger sway bars are also an easy upgrade for the E30 and other BMW models. And if you're running the stock 14x6" alloys, consider upgrading tires to 205/60-14, and also consider the Yokohama AVS ES100 in this size -- these tires will rock your world."

I have these tires on my basketweaves, and yes they rocked my world indeed, and for $80 a pop they're good and cheap. Still have tread life on mine, coming up on a year and 8,000 and then some miles. It does throw off the speedo, but just barely. Where's that link to the Miata tire size calculator?

[franz]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[ColdAccord]

205/60/14 is probably best.
Also from Mike Miller:
"Larger sway bars are also an easy upgrade for the E30 and other BMW models. And if you're running the stock 14x6" alloys, consider upgrading tires to 205/60-14, and also consider the Yokohama AVS ES100 in this size -- these tires will rock your world."

I have these tires on my basketweaves, and yes they rocked my world indeed, and for $80 a pop they're good and cheap. Still have tread life on mine, coming up on a year and 8,000 and then some miles. It does throw off the speedo, but just barely. Where's that link to the Miata tire size calculator?

it throws off the speedo? what would they have to be to retain speedo, and what are the advantages of running the 205 60 as opposed to 205 55 or 205 65 (whichever one is the stock size I don't know, as I don't have my basketweaves on hand)

[franz]

for 14" stock is 195/65 and 205/60 makes your speedo 1.2% faster than it already was before (about 5-7% off)

on early cars stock was 195/60/14

the advantage of 205/60/14 over 195/65 is a lot more tread and slightly less sidewall
the disadvantage is only weight
if you go 195/60 the advantage is higher torque output and even shorter sidewalls, but not as much tread as 205/60 (still mroe than 195/65) and your speedo is off a lot more, but still less additional than it is off with the stock tire.

[Rob]

my tires are half the price and stickier.....not as good in the wet though...

[franz]

my tires are half the price and stickier.....not as good in the wet though...

Your tires? You make these at home or ??
why don't you even say what your tires are?

[Rob]

oops, falken azenis, ~$46 a piece

[nando]

do they make those in 205/60-14?

[e30Matt]

They make them in 195/65-14.

[Rob]

195/60/14, thats what I use

[franz]

They make them in 195/65-14.

Not Falken Azenis.

http://www.falkentire.com/tires/az_rs_sizes.htm

Falken Zeix do though and those are good tires as well.