Explain Something To Me

Explain Something To Me

I hear alot of talk around here (And any other forum about smaller car modification) about having to modify wheel wells in order for rims to fit.

...perhaps this is the 4-wheeler in me speaking...but wouldn't it be easier and waste less of your time to simply put a little smaller tire on?

...granted I understand people try to get a particular rim size and as much sidewall as possible to maintain somewhat of a smooth ride, but it's like I tell guys with 20" TRD rims on their Tundra's. "Your ride quality sucks because you went with a large rim and short tire...that's just how it is. Mud Terrain tires whirr under 30 mph and buzz above 30 mph...it's just how it is."

So maybe you guys could explain that to me.

I know when I started liking the lower profile tires - I had to run a wider wheel to get the sidewall profile I wanted and keep the overall diameter of the tire/wheel combination the same (none or little speedo error).

Back it the day when everyone was running mag wheels with the dragster look (little wheels up front, big tall wheels in the rear - jacked the car up on the back end - remember those). Speedo errors were corrected with a replacement speedometer gears (physical connection between the transmission and speedometer). Now - which almost everything electrically controlled (sending units) - not as trivial or inexpensive to correct for different tires sizes.

Maybe some people like a particular wheel style or tire tread pattern or whatever tire/wheel combo is hot this month.

Now - I don't care as much. Running 14" (winter) and 15" (summer) alloys. Lighter weight, cheaper tires (still great grip - no need to corner like an F1 car), skinner profile (width) = better MPG, enough side wall for protection from raod hazzards - low enough to still get good transitional control. Maybe it comes with experience and age.

2 other big reasons that I can think of now:

1) Something it's about the wide and of offset of the rims, not just about the side wall. Even if you got the same diameter of stock, the tires are always wider than stock (bigger rim = wider(usually) = wider tire) and it will rub.

2) It's lowered!

it's also about keeping the overall wheel diametre the same or as close to stock as possible, otherwise, you speedo won't read right either


but the real problem is getting the correct offset... then it won't rub

To answer you question about a lower profile tire:
-size constrants there is no/very few tire manufactuer who makes a lower profile sidewall than 205/50/15 or 205/45/16
-speedo reading if you are not using the same rim/tire size ratio as stock it would give a incorrect speedometer reading
- if there is infact a lower profile tire, it would leave a fender well gap.. might as well put in a lift kit because it'll look wack on cars.

But the more information about rubbing is it is cause by incorrect rim offset and/or tire width not the sidewall height.. But in the end rolling the fenders is not really such a big deal, not hard to do and can be accomplished realitively cheap.

A wider tire gives you more grip. Rolling the fenders sometimes lets a wider tire clear, thus giving you more traction or simply allowing a better looking tire size to fit. It's really just a matter or personal preference.

My 33x10.50s will rub terribly unless I do something about it..


..oh wait, wrong forum.