225/50R16s on stock S14 SE rims -- any issues?

[Mark95TT(ATL)]

Fellas,
Did some post searching and reading through FAQs to see if this had been covered, but didn't come up with too much. Also checked on 240sxforums.com and came up with even less.

I need to get new tires for my S14 on stock SE (5 lug, 6.5" wide) rims. I saw an S14 at Balanced Performance here in ATL that had 225/50R16s mounted on the stock SE rims, and I was interested in doing the same and wondering if anyone knew of any issues this would raise. I don't think rubbing would be problem, but was wondering if the 225's were too wide for the stock 6.5" wide rim, allowing too much sidewall flex when cornering or possibly even safety issues. They seemed to fit nicely on the car I saw though.

Reason being is I'm looking for a some added contact area (i.e., grip), and 225's prices are comparable to those of 205s. They're also the same size tires as on the stock rims on my Z, which I have plenty of.

Thanks in advance.

[sykikchimp]

you can use them, but you will have excess sidewall flex.. probably not enough to be dangerous, but enough to hurt cornering performance.

you won't actually be changing the contact patch area either.. air pressure determines contact patch. tire size determines shape.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Well i was running 225/50s on my stocks, the biggest reason i did it was curve rash protection. Instead of your rims kissing the curve if u messed up, only the tires will kiss it.

[Mark95TT(ATL)]

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate it.

Regarding contact patch, I agree with you that air pressure is going to affect it, but when going from a 205mm wide tire to 225mm wide tire, it seems like adding that extra 20mm (about 3/4") would be enough to make some difference. That's an extra 3 inches of rubber contacting the ground (4 tires * 3/4" per tire) that wasn't there before.

I know for awhile I had my bro's stock NA Z32 (16x7.5") rims with 225/50R16s on my 240, I could definitely feel a difference. Granted, they were different tires, and I don't know if the offset/width combo of the Z32 wheels would be enough to alter my suspension geometry and give the car such a different feel, but it definitely felt more solid all around. In my head I was attributing that to the added contact patch from the wider tires.

Sorry, I'm sure this has been covered before...
Mark

[orange-grey]

Stick with 205's. If you're worried about grip, rubber compund and tire constuction are much more important. For example, right now I'm running 215 Kuhmo MX's that grip way better than my old 235 RE730's.

[krazy_kraker]

Im running 225/50s, no problems, but i also have z wheels, i think there a lil wider..

-Ry

[PhoebusApollo]

I have Yoko Avid A4 225's on my stock rims and they work great... the car does handle COMPLETELY different, but not in a bad way. I would say that it doesn't pull as many g's in a skid, but that the skid is more controlled. Also, acceleration out of such a skid is GREATLY increased since you have a good bit more rubber on the ground.

[sykikchimp]

All that sidewall flex will allow for greater slip-angles, but will have decreased grip. That would be why your "slides" seem easier to control. A wider contact patch with have better traction when turning, a longer contact patch will be better at accelerating and braking. Unfortunately having the sidewalls buldged will affect the turn-in response, and the ability for you to keep the actual good part of the contact patch on the ground.

|__| the "__" is the good contact patch. When turning hard, what happens with the extra bulge is the inside of the good contact patch lifts off the ground, and reduces total available traction. The time it takes for your tires to "set" into a solid stance (static roll position) will take longer as well. That translates to having shitty turn-in response. On the street, this stuff doesn't really matter.

When you put 225's on the Z wheels it made the contact patch wider, which would increase lateral grip. Because you put them on a wider wheel, you don't get the negative effects of the excessive tire bulge.

there are 2 things that change the AREA of the contact patch.. Pressure in the tire, and weight being applied to the tire. 45 psi in the tire with 600lbs on the tire will equal ~13.3 sq. inches of contact patch. Decrease tire pressure to 20 psi equals 30 sq. inches.. This of course is assuming that the tire is completely flexible, and can't hold any weight of its own. Tires with stiffer sidewalls (i.e. Runflats), and cracass builds will have proportionaly less change in contact patch size.

[95nis240sx]

Wouldnt running that tire on the stock rim make it a lil easier for him to drift because the sidewall sits up and out?

[95nis240sx]

sorry i didnt read sykikchimps post completely i stated basically what he said in a shorter form

[slos14]

i ran 225/50/16 on my s14 but they were on 300zx wheels . the car handled a lot better but i ran in to some trouble with the front tires rubing on the shocks ...good luck

justin

[Red]

Just get the Sumitomo HTR Z II - 205-50-16's $77 each...

Its an awsome tire. I had mine for over a year befor I got my new wheels and they grip like mad... (I had the 45 but the 50 would be better)

It will however make your roling diamiter smaller... But its no big.

[BuudWeizErr]

Watch out with putting a 205/50/16 on your S14's

I have 205/55ZR16's Kumho 712's for my daily driving on my S14 SE's, and then on my drift wheels I have 205/50ZR16 Pirelli P6000. They seem to be a bit short. Easier to get them spinning, but they really make the wheelgap obvious. If you have to stick with a 205, stick with a 55 sidewall until you get some wider or larger wheels, then go down to a smaller sidewall.