Car gap increases?

by **Sin-R V6** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:52 pm

I have a quick question for you guys, i own a 2004 SE. They came with 17" wheels. The tires are 215/55/17.

I got some aftermarket wheels sitting on 215/50/17. When I installed it, the gap seem to increase. Is it because of the tire size?

I have a set of 225/50/17 ready to be slapped on. Is it going to give the same look?

by **Biggi_e** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:58 pm

yes your tire gap will increase because you went with a lower profile tire.

by **ThatVietGuy** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:00 pm

That's pretty obvious isn't it? Going from 215/55 to 215/50 means the tire is less tall (5% less), thereby increasing the gap.

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

by **Sin-R V6** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:02 pm

so the 225/50 wont matter?

by **ThatVietGuy** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:10 pm

It'll be pretty close to stock, so ALMOST no gap increase

by **Sin-R V6** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:36 pm

Hmm wonder if I should just drop the first before I do the wheel change? This is what I get for not getting 20's the first time around blah!!

by **Sin-R V6** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:42 pm

Hmm wonder if I should just drop the first before I do the wheel change? This is what I get for not getting 20's the first time around blah!!

by **RDKamikaze** » Sat May 05, 2007 12:42 pm

Don't worry about the gap too much. Once you lower it and give the shocks a week to settle in, you're car will look fine! I have 125/45/18 (I'm pretty sure) on my car and I hated the gap before I lowered it. Once it was lower, it looks nice and snug.

by **Sebas007** » Sat May 05, 2007 1:19 pm

ouch !! Learn to read tire specs

225/45R18

225 = 225mm tire width
45 = 45% of tire width as tire sidewall
R = Radial
18 = 18 inches tires

tire diameter = 2 X sidewall + tire size

25.4mm = 1 inch

so 2 X (225mm*0.45) = 202.5

Bring it back in inches
202.5/25.4 = 7.97 inches + 18 for the tire your wheel has a diameter of 25.97 inches so you have to stand with this measure to get the same gap.

Use this tool it will help you a lot !!

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

by **crispone** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:19 pm

RDKamikaze wrote:Don't worry about the gap too much.... I have 125/45/18 (I'm pretty sure) .

...wow...

I bet THOSE will peel out like bananas in a hungry monkeys hands!

BWAAAAAAAAHHHHHhhhhh ha ha ha ha ha!!!

-crisp :evilbat:

by **crispone** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:21 pm

^^^ Sorry... I couldn't help myself... :arg:

-crisp

by **theprodigy79** » Sat May 05, 2007 10:47 pm

Here... I did the work for you many moons ago...

http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=19601

by **RDKamikaze** » Sat May 05, 2007 11:48 pm

Thanks for pointing out my flaws, crisp. Now I feel like a moron so I'm going to drink all my fears away.

Goodbye, cruel world! :drinking:

by **PXLpainter** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:49 am

You should have listened to the salesman at the dealership where you bought your car - and got the GAP insurance they offered - would have solved all your problems! :lol:

rofl:

Car gap increases?

Car gap increases?

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