Bigger wheels and tyres - size?

[chris g]

Which amongst us has changed/thinking of changing wheels?

To what size? 17? 18?

And width 7, 7.5, 8

Which brands have been available

Which best suits VR-4 - looks/handling

And why?

Did car need any mods - wheel arches

And which size tyres go best with which wheels

Does size of wheel/tyres make any difference to car at all?

[Brind]

I have FONDMETAL 6800 7.5x17 Alloy wheels with 225/45ZR17 PIRELLI P6000 tyres.
No rubbing what so ever.
And look very good IMO.

I don't know about handling as I never drove the car before they were fitted.

[Roadrunner]

OK, to answer your questions in order:

I changed to 17"s sourced from an Evo 7.
These are 8" wide.
Didn't look for non-Mitsubishi brands - I wanted to be sure they'd fit ;)
Your choice as to what looks good - I'd have preferred 5-spoke or multi-spoke (a la Evo 6) but the Evo 7 wheels came up first.
No mods required, although the rear inner plastic arches foul a little with four people and luggage in the car (with 235/45R17s). No problem with just two-up.
Standard 16" wheels use 225/50R16 tyres. Best for 17" wheels is 225/45R17 or 235/45R17 (as fitted to Evo 7); or for 18" wheels 225/40R18 or 245/35R18 will keep the rolling circumference almost the same (so your speedo remains accurate).
Lower profile tyres will firm up the ride and will make it handle a bit better (less roll over the sidewalls).

Here's a pic:

[EdmundVR4]

My Manual VR4 has a narrower track than the Tiptronic. (Mitsu knows why, I don't). Originally car came with 16x6 BBS Forged Wheels with 205/55/16 Bridgestone tyres. I have Konig Tantrum 17 x 8, +40 offset, with 235/45/17 Toyo Proxes T1S. The wheels protrude out of the wheel well, I would prefer them to fit within the wheel well On very high speed manouevres, if the road is wavy they touch in the front. So, I am very wary of that, always expecting them to touch, as I am a fairly aggressive driver. If I had to buy wheels again I would go with 17 x 7.5",+42 offset, OZ Racing Super Leggera with same size 225 or 235/45/17 tyre, which would be lighter than the Konigs. Konig wheels = 23.9 lbs, Toyo Proxes = 24 lbs. = too heavy !
Here's a pic of my car.

[EdmundVR4]

BTW, I had Kumho Ecsta Sipra 712's before and I prefer them to the Toy Proxes T1S. Better turn in response than the Toyo's, but the Toyo's stick just as well!

Ed

[Spirit]

I was gonna ask about the offset for the VR-4. In your post Edmund you say the offset is +42 ,is this correct for definate ?

Cheers

Pete

[chris g]

I know lower profile tyres have stiffer sidewalls and so will have less tyre roll and thus better handling

BUT

which tyre and wheel combination suits the VR-4 best?

H.7 - do your tyrs/wheels rub because you have 8" wheels or the width of the tyres?

[Roadrunner]

I'd guess it's just the width of the tyres, the wheels don't foul anywhere. These came off an Evo 7, as did the brakes I've just fitted, so everything fits together and works OK. I reckon I'll cure the slight fouling of the rear inner plastic arches with a nail file and half an hour's free time ;)

Brian

[chris g]

I have found some nice 7 x 17 wheels and been offered package with Toyo Proxes 225 X 45 X 17

Is there any real benefit in going for 235 x 45 x 17?

More tyre on road but does it make that much difference and is it worth extra cost?

Is the real benefit in bigger tyres - better heat dissipation - and lower profile tyres so less roll thus better handling

Would 235 x 45 x 17 be that much better?

And greater chance of rubbing on bodywork?

[Roadrunner]

I only went with 235/45x17s because that's what came with the wheels when I bought them (standard size on an Evo 7). As stated above, they can rub a little on the rear inner arches if the car is fully loaded. I doubt if there's any benefit of 235s over 225s. Indeed, I'd reckon the 225s would be better because the rolling circumference of the tyre (at 1991.7mm) is nearer to the original 225/50x16 (which is 1982.6mm) than the 235 (which is 2020.0mm); so they'd induce a lesser error in your speedo reading. The difference is negligible, though. Oh, and 225s might not rub on the arches ;) .

Brian

[chris g]

I am a little confused now

The tyres I have been offered would be 225 x 45 x 17

I want 235 x 45 x 17

45 are lower profile so rolling circ would be less but tyres/wheels bigger to compensate

Should 225 be a factor at all in this?

235 x 45 put more rubber on road but profile same as 225 x 45 so rolling circ should be same

Are you thinking of 225 x 50 compared with 235 x 45

225 and 235 are width of tyre and how do they affect speedo - surely its the size and profile of tyre that are factors in this

I knew I would get confused if I started asking about this

Has anyone tried 18 wheels/tyres of any profile/width

Do they rub on bodywork requiring mods to body to accommodate them

My dealer has a supplier who is unwilling to supply a wheel and tyre comb as car may need mods to fit them

[Roadrunner]

OK, make yourself a cup of tea and get yourself comfortable ;) .

"45" is the profile of the tyre. It means that the section height of the tyre from the rim to the tread is 45% of the width of the tyre. So, 45% of 235mm will be more than 45% of 225mm (105.75mm against 101.25mm respectively). The radius of the tyres will vary by this amount, so the diameter of the tyre will vary by twice that amount (diameter = 2x radius). The diameter of a 235/45x17 is 643.30mm, that of a 225/45x17 is 634.30mm, a difference of 9.00mm. This means that the rolling circumference of a 235/45x17 is 2019.96mm, and that of a 225/45x17 is 1991.70mm, a difference of 28.26mm. Converting to imperial units, and calculating the number of revolutions of each tyre per mile travelled means that a 235/45x17 tyre only takes 796.72 revolutions to travel a mile, whereas a 225/45x17 tyre would take 808.024 revolutions to travel a mile. The resepctive differences compared to the standard 225/50x16 tyre is +1.85% for the 235/45x17 and +0.46% for the 225/45x17, hence the speedo difference. In my previous message, I said the 225/45x17 would induce a lesser error in your speedo reading - that's why.

To go to 18" wheels, and retain the same approximate rolling circumference and therefore keep the speedo reading as near accurate as possible, you could go for 225/40x18s (+0.91% compared to the standard 225/50x16) or 245/35x18 (-0.43%).

I reckon the width limit without any rubbing of the rear arches would be 225 so 225/45x17 is fine and 225/40x18 would be fine too. If you're prepared to put up with a little rubbing (and it only happens when the car is fully loaded); you can use 235/45x17 (which I have). I reckon the 245/35x18 would foul more of the time, but I don't know anyone who's used this. To complicate the issue, the offset of the wheel will also have a bearing on whether the tyres rub (on either bodywork or the suspension, so make sure the offset of any wheel you buy suits the car. My experience is based on a Mitsubishi wheel (ex-Evo 7) on which the offset is suited to the car.

If you want 235/45x17, go for it. As I've said, that's what I use and they're great. There's a photo of my car above so you can see what they'd look like on the car.

All the best,
Brian

Tea cold yet? ;)

[chris g]

Thanks Brian, now I think I have it

The question still is, though, which comb of wheel and tyre suit the VR-4 best?

And if anyone has tried 18's lets hear about it!

[EdmundVR4]

I was gonna ask about the offset for the VR-4. In your post Edmund you say the offset is +42 ,is this correct for definate ?
Just got back from Antigua where I saw West Indies beat Australia in the final test match of the series ! Quite exciting !

AFAIK, the offset on my VR4 is +46, which is the same as the 7G VR4. The original BBS wheels are 6X16, +46 offset and standard tyre size is 205/55/16.
The lower the offset number, the further the wheel protrudes from the fender.

[ritch_w]

The UK V6 Galant Sport comes with 7.5" x 17" alloys (OZ i think?)
fitted with 215/45/17 tyres

i would assume as how mitsu supply uk galants this way that speedo etc are ok

[chris g]

Are you sure?

Maybe so, that sounds something like the bigger wheels and tyres that are offered by Mitsu thru the dealers as an upgrade for UK Galants

Trouble is, the std UK Galant has four stud wheels so that wheel/tyre deal not available to the VR-4 Posse

[Roadrunner]

I think the UK 2.5 V6 Galants are on 7x17s, but they are definitely only four-stud, rather than the 5-stud of the VR-4.

Brian

(Sorry, beaten to it ;) )

[Brind]

Could be wrong, but I think all Galants now look like the 'Sport', the normal Galant a little while ago was on 16's while the Sport at the time was on 17's.
As for other wheel detail I haven't got a clue.

[ritch_w]

Definitely 4 stud and the Sports are supplied with 17's as mine is standard and perviously owned by the MD at my local mitsu dealer

[MTB]

just for sharing! :D

i am using yokohoma avs model-5 7x17 offset 45 with toyo trampio guwn 215/45r17. my legnum does not have fenders so the best fit should be 7.5x17 with 225/45r17 otherwise the tyres will protrude out of the housing (and that's illegal here!:eek: )

8x17 rims with 235 tyres probably would fit too but i think they will rub against the housing... not interested in 235 anyway, expensive and heavier fuel consumption.

am sourcing some evo-6(oz racing) rims now to allow future brake caliper upgrades! :D

[calum]

I have these (http://www.wheelspecs.com/specs/wheelmodels/585) in 18.0 x 8.0 with a 45mm offset (IIRC). They have spacers in them - don't know if that's to adapt the PCD or to allow them to clear the suspension or both. I do know there's a very small (a few mm) gap between the inside of the tyre and the rear suspension

Calum

[Fadboy]

Thanks Brian, now I think I have it

The question still is, though, which comb of wheel and tyre suit the VR-4 best?

And if anyone has tried 18's lets hear about it!

I have fitted 18 inch wheels to my 2001 vr4 and they rubbed the top inside the arches. when looking inside the arches there is a right angled peice of metal which I got an angle grinder to and now they do not rub.

the original 16 inchers handle better but dont look as good

[Nick Mann]

Angle grinder? :scared1:

Was the rubbing because the wheel is too close to the edge of the car? What size tyres do you have?

[The Vee]

Do the spacers fit between the wheel and the hub or are they recessed into the wheel to fit round the hub "nose" if it is the latter then they are purely to centralise the wheel when fitting it. do not leave them out!!. If they are the former then they are "true" spacers to move the wheel away from the suspension and create a wider track. But they may well rub the wheel arch. Beware of too much spacing as it can cause wheel bearing issues.
Also to add to H.7's excellent piece on tyre sizes, incorrect radii etc affects overall gearing of the car so may well affect performance, fuel consumption etc.

[Wodjno]

But a bit off topic .. sorry .. So am i right in thing that evo 6 & 7 stud patterrns and offsets are the same as the VR4 .. Reason for me asking is i have been enquiring about wheels and alot of places are saying they cannot match stud pattern of VR4 .. This maybe right , but maybe they jut do not have details for VR4 and if i mention Evo 6 & 7 maybe they will come up trumps ??

[Spirit]

VR4 is: 5 stud, PCD: 114.3, centre bore 67.1mm, offset +38 to +45

I had no issues and there are many makes out there that can supply the above specs.

[Erskine_atom]

Anyone know if you can fit 225/50/16's to standard rims for a PFL VR4 and if so how much offset is necessary and where do you get the spacers from?

Cheers

[Wodjno]

They will fit, no spacers required..

[Gly]

those tyres will be to big for stock rims, (IMO)
you will have alot of side wall movement, not very good for handling

[Wodjno]

But very comfortable /yes

[bradc]

yeah they will be like driving over someone with a very large and flabby stomach. Not a good idea. 205/55/16 is best for stock PFL wheels.

[Nutter_John]

No one notice that this thread is 6 years old ? , wonder if that is record for a newbie searching

[Wodjno]

No one notice that this thread is 6 years old ? , wonder if that is record for a newbie searching

You should be proud of this member for using the search fuction /yes

[Erskine_atom]

Cheers guys, might just have to go with them just now as they are so cheap and look at upgrading after the mot. Be sure that I'll be back looking for more advice when I come to that!

[bradc]

That ISN'T an upgrade. It will be worse in every way compared to 205/55/16

[Nick Mann]

He isn't suggesting it is an upgrade. He is suggesting it is a cheap way of passing the MOT test so he can drive his car in the short term.

[bradc]

I wouldn't give him a MOT with those on. Unsuitable for purpose! 205/55/16 is the better option.