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02-01-2012, 10:24 AM | #1 | |
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"Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
Does what I'm asking for make sense??
Traditionally, Plus-Sizing tires means a rim/tire combo that is both taller and wider than what came on it from the factory. Original height is maintained because only the rim(not the tire) increases in diameter, and thusly speedo is maintained. Well who and what army, LOL!, says plus-sizing HAS to go in both directions(taller and wider)?? What I'm looking to do is take a car with, say, 14" rims with 75-series tires, and go to 15s or 16s of the same width, and slap lower profile rubber(65-55 series) on them to firm up my ride and maintain speedometer. I'd love to do this with the mid-60s Buick I hope to acquire one day. After all a narrower tire/wheel assembly is more directionally prone than a wider package given the same aligment specs, right? The part I want to cut down on is all that floppy sidewall! Is there such an animal? |
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02-01-2012, 11:59 AM | #2 | |||
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
your initial definition is half-incorrect,
while the 2nd paragraph is the correct theory of "plus sizing" = to maintain the original factory height of the tire/wheel assembly here's one of thousands of sites that can explain it to u: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=25 i like the interactive pic/ gif/ illustration on that site Quote:
when you do finally take the plunge, measure the old tire/wheel combo as shown in the pic & compare it to the new tire-rim combo & you'll see 1st hand that it works! (my 1st-hand experience was a former pepboys service writer who had done a few of these for customers) edit: the only other thing you need to think about is wheel offset since your doing this to a RWD car. i mainly dealt with FWD newer vehicles & the only concern with them was to clear the strut assembly, control arms & brake caliper i never got the overall diameters perfectly the same, but: Quote:
the newer vehicles with OBD II connectors have aftermarket "programmers" that will re-calibrate the speedometer or transmission gear to compensate for the tire/wheel changes; i'll let you google that because this is turning into an essay |
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02-01-2012, 08:50 PM | #3 | ||
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
Quote:
I realize in this particular case we're not talking going from a 14" wheel to a 22" wheel, but it's still something to keep in mind for others who may be reading this and considering a more drastic wheel/tire combination for their whip. -Rod |
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02-02-2012, 02:29 AM | #4 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
true, but those are in the extreme cases where they went over "plus 3"
donk wheels with original brakes = stooooooooopppppppppppppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiddddd dddddddd truckers, though, know about the excess weight they're adding to their vehicles to gain "lift", and will upgrade suspension & brakes as well (it's a given) but the OPs intent was to go plus 1 or 2 only... which will still be OK (weighing both old & new rim-tire combos if you want to go there as well) plus 2 from 18 to 20" rim vs. plus 4 ~ now he has to worry about brakes/suspension |
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02-02-2012, 06:52 AM | #5 |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
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02-02-2012, 06:51 PM | #6 | ||
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
Quote:
Most plus-sizing cases I've seen involve a wider tire of the same height as factory with shorter sidewalls. Correspondingly the rim is wider and of a greater diameter to make up for aforementioned tire. Succinctly, most plus-sizing involves increasing dimensions of the rim in two directions. What I want to do, as best as my pea brain can express it, is to install tires of the same height(diameter) and width as factory but with shorter sidewalls. That will require a taller rim of the same width. Succinctly, I would like to increase the dimension, of the rim, in only one direction. Do I make more sense this time? |
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02-03-2012, 01:05 AM | #7 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
that'll cost way more $$$
CNC machine, custom specs cut from billet aluminum block is currently the only way to go with your idea for now |
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02-03-2012, 09:41 AM | #8 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
I don't believe that. What I'm looking for must exist readily out there. Does anyone here understand visually what I'm trying to accomplish verbally? And this is not for looks or anything, I just want a subtle handling improvement by shortening the sidewalls of the tires. I'll probably also max out the caster - something that can easily be done on a '64 Buick or similar.
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02-03-2012, 11:46 AM | #9 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
that's the only other option i can think of...
i mean, does a 1" difference in rim width really impact that much? |
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02-03-2012, 12:06 PM | #10 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
This isn't that difficult. Let's say you have 185/75-14s on 14x6" wheels.
Just buy some 16x6" wheels and put 185/60-16 (or whatever aspect ratio actually keeps the same diameter). Just be careful you don't back yourself into a corner. Make sure there are plenty of tire choices in the size you need. I did that once. I went from 235/xx-14 up to 225/60-16 and now nobody makes that size anymore so I have to do some re-engineering. The only other thing I should mention... taller sidewalls have more options of rim widths they'll fit on. Tire manufacturers list acceptable rim widths. As you go to a shorter sidewall, you might find that your tire width is no longer acceptable on the same width rim. Edit: and Kudos to you for not conforming to the "wider is better" theory.
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02-12-2012, 07:53 AM | #11 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
Here's a really good tire size calculator:
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp Agree with Curtis; since it's your intent to keep the treadwidth the same size, simply compare different wheel sizes until you get one that's close to original.
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02-12-2012, 09:27 AM | #12 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
there are some rims on the market that has the same width as your original rim, but they're a bit much as well...
i think the original 14" rim has a 5.5" width... so if you bump up to a 16" diameter, and staying "thin", it's going to cost more, but i see them starting to make it for a few customers that want to keep the same width... http://www.performanceplustire.com/p...urerID%5B%5D=1 and as curtis said, the tire choice & cost will also go up |
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04-01-2012, 09:54 AM | #13 | ||
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
Quote:
It will also concentrate more weight beneath itself, something to consider in winter weather. |
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04-01-2012, 10:29 AM | #14 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
According to the link in post#11 my ideal solution is:
(STOCK)205/60-R16 = (PLUS)205/55-R16.5 But that tire/rim combo is not available, at least not on this planet. My ideal available solution is: (STOCK)205/60-R16 = (PLUS)205/55-R17 Two downsides: I will have to give up Mastercraft Avenger tires, aaaand, if I'm reading the tire calculator's information right, it will increase my indicated speed(MPH) even more than it already is! Which leads me to my next question: How easy is it to calibrate my speedometer? I checked it against both my GPS and already irate drivers, and I've determined I'm doing only 57mph at an indication of 60 on the speedo. If I put these tires & rims on I'll be doing only 55-56 at that indication! The error drops to 2mph at 30 indicated and increases to 4mph over 80 indicated(meaning I'm actually going only 76). Hey, at least it's hard for me to get speeding tickets. LMAO!!! So I think I want to fix my speedometer first before shopping for tires/wheels. |
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04-01-2012, 01:18 PM | #15 | |
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Re: "Plus-sizing" Tires But Maintaining Original Width
thanks for the update... admire your tenacity to try to stay within those limits
dunno if someone will make a custom speedometer gear set up to your specs... most of the speedometer gears I took out on electronic speed sensors are mostly made with plastic... but with a 60's engine and probably cable-operated trans speed sender, you'll probably have to dig further into the depths of teh internetz to find another enthusiast striving for the perfect speedometer calibration :P if you had an electronically hooked-up engine/trans, it's as easy as plugging into the OBDII port and changing it... |
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