What is the largest tire you can go to on the rear without having rubbing issues? My best guess would be up to 26.1 diameter from stock of 22.6, but wanted to see what others thought? I know there would be issues with the front tire, just currious what fits on the rear.
Larger Tires
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Gabe,
We offer many varieties of custom wheels and wide tires for the smart. The common wheel upgrades are 16" and 17". The width of the wheels range between 7" and 7 1/2". Some have even put up to a 20mm spacer on those without any issues. The tires are typically 215/35-16 (for the 16" wheels) and 215/35-17 (for the 17"s). We have also put on many 225/35 tires as well without any issues.
Hope that helps a bit.
We offer many varieties of custom wheels and wide tires for the smart. The common wheel upgrades are 16" and 17". The width of the wheels range between 7" and 7 1/2". Some have even put up to a 20mm spacer on those without any issues. The tires are typically 215/35-16 (for the 16" wheels) and 215/35-17 (for the 17"s). We have also put on many 225/35 tires as well without any issues.
Hope that helps a bit.
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11,903 Posts
Add the Lift kit and you can go bigger
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Stick to 15" rims unless you want to increase the harshness of your ride...
195/55/15s is tops up front, while the rear can go a bit wider but 195 is great if you want to do the NON-staggered approach.. on a 15"x6.5" wide rim
stock will hold the rear 175s at best, by the way you can do a set of rears upfront with 175s no prob.
195/55/15s is tops up front, while the rear can go a bit wider but 195 is great if you want to do the NON-staggered approach.. on a 15"x6.5" wide rim
stock will hold the rear 175s at best, by the way you can do a set of rears upfront with 175s no prob.
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2009 451 Rally Red, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40, Wix XP 51356, 185/55R15 tires, 44 psl
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rubbing issues
I have 205 / 50 / 15 on the rear. Looks and runs good.
I have 205 / 50 / 15 on the rear. Looks and runs good.
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Hey guys - does this mean I COULD get wider tires on my stock, Passion, 9-spoke, 15" rims??? I've been searching for a bit and this is the first reference I've seen to using wider rubber on 15" rims. Out of a bit of paranoia, I'd kind of like to keep the staggered setup - but would like to go wider than stock on both rear and front. I'm craving less wind buffeting about, since I spend about 20 minutes on the highway each way, to and from work. It's hard to pull off the what-me-worry? look when being tossed about by a breeze. And powder coating my rims would cost a lot less than a new set of rims (Must. Have. Black. Rims.).
------I see another post on another forum where a guy did this combo - it would mean I could move the rubber from back to front, and just buy tires for the back!
"175/55 front and 195/50 rear , on 15” rims"
2009 451 Rally Red, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40, Wix XP 51356, 185/55R15 tires, 44 psl
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Larger tires
I moved the rears to the front, and got two new rear rims.
Put 205/50/15's on the rears.
These are hard to find, I like the Generals at Tire Rack, but they were backordered.
Saved a from tire and rim as a spare, got a bag on order from the Bag Lady, and have the second front rim and tire for sale.
Much better ride.
Pictures posted soon, today was my first day off since October (last year)
I moved the rears to the front, and got two new rear rims.
Put 205/50/15's on the rears.
These are hard to find, I like the Generals at Tire Rack, but they were backordered.
Saved a from tire and rim as a spare, got a bag on order from the Bag Lady, and have the second front rim and tire for sale.
Much better ride.
Pictures posted soon, today was my first day off since October (last year)
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Can i fit 165/80/15's all around? Is the rubbing from too much width at that height or too much height at that width?
Tire Dealers, Buy Cheap Tires
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rfernatt - are you talking about fronts or rears, please?
2009 451 Rally Red, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40, Wix XP 51356, 185/55R15 tires, 44 psl
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165/80/15 all around
Yikes,
General rule is up 10 first number, down 5 on the second.
So, 175/60/15 is 185/55/15 and 195/50/15
Going the other way, 175/60/15 is 165/65/15
I am going to have to say "no" on the 165/80/15's
Try 195/50/15 on the rear, and put the rears on the front.
You will need two new rear rims, the existing ones are 4.5 on the front, and 5 on the back (they may be 5.5, not sure). The rears are too large for the 4.5 rims on the front.
Yikes,
General rule is up 10 first number, down 5 on the second.
So, 175/60/15 is 185/55/15 and 195/50/15
Going the other way, 175/60/15 is 165/65/15
I am going to have to say "no" on the 165/80/15's
Try 195/50/15 on the rear, and put the rears on the front.
You will need two new rear rims, the existing ones are 4.5 on the front, and 5 on the back (they may be 5.5, not sure). The rears are too large for the 4.5 rims on the front.
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6,114 Posts
When I was considering replacing my first set of 195/50s, I was thinking of going with 185/60s or 195/55s. So, I asked a couple users of the 185/60 size front/rear and both reported very minor rubbing on the front, but rubbing nonetheless.
I decided against the 185/60s (I liked the "fat" 195s anyway) and since the 195/55s were an unknown, I was concerned that they may also rub on the front. So, I stuck with the 195/50s all the way around and am still very pleased with this size. No rubbing, improved handling, improved ride, better tracking, easier to find size.
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Since I've already jacked this thread, and gabe1475 hasn't updated it in a few months, I'm going to throw in another post. Thanks to the calculator that chiefmc referenced, I found that I really should be able to do just what I wanted, which is to move the stock 175 rubber to the front, and buy a pair of 195/50R15's for the rear, all using my stock, 9-spoke Passion wheels, which are 4.5" in front and 5.5" in back. That will keep the staggered profile going that smart felt was safest for our car - I know folks are having good luck with same-sized tires all around, but I want to keep pushing-fate to a minimum.
That rubber and rim combination are within the tolerances specified by that calculator. I do not like getting blown around on the highway, but as always, I must find the least expensive solution to anything I want to do.
I guess I'm just throwing this out here in case anyone knows of any good reason why I shouldn't be able to do that, something not addressed by the handy-dandy calculator. I won't be buying new rims anytime soon, if ever, so that's not a solution for me. I'll either be painting my rims black (we see shops on TV spraying rims for big customization jobs all the time), or getting them powder coated.
That rubber and rim combination are within the tolerances specified by that calculator. I do not like getting blown around on the highway, but as always, I must find the least expensive solution to anything I want to do.
I guess I'm just throwing this out here in case anyone knows of any good reason why I shouldn't be able to do that, something not addressed by the handy-dandy calculator. I won't be buying new rims anytime soon, if ever, so that's not a solution for me. I'll either be painting my rims black (we see shops on TV spraying rims for big customization jobs all the time), or getting them powder coated.
2009 451 Rally Red, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40, Wix XP 51356, 185/55R15 tires, 44 psl
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Pictures!
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Here are the three tires and rims, note the 155/60/15 is 5.5 inches, the 175/55/15 are 6 inches, and the 205/50/15 are nearly 8.
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Toolman,
Have you done your tire upgrade yet? I'm considering the same move.
Thanks,
Peter
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No Peter, sorry, I have to get the money up first. Bills, bills, bills...my wife seems to think those always come before things I just want, go figure.
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