Wheel Size

[violentrapture]

Hi y'all.

I just bought some 18" 077s and am going to put new tires on them - my question is... what size tire do I get. When I called up the local tire shop, the guy said 225/40/18 to keep the sizes the same as they are now (diameter I guess). However, even with the Intrax springs, I still have a gap between the tires and the body. I have some pictures below to show. I mentioned that to the guy, and he suggested 245/40/18 - I've read through the FAQ regarding wheel/tire size and I'm still a bit confused about it all. Any advice you can give regarding what tires/size I should get would be extremely helpful.
(The pictures aren't that bad quality... really - I upped the levels to show the gap better) :P
Thanks,
Collin

http://www.collind.com/pikshures/cartires/4.jpg
http://www.collind.com/pikshures/cartires/2.jpg
http://www.collind.com/pikshures/cartires/1.jpg
http://www.collind.com/pikshures/cartires/3.jpg

[doubleN0alero]

are you trying to get rid of the wheel gap completely or what? if you put on 18's from 15's you will notice a big difference in how much the gap will close.

[violentrapture]

Well, I'd like to narrow it up as much as I possibly can - what the guy told me was that even moving from 15" to 18", the tires have less width, so the overall size in there will be the same... like 15"+5" rubber and 18"+2" rubber - or something like that - so the actual gap between the outermost part of the tire and the body will be about the same. I have no idea about any of this though, so he could've been telling me anything.
Thanks,
Collin

[FantomForceCustoms02]

Get the sprint springs from eBay. It will close that gap right up

[violentrapture]

So do the Spring springs have more of a drop than the Intrax? I remember when deciding, I was reading a thread somewhere on here and it was mentioned that Intrax gave the lowest drop of the three (Eibach, Sprint, Intrax). Also, I couldn't find any on ebay for the newere cars - I found some for 95-98 grand ams, but that's it. If the Sprint springs are lower, is there a link to some for sale?
Thanks guys,
Collin

[FantomForceCustoms02]

I know the back is dropped way lower on my car than it is in your pics. If i put my finger on the top of the tire, the other side of my finger will just miss touching the fender. Then with my system I have to angle my finger down a little. Can't go straight on. And the way your pics look, my front end is about the same. Maybe a little lower, I can fit 2 fingers or so in between wheel and fender.

I don't think there is a site for the sprint springs either. I've only seen them on eBay.

[violentrapture]

http://www.prostreetonline.com/buy/sprint_...ngs/oldsmobile/ (http://www.prostreetonline.com/buy/sprint_lowering_springs/oldsmobile/)

Are these the ones I need?

Thanks,
Collin

Also, going back to the original question - if I got the Sprint springs and it dropped lower, would I go with the 225/40/18 tires?

[violentrapture]

Heh, and completely off the topic - I notice you have the Otto R seats in your car - I was looking at them on procarparts.com and they have a pair for $175... how do you like yours and how hard were they to install? Seems awfully cheap for both seats - I'm considering it now.
Collin

[natedawg9640]

what about the fact that if you stray too far from the stock tire circumfrance you will throw off your speedo... like a truck with oversized tires.... the guy at the tire place is saying... and 18 inch rim plus 2 inches of sideway = 20 inches... and 16 iches of rim plus 4 inches of sidewall =20 inches ... you wanna stay as close to the 20 inches as possible... unless you don't care if your speedo runs fast

[FantomForceCustoms02]

Originally posted by violentrapture+Dec 5 2005, 03:25 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(violentrapture @ Dec 5 2005, 03:25 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>http://www.prostreetonline.com/buy/sprint_...ngs/oldsmobile/ (http://www.prostreetonline.com/buy/sprint_lowering_springs/oldsmobile/)

Are these the ones I need?

Thanks,
Collin

Also, going back to the original question - if I got the Sprint springs and it dropped lower, would I go with the 225/40/18 tires?
Quoted post
[/b]

Yep those look like the ones. Try and find them on eBay though, they're a little cheaper. About 155.00 if I remember correctly. It also says a 1.75 in drop but after they settle after a month or so it's definetly over 2 inches.

<!--QuoteBegin-violentrapture@Dec 5 2005, 03:38 PM
Heh, and completely off the topic - I notice you have the Otto R seats in your car - I was looking at them on procarparts.com and they have a pair for $175... how do you like yours and how hard were they to install?Â;-) Seems awfully cheap for both seats - I'm considering it now.
Collin
Quoted post
[/quote]

They are good seats. Not top name brand like sparcos, but you're only paying for the name. Only thing is that they are not for larger people. They were a little tight on me and I'm only 5'10" 150lbs. But they broke in nicely after a couple weeks. I fit snug. Pretty comfortable for the most part. Installation was easy. I was sent brackets with them but they didn't fit in the car so I used the stock brackets and put them right in. I payed a little over 300 shipped to my door and 60 for harnesses shipped. I can't complain about racing seats and harnesses for under 400 bucks.

[FantomForceCustoms02]

Originally posted by natedawg9640@Dec 5 2005, 04:42 PM
what about the fact that if you stray too far from the stock tire circumfrance you will throw off your speedo... like a truck with oversized tires.... the guy at the tire place is saying... and 18 inch rim plus 2 inches of sideway = 20 inches... and 16 iches of rim plus 4 inches of sidewall =20 inches ... you wanna stay as close to the 20 inches as possible... unless you don't care if your speedo runs fast
Quoted post


Yea that guy's right. I've got 45 series on my 17s and I'll be getting 35 series on the 19s. Always good to stay with the same diameter when you see a cop and you're too busy/nervous to figure out the difference so not to be pulled over.

[violentrapture]

Regarding the speedometer - is there a way to have it "recalibrated" or whatever the word would be - so that if you go with a diameter completely different the speedometer will still read correctly?

The Sprint springs sound good - when the new wheels get here I think we're going to throw two of them on one side and see how it looks - if there's still a massive gap like there is now I'll get a set of them.

About the seats - why were they so much? I found these: http://www.procarparts.com/store-detail.as...GYBK%2D10969RST (http://www.procarparts.com/store-detail.asp?sku=UNGYBK%2D10969RST)
and they're only $165 for the driver and passenger.

Thanks guys for your help,
Collin

[Oldsman]

no way to recaliberate it unless you have a v-6 and have DHP do that for you with thier tune.

sprint springs will do a good job but coilovers or air or hydros can get rid of the gap. but a lot more costly.

[FantomForceCustoms02]

Originally posted by violentrapture@Dec 5 2005, 11:35 PM
Regarding the speedometer - is there a way to have it "recalibrated" or whatever the word would be - so that if you go with a diameter completely different the speedometer will still read correctly?

The Sprint springs sound good - when the new wheels get here I think we're going to throw two of them on one side and see how it looks - if there's still a massive gap like there is now I'll get a set of them.

About the seats - why were they so much? I found these: http://www.procarparts.com/store-detail.as...GYBK%2D10969RST (http://www.procarparts.com/store-detail.asp?sku=UNGYBK%2D10969RST)
and they're only $165 for the driver and passenger.

Thanks guys for your help,
Collin
Quoted post


throw all 4 wheels on if you have the time. You'll get a better look at how the car will sit.

Yea those are the exact seats I have. I'm kinda mad I didn't get that deal.

[-Alero-]

holly crap those seats kick ass, im buying those!

[violentrapture]

hehe, yeah I thought they were nice and FantomForce there confirms it - they're on my list now.

[Spilner521]

here's a couple shots of my car at the beginning of this past summer. i have 18's with 225/40 18 tires dropped on sprint springs. i'm very happy with the drop but actually now that i look at the pictures, i think the drop looks lower in person than in pictures. oh...and 225/40 18 tires are the same overall height as your stock 215/60 15 tires, which means the speedo will read just like stock and you wont have to worry about if you're going too fast or not. and actually those 225 size tires are just slightly wider than your stockers. the first number in the tire sizes means how wide they are in millimeters.....you'll be able to tell when they're mounted.


http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2865/side2small7ar.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/930/sidesmall2wj.jpg

[violentrapture]

That looks awesome Spilner - so if the 225 is the width of the tire, if I wanted to close up the gap more with tires, I would go for a bigger middle number? Like 225/50/18 or something?
Cheers,
Collin

[2fst4u]

right, but your car is going to ride all ghetto, two feet in the air like a monster truck. but yes, you will not have wheel gap. just wheel rub on your fenders to pop your tires.
i'd really keep away from this idea bud.

[FantomForceCustoms02]

Yea 50 series is kinda big. Go with 40. That will also keep your spedometer on track

[violentrapture]

Oky doky - 225/40/18 it shall be - and Sprint springs if I need more drop
Thanks for all your input guys!
Collin

[2fst4u]

no problem, that's what we're here for bro