225/40/18

[SilverBullet]

Anyone with 225/40/18 tires up front? Seems abit large for the overall dia for the front, using 215/35/18 now and its time to change. Other options are 225/35, 245/35/18.
What say you guys? Btw the rear is 295/30/18.

[Sandeep]

I'm running a 235/35/18 on 8.5" wide rims up front. 24.5" diameter with 3.24" section height.

I get some very slight rubbing on the headlight bucket, but can raise the front suspension about another 1/2" to take care of this.

Rears are 265/35/18 on 10" wide rims, but changing to 285/30/18 this summer.

Sandeep

[SilverBullet]

Thanks Sandeep, the tire shops here mainly carries the more common sizes, so I have to wait and it's going to cost more. What tire brand are you using?

[Sandeep]

Pirelli P Zero currently, but changing to Conti Extreme Contact DW due to age on the P Zeros.

Sandeep

[SilverBullet]

Will go P zeros, the overall dia for their tyres/tires seems to be slightly smaller than the rest of the brands. their 245/35/18 24.5", the usual 24.8". Thanks Sandeep.

[Wally]

I run 225/40/18 up front on 7,5" rims

Tire is a Kumho semi-slick, not available in 35-series...hence the 40 height.

[Steve C]

Hi

I have 225/40x18 on 8 inch rims, they are Federal 595 RS-R they are a semi slick sport comp tyre. I have them on another bug in 215/40x17 and I'm very please with them.

Steve

[Joel]

I had 225/40 18s all round on my bug for a brief period.

Left that size on the back but fronts rubbed like noones buisness so dropped back to 215/35.

I'll see if I can dig up pics later.

[SilverBullet]

Thanks Guys for the replies. I tried the 225/40 and it does touch the fender, didnt want to use less spacers as wanted the wheel to be in just about 10-15mm from the fender lip. I have 6cm flared fenders front and the 215 just dont do justice! ha! need some wide tires/tyres!

[DORIGTT]

What do these cars ride like with such low profile tires? Folks from another forum I'm on speaks of the ride quality deteriorating to a near intolerable point with the balljoint front suspension.

[Wally]

Originally Posted by DORIGTT

.... with the balljoint front suspension.

but we have SPRINGS

My front I actually find still too soft and will eventually go with even stiffer front springs.
Just to give you an idea

[SilverBullet]

Running koni yellow adjustables from the top from kerscher and their rear kw coilovers, softest setting at the front and mid at the rear, its comfortable enuf. But when set to the hardest, its a bone shaker!!

[SilverBullet]

Whats the difference between hard shocks (ie koni yellow, pss9..) and stiffer springs? How does one juggle between the two? Thanks Guys.

Originally Posted by Wally

but we have SPRINGS

My front I actually find still too soft and will eventually go with even stiffer front springs.
Just to give you an idea

[Wally]

I think complete books have been written on that subject and complete R&D departments are dedicated finding the 'right' combination...

I' am sure SteveC will have something smart to say about this though

My personal take is that the springs are there to provide the correct stiffness for a given acceptable body movement and the shocks are only there to regulate the rebounce of the springs.
Stiffer spring will mean a fitting shock setting, not the other way around:
When your shocks are going to take over the spring's task, your on the wrong path...which is seen quite often as shocks can sometimes be adjusted but springs cannot, so some people tend to make the shocks stiffer but actually wanted something that the springs are supposed to do for you like less overhang, less diving under braking etc. The resultant stiffer shock setting makes it a bumpy ride with worse handling instead of what was intended...
Adjustable shocks are there to adjust to your spring to, not to make a stiffer suspension!!
Just my personal 2 cents on the subject and way off topic on the subject of low profile tires...

[evilC]

Wally, I think that your analysis of the relationship between springs and damper is right but I think the starting point is 'why have springs?' The spring isthere to allow the car to maintain an even keel across any bump/hole. It needs to be soft enough to allow the wheel to follow the road surface that is hard enough to stop the wallowing and soft enough not to be thrown in the air. The damper is there to moderate the rate at which the spring reacts, too hard a setting means that the bump energy is transmitted to the chassis that can be upsetting, too soft a setting allows the wheel to overtravel and lose traction.

The adjustments on a damper are there to fine tune the spring reaction, mostly in rebound and that is a function of the speed of travel and the type/magnitude of bump encountered. On a billiard table smooth but of tarmac the damper shouldn't be necessary at all.

Clive