Need help finding a tire

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Well I'm not good with tire sizes and this makes it even harder. I'm looking at some 13x5.5 inch wheels. I've seen 13 inch wheels on Miatas and its awesome, these wheels are also pretty cool. But I don't know how to feel about the 5.5 inch wide wheel. Also, will these slam the car? I really don't want to be super low so I'm hoping to compensate with a decently sized tire. If anyone could shoot me a link or post pictures, that would be awesome.

My ride height
11 1/2 inches in the front
12 inches in the back

[AARP]

Good luck man. Unless you want some Chinese brand that no one's heard of or race slicks, there's no tires available for 13" after Sumitomo discontinued theirs. Believe me, I've tried.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Maybe I shouldn't buy these. They are SSR 2 piece reverse mesh. 400 bucks...

[AARP]

Maybe I shouldn't buy these. They are SSR 2 piece reverse mesh. 400 bucks...

It's a good deal, just make sure you have tires lined up or they'll make for some expensive coffee tables.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Thats what I'm trying to avoid. I really don't want my car slammed and I like driving my car aggressively. But I feel I won't be able to with a 5.5 inch wide tire.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

bump, need help asap

[concealer404]

Thats what I'm trying to avoid. I really don't want my car slammed and I like driving my car aggressively. But I feel I won't be able to with a 5.5 inch wide tire.

I believe you answered your own question there. ;)

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I believe you answered your own question there. ;)

Ah well shit. I had the opportunity to get real wheels for cheap, to bad I couldn't use them.

[revlimiter]

90-93 daisy wheels are only 5.5" wide. 14x5.5. http://www.miata.net/faq/wheel_weights.html

For $400, I would have already bought the SSRs.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

But find a decent tire in 13 inch and one that won't slam the car.

[concealer404]

Anything below 14s (even 15s in my opinion, but that's probably highly contested by many notable members in the community), and you're REALLY compromising tire choice and performance in the pursuit of having a wheel that looks "right" for a vintage theme.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&Cookie=nextag&details=Ordern&typ=R-152527&ranzahl=4&nichtweiter=1&pk_campaign=nextag

Found these. I have 912s on the car now and like them a lot. I'm just worried about having such a skinny wheels. I know those are stock daisy specs but its still scary.

[revlimiter]

By the way...

http://www.performanceplustire.com/products/tires/searchType/searchBySize/tireSize/205_SLASH_60-13

I had the Federal FD01s on my Star Sharks when I got them. Not a bad tire. Not great, but not horrible. And the Toyos would also be fun.

[concealer404]

The 205/60 RA1s might not be bad. The others are rather short, but should only lower another 1/2" i guess.


I forgot about the 912, but i tend to refuse to acknowledge their existence. :lol:

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I have been talking to a guy who has a lot of 13 inch wheels and sells tires. He is recommending a 185/70-13 tire. Any thoughts? How much sidewall will I have!? Love to have some pictures in this thread also.

[concealer404]

I have been talking to a guy who has a lot of 13 inch wheels and sells tires. He is recommending a 185/70-13 tire. Any thoughts? How much sidewall will I have!? Love to have some pictures in this thread also.

You'll have a lot of sidewall. A lot of floppy tall sidewall. :lol:

[revlimiter]

I have been talking to a guy who has a lot of 13 inch wheels and sells tires. He is recommending a 185/70-13 tire. Any thoughts? How much sidewall will I have!? Love to have some pictures in this thread also.

175/70/13 is a closer match to the OEM tire size (.4% too short). And 205/60/13 is even closer at .2% too short. In comparison, 185/70/13 is 2% too large.

Talk to a different guy. :)

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Weren't you guys just recommending a 205? Wouldn't that be really large?

I'm so utterly confused...

[concealer404]

Weren't you guys just recommending a 205? Wouldn't that be really large?

I'm so utterly confused...

What do you mean "large?"

[Martin]

Would a 205 tire on a 5.5" wide wheel feel sloppy?

[concealer404]

Not as much as the huge sidewall would.

[afc2112]

205 width on 13x5.5 wheel sounds ridiculous.

[concealer404]

205 width on 13x5.5 wheel sounds ridiculous.

Many OEMs shipped cars with a 205 width tire on a 6" wheel.

It's not ideal, but it won't be awful.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I think 205 would be a bit much. On stock Miata wheels its a 185 tire. Why wouldn't I want that on the same width but one inch smaller?

[concealer404]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out, then. :)

[AARP]

The internet is your friend.

http://www.wheelcalc.com/

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I have nOthing figured out at all, I just asked a question. And I have been searching the internet, but it doesn't help you when you don't know what to search for.

[revlimiter]

Take a deep breath. Life is good. Life is wonderful. You are in a position to possibly buy (or not) some really awesome wheels. 80% of the world population wishes they were in your shoes.

One more deep breath.

Do you like the wheels? Forget about tires. Forget about ride height. Forget about the state of the weather or how fast or slow you like to go around corners. Forget everything. Do you like the wheels? Then buy them (or not.)

After you answer that one question above, make the tire magic happen. They're only tires. If they suck you can get another set or just sell the whole package.

And for search terms, might I suggest things with "13" and "tire" in them? I found the link I posted with the phrase "13 performance tire".

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Sorry that I seem a little agitated. But I can't just go out and buy things. My money needs to go towards other things so to get these I must sell the set I have on the car now. I have to be sure these will work as they will be my only set of wheels. So its tough, and because of this decision its turning me off.

The wheels? Well they are my favorite. I love reverse mesh, its why I have the OG sans on my car now because I can't afford real SSR's in 15 inch. So do I want them? Very much so. Can I make them work? I have no idea.

[concealer404]

Have you driven a Miata with a similar wheel/tire package before?

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I've driven a Miata with a 14x5.5 inch wheel and enjoyed it. That's as close as I got to a set up like this.

[concealer404]

What tire was on that car? Just trying to gauge what you're looking for, exactly... You mentioned spirited performance driving earlier, then mentioned Falken Ziexs, so really, i guess you'd be happy with pretty much any tire you could find in an appropriate size.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

It was a 185 tire. And by spirited just having some fun. By no means am I a skilled driver or push my tires to their limits. I'm also worried about these clearing my damn calipers :-/

[revlimiter]

I've driven a Miata with a 14x5.5 inch wheel and enjoyed it. That's as close as I got to a set up like this.

It's going to be the same. Or at least similar. Wheel size has very very very little to do with driving feel. Tire compound has the most to do with it. Then width, then sidewall diameter. That's just my opinion, though.

As for the calipers, you have a 90 with the small brakes. So you have the very best chance in the world of having these wheels fit.


-edit-
Years ago, there was a set of 4x100 13x5.5 SSR Casablancas on CR. I didn't get them. I still kick myself. I have Star Sharks now, which are arguably prettier and all around superior, but... they're not Casablancas. I love those wheels. I bet there's less than 5 sets in the world in 4x100 in any wheel size.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I'm really thinking of getting them and hanging on to them.

[Phatmiata]

I think 205 would be a bit much. On stock Miata wheels its a 185 tire. Why wouldn't I want that on the same width but one inch smaller?

I ran 205 width on my stock daisy AutoX wheels, its fine for the street.


II'm also worried about these clearing my damn calipers .


You should be fine, and if not there is always eBay to flip them! go get the wheels already!

[revlimiter]

I ran 225s on my stock steelies my first autocross season. Looked rather like Jeep tires mounted on the skinny wheels (and holy shit did the mounting guy hate me), but they worked. I won my class that year. NA Miatas were in B-stock back then...

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Now I don't feel so worried. I know my tires will look huge, but the awesome of real SSRs is very appealing.

[Phatmiata]

If you are feeling crazy you can probably order some decent Yokohama Tires from Japan in the 13" size. :teehee:

http://www.yokohamatire.jp/yrc/japan/passengersizelist.html#13

At least then you can get the tire size you want, maybe have some street wheels for the hurricane season, and then in the cool season here in Florida you can rock the 13's

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I have a set of steelies in the shed without tires. I'll rock those when I can't roll on the 13s.


And I won't be ordering any tire from Japan, I'm a broke college student :P

[revlimiter]

Broke college student?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Falken-ZIEX-ZE-912-205-60R13-86H-TL-BSW-TIRES-/330745676360?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d01fa8248&vxp=mtr

There ya go.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

I found them for 60 bucks a tire earlier in the thread :P

[concealer404]

Can we stop linking those tires? I just ate. :P

[tsingson]

Shoot man. If the price is good on your OG Sans, I may partake.

[bentoy555]

idk if you still needed tires.. but i was browsing tires for my 13s as well maybe 2-3 months ago.. and found this site tire-easy.net (based in Arizona), who also had an ebay store that had a variety of 13" tire sizes.. i knew they had 175/60 and 185/60 falken 512s last time i checked.. but i checked the site recently and found out they no longer offer falken 512s.. thought i read somewhere that 512s are discontinued and now 175/60 and 185/60 were offered in falken 912s.. hopefully you find some 13" tires that you wanted..

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Funny story, the wheels ended up having a bend so I kept my 15's. I'm trying to stay away from spending money on wheels and do something productive with my car. But good looking out!

[bentoy555]

bummer glad you found the bend.. and no problem.. thought id chime in... cuz it was indeed tedious looking for 13" tires to my liking.. i was originally looking for 215/50/13 but only offered on slicks that were 1Mil each.. :frantic: but yea kidding aside 60 sidewall is the route im taking for my 13s next season..
Funny story, the wheels ended up having a bend so I kept my 15's. I'm trying to stay away from spending money on wheels and do something productive with my car. But good looking out!