Help me decide on Tire size! Please?

In need of some educated help and opinions on proper tire size. Normally I could do this myself but Im making a few changes this season and want to get it right the first try. Figured I seek some advice.

Variables:
949 Racing 15x9 6UL +12 (will be using my current 17 & 19 mm spacers or other spaces to get it all proper)
Carbon Miata Fender Flares

So looks like tires options are:

a) 205/50 - Looks like the Falken Azenis or Maxxis Victra would be the choice here. I run 205/50s on my 15x8 right now, not sure if that size be good for the 9" wide wheel

b) 225/45 - Probably would go with Hankook Ventus RS4 in this size.

c) 245/40 - seems like these are for a 10" wide wheel but Havent completely ruled those out.

So in MazdaRoadster opinions, what tire sizes do you all recommend for a 15x9 with low to negative offset wheels and fender flares?

What do you all think would perform the best? What size do you all think would look the best (fill the fenders nicely)?

Performance wise, car will be driven during summer months during nice weather and the occasional autocross.

thanks!

Paul B

225 on is the go to sizing for a 9" wheel for Miatas.

Look across all the forums at posts from those that know (sell and/or race 6ULs)...

205 is best on an 8
225 is best on a 9
245 is best on a 10

I'd also say it will look the best. 205, bit more of a stretch. 245, a bit rolling over. 225 on a 9 gives just the smallest amount of correct stretch to get the absolute best from the tires.

Sooo.... why not go wider and lower offset since flares? Cut out the middleman spacers and roll deep (wide).

225/45 RS4s. They run wide for the tire width (I think most performance tires run wider than lesser traction tires.). With your future wheel spec, you’ll want the wider tires to fill out more of the arches. You’ll have plenty of clearance even with 9in wide wheels and +12 offset.

Great thanks guys. You confirmed what i was thinking and what my research brought me to. Time to order some 225s

I should have went to a 10" and ran the 245s but i have no clue when this car will be high horsepower, if ever so i went the 9" route. Seems a happy middle ground.

949 was sold out of 10" when i was ready to order.

Thanks!! Cant wait to get this all bolted on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ya if I had the funds when I got wheels/tires for Misfire, I would have gone 15x10 with 245s and they are back on the table. Really if I can swing it I'd like Watanabe's in 15x9 or 14x9.

I think 225s are a solid choice but personally I would gone with 245s even on a 9" wheel but I really like tire bulge. :D Can't wait to see your setup, Paul! :winky:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Greasemonkey2000

Ya if I had the funds when I got wheels/tires for Misfire, I would have gone 15x10 with 245s and they are back on the table. Really if I can swing it I'd like Watanabe's in 15x9 or 14x9.

I think 225s are a solid choice but personally I would gone with 245s even on a 9" wheel but I really like tire bulge. :D Can't wait to see your setup, Paul! :winky:

---

245s on a 10 is the route i should have gone but it is what it is. Ill be giddy to have wider wheels and have a flared miata finally haha

Yea dream wheels woulda been some 14" Wats but didnt want to spend double the money and possibly have to wait months to get them. One day i will own Wats.


Wheels arrive tomorrow. Waiting to hear from CarbonMiata about flares being shipped.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Paul, I had 15x9s 6ULs on my Miata with 225s. For a daily driver, it was okay if not somewhat miserable. Visually, they looked great but practically, it was a lot more mass to move and stop, not to mention the sluggish road feel. If I were racing, sure, it would make sense but for runs to work, grocery store and occasional auto crossing, I wish I had chosen 15x8s with 205s in retrospect.

If you're doing fender flares, changing suspension geometry with spacers on already wide and heavier wheels and tires, I guess the question is what is your ultimate goal because just asking what's the biggest tire you can mount makes this hard to answer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Agent[emoji1282

Orange;218966]Paul, I had 15x9s 6ULs on my Miata with 225s. For a daily driver, it was okay if not somewhat miserable. Visually, they looked great but practically, it was a lot more mass to move and stop, not to mention the sluggish road feel. If I were racing, sure, it would make sense but for runs to work, grocery store and occasional auto crossing, I wish I had chosen 15x8s with 205s in retrospect.

If you're doing fender flares, changing suspension geometry with spacers on already wide and heavier wheels and tires, I guess the question is what is your ultimate goal because just asking what's the biggest tire you can mount makes this hard to answer.

---

AO, appreciate the input.

Not looking for BIGGEST tire i can mount. Just seeing opinions on BEST size to mount.

Seems like the 225 is the way to go for aesthetics and middle of the road performance given wider wheels/low offset/ extra weight etc

Currently running 15x8 6UL with spacers and 205/50s. Its a good setup. Works well. Was curious if the 205/50 would seem too small for the 15x9.

Curious about "sluggish road feel" and what your take of "miserable" is. My car is a 1990 1.6...so its gonna be sluggish everywhere and on any wheel/tire setup haha



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, I personally wanted to cash in on the wide track and big tires look back in the day but realized the hard way, I was trading off certain comforts for performance I was never ultimately interested in. I guess in short, decide what you ultimately want for your Miata to be before wasting a lot of money.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Agent[emoji1282

Orange;218968]Well, I personally wanted to cash in on the wide track and big tires look back in the day but realized the hard way, I was trading off certain comforts for performance I was never ultimately interested in. I guess in short, decide what you ultimately want for your Miata to be before wasting a lot of money.

---

[emoji106] thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I honestly can't tell a difference between the 10lb+ per corner loss of the 14x7 with 195 vs 15x8 with 225s EXCEPT for less grip. Now obviously I may have noticed if I had ran the two different setups both on the same miata back to back but nothing sticks out in my mind except less grip with the 14x7/195s.

Imo, the miata isn't about comfort but handling so grip is a higher priority, personally.

RPF1 in 14x7 with 185 vs RPF1 15x8 with 225 is just 6lbs per corner difference.

I'm running 185's on my 205whp FM2 car. Maybe I drive too conservatively?

I recall reading a post from Emilio @ 949 on one of the boards regarding big grip, low HP on one of their track-demo cars. The gist of his post was that a low-powered N/A Miata with lots of tire and proper suspension, can be really surprising if driven well. It's all about maintaining momentum and using what you've got.

I will say, 225 Toyo R1R's on a 15x8 look positively amazing. If the RS4's run wide, they're probably a better bet for 15x9. Both get glowing reviews in all but the wet/cold.

-Matt

I had 15x8 Konig Flatout's that were 12.4lbs(iirc) each and Toyo R1Rs and Hankook RS3s that weighed around 22lbs so around 35lbs(believe the 35-36lbs is what I weighed) and the 14x7 RPF1s with 195 Azenis RT615K+ are 25lbs so 10lbs in my case.


I'd trade that 10lbs for the difference in grip any day of the week.