I've got a 2012 Civic Si I am prepping to learn HPDE'ing with as seen here:
Project_Si
The car's currently on oem Honda 18x7 wheels. I actually like how they look...but the factory size is a bit limiting at 215/40 R18. I've got FireHawk Indy 500's on it in that size right now. When the set wears out I'd like to graduate to something like a 225/40 RT615k+ or a Hankook RS4......but the minimum width is 18x7.5".......
Most people on the Honda forums just ignore the spec and run 225/40 on the 18x7's.....but what does GRM think?
Thanks!
Cramming tires on wheels is nothing new I doubt you'd have a problem as such with what you're proposing. That said testing done by this magazine suggests wider wheels even with the same tire size is often faster.
dps214
SuperDork
9/25/23 3:10 p.m.
Wider wheels would be better of course. But those published wheel width ranges are a guideline based purely on nominal size, not a hard requirement or specific to that tire.
Sounds good! For now all I care about is not having a tire blowout because of ignoring a spec!
225s won't cause a problem on the 18x7s but I expect they won't increase grip either because it's a rather squeezed fit. I'd recommend moving up to 18x8s for those tires.
buzzboy
SuperDork
9/25/23 4:00 p.m.
I endurance race 225s on a 7" wheel. Probably not the crispest feel but they work pretty well for getting extra rubber on smaller wheels.
In reply to GameboyRMH :
I'm assuming I'll benefit from changing the compound/tread from the Indy 500 -> RS4/615k+ versus the additional width of the tire. I'd get a 215/40 to keep it "in spec" if there were more tires in that spec. I'm going to wait a another season before I go harder into wide wheels and such.
Must resist the k20/k24 frankenstein build...must resist.....
People used to put 275 Hoosiers on 15x6 inch wheels, back when Stock classes required OEM-spec wheels but any DOT tire was fair game. :)
