clive

I'm getting to the point where I'll replace all 4 tyres. My 96 has the stock 'honeycomb' type alloys, the existing boots are the stock 60 profiles. I checked out the existing tyre threads but nobody seems to have discussed what profiles work best, though there's endless threads on lowering... I will go at least to a 50 profile, but I would like to go even lower. Presumably most of you are running lower profiles than the stock 60, how low do you go?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

You might want to do a little research on aspect ratio.

With the wheel diamter @ 15", you do not want to go lower than a 60. This will throw off speedomter readings and look strange (too small). IIRC some people went with 225-55.

I have 235/40 on my A32, but the wheel diameter is 18", so the overall diameter is very close to stock.

MDeezy

iTrader: (27)

what do you hope to achieve by running a lower profile on such a small tire??

Speedo as stated will be off, and you'll feel the road a whole lot more. I wouldnt go below 60. I have 215/65/15 on my car now and its good (sawblades).

clive

I don't really mind the speedo being off-calibration, in this town cars fly like bullets, and a cop with radar would be a once-per-year event. It's an auto, and the gearing is so tall, esp. at the top end, that I could use some reduction.
I think the stock tyres are 215, so 225's shouldn't cause a problem. The suspension is stock so I'm not too bothered about the increased road feel.
I will take a look at 50's but I'll keep in mind your thoughts about 55's. If the 50's look silly I'll have them put 55's on instead.
Actually 15" rims are big, for me! I'm used to cars like Minis with 10" rims and most British bangers with 13" or 14". Even my Aerostar van only has 14" rims. My Villager has 15's with 70 profile and needs tyres too, so I think I'll swap the two remaining good 60's from the Max to the Villager. BTW, big rims might look nice but how do you change them? I vividly recall the nightmare struggles I had when changing a wheel on my Caddy Eldorado, the damn wheel and tyre so heavy I needed a bleeding Charles Atlas course to be able to lift it off the hub...

99grnmaxgxe

iTrader: (11)

It will look funny with low-pros if you are not lowered.

MaximaSE96

iTrader: (8)

50s will look real silly....55 would be ok...it wont throw ur speedo off as much as u think......

MDeezy

iTrader: (27)

it wont be an actual reduction, your speed just wont say your going as fast as you are.
No need to change the rims unless they get damaged. The tires, it depends on which brand you go with and the tread rating. Plus alignment being in-spec will help reduce increased/un-even wear on the tires.

Dave H.

iTrader: (5)

Just a thought........
You could go the route i did. SInce you need new tires anyway, look for some used 97-99 16" wheels. I got mine for 200. Then get tires for the new wheels. That way you can get your lower profile and still look good.
Like i said, this is just a thought, do whatever you want to do, it's your car....

Tyrexx

iTrader: (23)

.

amimaxima

do they make low profile tires for 15 inch rims

Trajiksmax

Check out this site I think it might help you out on your search. http://maxmods.dyndns.org/?MaximaWheels
I'm running 235/35/19 That's without changing the speedo as far as the calculations say.

Tim96I30t

iTrader: (2)

50 or 55's will look dumb on stock rides, do your thing though

MadMaxSE-L

iTrader: (4)

[QUOTE=MDeezy]it wont be an actual reduction, your speed just wont say your going as fast as you are.

actually, decreasing the overall tire size(height) will effectively decrease the overall gearing (numerically increase, like say from 4.10 to a 4.56 gear). In other words, if you put bigger diameter tires on a car, any car it doesn't matter, it will be like you put in higher gears(from 4.56 to 4.10), and if you install smaller (overall) diameter tires, it would be like you put in lower gears(4.10 changed to 4.56). This is obvious on 4x4's when you leave the gearing the same and go up from like a stock 31" tire and put on a 36" tire. The truck has much slower acceleration and performs poorly.

So, going to a smaller tire would effectively give him lower gears.

SVI30

Attached are calculated results for no speedo change tire sizes. The percent is percent over and under the standard size. The top line is the standard size from my '98 I30. This is done without regard whether they will fit in your wheel well or the wheel width. So the result is purely done for diameter.

Width Aspect ratio Wheel dia Tire dia
mm percent inch mm inch
205 65 15 647.5 25.49212598

225 60 15 651 1% 25.62992126
245 55 15 650.5 0% 25.61023622
265 50 15 646 0% 25.43307087
205 60 16 652.4 1% 25.68503937
215 55 16 642.9 -1% 25.31102362
245 50 16 651.4 1% 25.64566929
195 55 17 646.3 0% 25.44488189
215 50 17 646.8 0% 25.46456693
235 45 17 643.3 -1% 25.32677165

I have a 2nd set of 215/55-16 wheels from a 2000 I30 and they are not on my car yet. Remember, larger contact patch means lower contact PSI. So larger patch doesn't always means better especially in wet and icy areas. It depends on your pavement (or potholes).