I have a 2014 Soul base 6spd manual. I'm trying to figure out a tire/rim combo that gives me more sidewall, biggest tire without rubbing, and smallest rim. I would like to use the tire as more cushioning and not be as jolting to the vehicle. Any info and opinions appreciated. Thank you.
What's the smallest rim and biggest tire combo I can use?
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Your local tire shop can help you with this problem. Even though most tire chains like Tire Kingdom are rip-offs, they can tell you the tire/wheel combos which will work with your car... without any cost.
It sounds like you are looking for the tire/wheel combo which results in the largest sidewall size so that you will have the smoothest ride.
Tire sizes are written this way: Diameter of the wheel, width of the tread, percentage of the sidewall.
So, if the diameter of the wheel is 18 inches, and the width of the tread is 225 millimeters, and the sidewall is is 50%... it means that the "bead" of the tire is 18 inches in diameter, the width of the tread is 225 millimeters, and the sidewall is 50% of the tread width (in this case, the sidewall is 112.5 millimeters).
Your local tire shop can help you to figure out the wheel size, tire width, and sidewall size that will fit your vehicle, while providing the largest sidewall size.
That's written as (1) Diameter, (2) tread width, and (3) sidewall percentage.
A tire which is 18, 225, 50 means:
1) The diameter of the wheel is 18 inches
2) The tread width is 225 millimeters
3) The sidewall is 50% of the tread width.
It sounds like you are looking for the tire/wheel combo which results in the largest sidewall size so that you will have the smoothest ride.
Tire sizes are written this way: Diameter of the wheel, width of the tread, percentage of the sidewall.
So, if the diameter of the wheel is 18 inches, and the width of the tread is 225 millimeters, and the sidewall is is 50%... it means that the "bead" of the tire is 18 inches in diameter, the width of the tread is 225 millimeters, and the sidewall is 50% of the tread width (in this case, the sidewall is 112.5 millimeters).
Your local tire shop can help you to figure out the wheel size, tire width, and sidewall size that will fit your vehicle, while providing the largest sidewall size.
That's written as (1) Diameter, (2) tread width, and (3) sidewall percentage.
A tire which is 18, 225, 50 means:
1) The diameter of the wheel is 18 inches
2) The tread width is 225 millimeters
3) The sidewall is 50% of the tread width.
Correct. Sorry that I didn't make this obvious. The "R" in "R18" indicates that it is a radial tire. Tires which are not "radial" are called "bias-ply" tires. I don't know of any bias-ply tires in USA which are intended for cars or trucks. The only bias-ply tires that I know of in USA are intended for utility trailers.
Prior to the invention of radial tires, all tires were bias-ply. Today, you can buy radial tires for a trailer, but I don't think you can buy bias-ply tires for a passenger vehicle.
Here's a short video which explains the pros and cons of each type for a trailer:
"bias ply" means that the strands of nylon in the tire are woven at 45 or 90 degree angles (or both) in each layer, or "ply" of the tire. "Radial" tires also employ nylon strands, but radial tires also employ metal cables which run the length of the tire tread, and sometimes also perpendicular to the the tire tread.
My current tire is 205/60r16
I would like to put something about
225/75r15 but I'm worried about rubbing and clearance of both the wheel well and brake caliper and while turning. Has anyone figured out the biggest diameter and width of the tire that will not touch?
I would like to put something about
225/75r15 but I'm worried about rubbing and clearance of both the wheel well and brake caliper and while turning. Has anyone figured out the biggest diameter and width of the tire that will not touch?
Call a tire shop. They can tell you every combination of wheel and tire that will fit your car.
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You will be sorry if you do this. The car will handle like a pickup truck.
Ummm... Radial tires are so called because of the filaments (wire or otherwise) that run radially, i.e. straight out from the centre - your "perpendicular to the tread".
The circumferential filaments are not what makes it a radial tyre, that would be the radial plies.
discounttire.com plug in year make model and it will show you all the different sizes that will fit. 235/60/15s or 215/65/15s seem to be the biggest...
I don't have it with me but I can tell you the Soul has three stock rim dimensions.
The ! gets 18's, the + gets 16's and the base gets 15's.
Find out what size tire belongs on the base 15 in rim.
Also look at wheel-size.com for some fitment information.
Good point, some of the base had 16 alloy, some of the base had 15 steel.
From my owner's manual page 8-3 :
full size tire P195/65R15 6.0Jx15 or P205/55R16 6.5Jx16.
lug nut torque 65-79 lbs.
Also P225/45R18 7.0Jx18.
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Sooo I'm running 235/60-16 on 16x7.5 +50 offset wheels. Unmodified ride height, gives a really good "totally stuffed" look to the wheel wells, and doesn't rub on anything at full steering lock and compressed suspension. The wider wheel and the large tires come perfectly flush to the rear fenders and poke just a few millimeters in the front, but after I add a touch of camber they'll look perfect and feel better on turn-in. That's a total tire diameter of 27.0-27.1, compared to the stock 25.7 inches of the 205/60-16. I tested a bunch of other fitments too, and this one worked out the best for the widest tallest tire. I may go with 225/65-16 (27.5 diameter) on the next round, but that'll be a while. I'm pretty sure it'll fit with no issues. I upgraded my spare to 155/90-16 to match the new tire size.
Handling feels better than stock because the General Altimax RT43 has a stiffer sidewall structure than the crap Nexens from the factory, so it definitely doesn't feel like a wallowy pickup truck- not that my pickup is wallowy at all. Tire choice and good shocks make all the difference.
There's another user from a few years ago that posted pics running BFG Rugged Terrains (I think, it was definitely a BFG all terrain tire) in 235/60-16 using the stock wheels (16x6.5 +47) and they fit without rubbing inside the wheel wells. I asked a lot of questions but didn't get many answers (he went inactive), but the fitment is less aggressive than mine except for the A/T tread itself. It's not supported as well as my wheels since they're an inch narrower, but he said it felt good. Looked good, for sure.
Handling feels better than stock because the General Altimax RT43 has a stiffer sidewall structure than the crap Nexens from the factory, so it definitely doesn't feel like a wallowy pickup truck- not that my pickup is wallowy at all. Tire choice and good shocks make all the difference.
There's another user from a few years ago that posted pics running BFG Rugged Terrains (I think, it was definitely a BFG all terrain tire) in 235/60-16 using the stock wheels (16x6.5 +47) and they fit without rubbing inside the wheel wells. I asked a lot of questions but didn't get many answers (he went inactive), but the fitment is less aggressive than mine except for the A/T tread itself. It's not supported as well as my wheels since they're an inch narrower, but he said it felt good. Looked good, for sure.
Pics?
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