215/45/18 tyres on 8.5 inch rims

[Andy_Mac]

Looking for peoples thoughts on this. Not a fan of tyre stretching at all but don't really want to waste my current set of tyres as they all have a fair bit left in them. Wouldn't get much for them 2nd hand.

Ideal setup will be 235/40/18.

Looked on the lvvta site and it states that 215s are legal for a 40 and 35 ratio trye but not a 45. Does that come down to the taller sidewall not supporting itself very well when not vertical? Stanced out guys seem to go for way way more stretch than this but i guess it comes down to the lower ratio.

http://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/infosheets/LVVTA_Info_01-2009_V2_Tyre_Size_to_Wheel_Size_Compatibility_Guide.pdf

[Guest]

I run 215 40 on an 8 they dont even look stretched.

[Zenki]

215 on an 8.5" is a pretty mild stretch.

Have a chat to your WoF guy, the WoF VIRM is pretty vague on stretching tyres so if he's okay with it you should be fine.

[Andy_Mac]

Knockoutgiant has 225s on his 8.5s an they don't look stretched at all so can't see 10mm less making much difference at all. Just don't want to get pinged for it. Is the lvvta stuff set in stone or kind of a loose ruling that can be swung a bit. Ratio is where the problem is not width alone.

[Zenki]

LVVTA sheet is a guideline, they say so themselves.

If you want to be 100% sure you need the tyre manufacturer's spec sheet, if they okay that specific model and size for a 8.5" then you're 100% in the clear.

[lachlan]

if it doesnt draw attention to itself then its fine

[ADIKT]

I have 215 on my 8.5s. They don't look that stretched at all

[Guest]

 ADIKT said:

I have 215 on my 8.5s. They don't look that stretched at all

215 35 18?

[sobanoodle]

I had 215/35 on 7.5, definitely looked stretched \_/

[ADIKT]

 evowrx said:

215 35 18?

Yup

[Andy_Mac]

Yea yours don't look all that stretched adikt, noticeable, but not enough to look out of place. A taller sidewall will make it seem even less.

Gonna have a chat with the guys at bridgestone tomorrow and see what the going rate is for the re003's, imagine they could be quite steep for a recently released tyre. If they're too extreme i'll just stretch the current ones on there.

[sobanoodle]

They had a 4 for 3 deal just recently, might still be on?

[Andy_Mac]

Yea had seen that. Get the feeling it was ending at the end of may though. Hoping they'll give me a good deal anyway since it'll be fitting, ballancing, allignment, removing the old tyres and maybe giving the brembo rotors a skim before i fit them too

[Andy_Mac]

Well, have been ringing round a few places and they've all said they wouldn't fit 215 tyres on 8.5 inch rims even for new sets of brands they stock, other than falken tyres which one said have been designed to work with aggressive stretching. So basically thats solved my dilemma for me, new tyres it is!

[Guest]

Fit them yourself then get them balanced.

[hijacka]

If you are sure thats what you want to do then don't ring around asking for professional advice just take the rim and tyre down to Tonys and tell them you want that tyre on that rim and don't mark the rim when your doing it!

[sobanoodle]

 hijacka said:

... and don't mark the rim when your doing it!

They scratched one of mines - ended up repairing it at Arrow Wheels, all paid for by Tony's ($180+ GST). Moral of the story: take photos of the rims before you give them your keys.

Grey Lynn branch that was.

[Andy_Mac]

 hijacka']If you are sure thats what you want to do then don't ring around asking for professional advice just take the rim and tyre down to Tonys and tell them you want that tyre on that rim and don't mark the rim when your doing it!

Not sure at all, was only thinking of doing it to wear out the 215 tyres i've got and then go 235 when they need replacing, i'll just end up removing the tyres from the stock rims and selling them off cheap.

[quote name='sobanoodle said:

They scratched one of mines - ended up repairing it at Arrow Wheels, all paid for by Tony's ($180+ GST). Moral of the story: take photos of the rims before you give them your keys.

Grey Lynn branch that was.

thats bloody **** ay. Will take some photos. They're brand new, still in their boxes anyway so should have a faily good foot to stand on if they do mark them up.