Bigger Tire Size?

[FrostyFiST]

So I’m ordering some 215/45 17s tires. I was wondering is that ok? I don’t want it to rub or anything and I want to hear some suggestions from others who used those tires.

 

[tri-pedaler]

I'm running 205/45 17s and they look...big. No issues with rubbing, but I'm *guessing* you will run into issues with 215/45s (others will know).

What are your goals? Are you looking for a higher top speed in 2nd and that's why you're running larger tires? In that case the gains may be marginal (2-3 mph at best).

You can calculate that here: https://purperformance.com/p-29669-rpm-calculator.html

 

[FrostyFiST]

I'm running 205/45 17s and they look...big. No issues with rubbing, but I'm *guessing* you will run into issues with 215/45s (others will know).

What are your goals? Are you looking for a higher top speed in 2nd and that's why you're running larger tires? In that case the gains may be marginal (2-3 mph at best).

You can calculate that here: https://purperformance.com/p-29669-rpm-calculator.html

Well, recently at an autocross my rear end gave out some times. I was thinking I should go up in size. Unfortunately I originally wanted 205/45, but I won’t have it until the end of march. Plus my tires barely has any life in them so I need new ones regardless

 

[vivix]

very very close to rubbing while stock on a 215/45/17. you probably will at full lock and under compression up front.

 

[kivnul]

Tire make/model dependant, but I will confirm that with stock suspension, 215/45r17 will rub the front fender liners on full compression when autocrossing and you may need to adjust/tack up the felt in the rear.

 

[esp_martin]

i have indy500 firehawks 215/45R17 on stock suspension with no added neg camber; @vivix is right and i do get a tiny rub (or hit a the bump stop) at full wheel lock on driver side front tire when on hard right corner with a bump. i can't say for sure because it only happens at one specific spot and for an instant.

i do not race and i prefer filling out the wheel well, i think if i added some neg camber i wouldn't get any rub/bump stop hit but that's just a guess (could make it worse since i'm not sure where it rubs)

edit: this is on 7.5" wide rims though; with 8" wide rims i may not get the rub. on 7" wide rim i'd think the rub would get worse

 

[SteveS]

If you mean the rear end came around when you say it "gave out", that is typically a result of lifting off the throttle after you've gotten too much push in a corner. It results in snap oversteer. The better fix is to alter your driving to suit a front wheel drive car.

 

[tri-pedaler]

@FrostyFiST any issues with running 215/40s? Availability issue?

 

[M-Sport fan]

@FrostyFiST any issues with running 215/40s? Availability issue?

I do not get any rubbing at all, anywhere in the wheel wells with 215/40-17 Federal RS-RRs mounted on 17x8, ET42 Pro Race 1.2s, at the factory ride height at least.

Granted, those tires are only ~7.7" wide in tread width, and I don't know if the results would be the same with other, 8" wide tread width (or more for a few in that size) 215/40-17s or not.
Everything in that size is within ~.10" of all of the others in overall diameter/height.

 

[Sam4]

On 215/45/17s as well. A rub here or there. Total agreement with liftoff as cause of pirouetting! been there, didn't want to be there...

 

[faust]

even 215/45 16" rub in front when autocrossing at stock ride height (at least rt660s do). Just barely, but I wouldn't want more rubber than that.

I agree that lifting off brakes while turning can get the back end to step out!

What tires / pressure are you running now?

 

[FJ16]

Well, recently at an autocross my rear end gave out some times. I was thinking I should go up in size.

I feel like some basic research probably should have been done before you jumped into ordering completely different tires... if you wanted more tread, why go up in profile as well?

 

[carnufex]

I ran 215/45 Falken 615s on 17x8 rota titans with no rub(am lowered too, Just ordered some 225/45s for this summer. Granted I am not doing autocross but I havent had any rubbing doing some spirited driving in the hills of MN.

Plan on doing a widebody so if I do rub a little its no biggie.

 

[M-Sport fan]

^^^The 615s do tend to run a bit narrower in tread width than most of the other tires in an equivalent size, so that may have helped a lot.

 

[CSM]

One thing people dont talk about often - I would caution you to go with 215/45/17. Not only may it rub, but it also raises the height of the fiesta vs. OEM, which adds a little to the rollover risk.

In fact, IIRC it may actually disqualify the car from autocross competition with the taller tires since it does not meet SCCA stability requirements.