Widest tyre for stock daisies

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:08 am

I've been searching off and on and without heading to a tyre shop I'm wondering what the fattest size tyre you can fit to the na's stock daisies would be.

I'm currently running some cheap-ass 185x60x14's right now that are about due for replacement. The tread is still good but after selling my Watanabe's I've gone back to my stock wheels with the tyres the previous owner put on before I bought my car. They've been sitting in the garage and turned plasticy so on the road they're pathetic and tend to loose grip instantly if you boot it in a corner or if you ever so slightly tap the brakes in the wet.

The problem is though, I don't want to spend serious dollars on my next set of tyres as I'm hoping to be buying new wheels down the line.
So really, what is a good performance tyre around the $400-500 region and also what is the widest size I can fit to a 5.5" wheel (I think that's the daisy size, feel free to correct me!).
I've really gotten into the fat tyre look lol, if anyone has pics of fat tyres on an na, feel free to post them too!!

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:01 am

Are you talking $400-$500 each? There aren't any. Not in 185/60R14 or other 14" sizes. The top end street tyres (Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, etc), are all made for larger wheels. In 14", the best bang for buck is RE001 Adrenalins at around $110 each ($440 per set). Or if money is no object, go with the Dunlop Z1 Star Spec "S-specs" for around $200-$220 each. Don't bother with R-specs on a street car ($250-$350 each) - they don't last long, don't have much grip under normal road use (don't get hot enough), and they're scary in the wet.

As for tyre width, what is it you're trying to achieve? If you want grip in corners, the experts tend to say that going beyond 205 on 14" stock wheels does not improve things at all. 205/55R14 is your size (if you can find them). But if you want a fat tyre just for looks then 225/50R14 might suit your purpose.

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:26 am

Anything above 195 is starting to be a strectch on a 5.5 inch wheel IMHO.Why not just run some 195/55's until you get your ultimate wheel set up.

For a price comparison I got quoted $110 each for YOKO C Drives fitted and balanced the other day,185/60 x14.

Peter

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:31 am

I have to agree with Guran's post. The re001's are probably the best value tyre in the size... Although I have never been a fan of the wet weather performance (have a read up there are quite a few threads discussing it rather than starting it again...) It's a pity the ku31's aren't available in 14'.... Yokohama C-drives are a good all rounder tyre... Ultimately less dry performance than the re001 but better in the wet and longer lasting.

I have the Z1 star specs, they are absolutely phenomenal!!! With my Mx5 vic club discount I got them in 195/60/14 for $185 per corner which is the best price I've seen. They are worth the money, the difference between them and the re001 is night and day... That and they also work exceptionally well in the wet.

It's not exactly the fat look you're after but for your reference... 185/60/14 Re001's on 5.5'' Na6 wheels.

195/60/14 Z1's on 6'' Panasports... They look a bit fatter in person, on 5.5' they would bag a fair bit.

If you want a properly fat look you'll have to wait until you get your new wheels... Anything wider than 195 in 14'' will be very difficult to find...

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:15 pm

Ha no way not $400 a corner, i'm broke enough as it is! I was leaning to re001's though, I've heard a lot of good things, especially as a daily.

Peter, the Yoko's were unreal on the Watanabe's! I'm quite tempted to get them again. In terms of what I'm after, looking for a more aggressive fatter tyre without sacrificing performance if that makes sense. Kinda the opposite to stretching.

I think the real question I was asking was, can I safely run 205's on them?

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:53 pm

nanotech wrote:I think the real question I was asking was, can I safely run 205's on them?

Yes you can. Tyres must be within 15mm of original tyre diameter.

205/60R14 - not legal (+24mm)
205/55R14 - legal (+4mm)
205/50R14 - not legal (-17mm)

Hence, 205/55R14 is your size ... if you can get them.

If you wanted to go wider, you could look around for 215/50R14. But keep in mind that they are 30mm wider than stock and might not be legal (I think 25mm wider is the legal maximum).

TonyMax · Postby **TonyMax** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:42 pm

Semi related question on a reusable thread, if I were to get some 15x5.5 inch wheels would I be silly to run 195/50/15s on them? I know 15x7" would be better (7" is 177mm, so on a 5.5" rim the 195s would be extra bulgy looking) but these 5.5" wheels are coming up at the right price.

Thoughts?

dalef92 · Postby **dalef92** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:53 pm

if im input matters im really happy with the re001's as a road tyer they hold really well on the road!
And in the wet(not that its been too wet lately) they have still seemed to be quite nice on the road!!