What is the thinnest tire I can fit on an 8 inch wide wheel?

STI223 · 12-26-2010, 03:32 PM

I am buying a set of wedsport wheels for my 04 STI. They are 18x8. I just wanted to know what the thinnest tire I can put on them for winter is. Thanks

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

STI223 · 12-26-2010, 03:35 PM

And now that I think about it he car is lowered in the front 1 5/8 and the rear 1 3/8. What size tire should i go with?

STI223 · 12-26-2010, 03:38 PM

And the fenders are rolled because I have 255's on the car s summer tires.

gsrcrxsi · 12-26-2010, 03:53 PM

225/40/18 is what i would go with

STI223 · 12-26-2010, 04:57 PM

The michelin x-ice has a 215/45/18. Am I better off with that tire or a 225/45/17 continental Extremewintercontact? I know a thinner tire is better. But the continental came in first in their comparison test over the blizzak and the michelin.

Pinned · 12-26-2010, 07:02 PM

If you're looking for winter tires you can probably find them significantly cheaper for the stock wheels (and you wouldn't risk damaging expensive wedsports).

Also, tirerack.com has options for "minus sized" tires when you select your car, perfecting for getting a narrower winter tire.

STI223 · 12-26-2010, 07:44 PM

The problem is I have rota's on the car now. I dont have the stock wheels. So its either use the 8.5 inch wide rotas or get these wedsports. Except they are 18x8. But the blizzaks and continentals dont have a 215 tire that would fit. The ones they do have, have too high of a sidewall, I think the shortest is a 55.

LGT+WRX · 12-26-2010, 10:42 PM

Between a 215 and a 225, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference, particularly in winter driving.

If you're really worried about not getting enough traction in the nasty winter stuff, jump to the next more aggressively winterized sub-genre (i.e. go from a "Performance Winter" to a "Studless Ice & Snow") - but honestly, my rule-of-thumb is to jump by "20," to see any true difference.

Also, remember, "narrower is better," but that's only really in terms of "cutting through" fresh-powder and slush. On hardpack or ice - as well as clear pavement (wet or dry) - the question again becomes one of contact patch, and having too little is never enough. So as with many things tire-related, it's a give-and-take, a compromise of one or the other. But even exclusive of that, honestly, in the real world, the difference between a 215 and a 225, for this kind of stuff, is really more academic.

So yes, you can probably stretch a tire to get on there, but that'll probably impact the contact patch itself - and on a more practical level, in terms of winter driving, that'll significantly decrease your wheel-face/rim protection. For me, personally, I wouldn't want to go less than a 225-width, on an 8-inch wide rim, especially for the winter.....

STI223 · 12-26-2010, 11:38 PM

Thanks a lot. I think im gona stay with the rotas and put a set of continentals on them.

12-26-2010, 03:32 PM	#1
STI223 Scooby Newbie Member#: 242514 Join Date: Mar 2010	What is the thinnest tire I can fit on an 8 inch wide wheel? I am buying a set of wedsport wheels for my 04 STI. They are 18x8. I just wanted to know what the thinnest tire I can put on them for winter is. Thanks * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What is the biggest tire i can fit on my rims?	dewmudgeon	Newbies & FAQs	15	10-26-2008 10:40 PM
What is the biggest tire that will fit on STI BBS 17" wheels?	pdxwrxsti	Tire & Wheel	1	03-11-2005 12:53 AM
17x7.5 rim, what is the widest tire i can fit on these	wrxracer55	Tire & Wheel	11	11-02-2003 10:10 AM
what is the biggest tire I can get on a 18 x 7.5 48+ rim?	jinxproof99	Brakes, Steering & Suspension	0	03-21-2003 03:44 PM
What is the widest rim that can fit on a WRX	pio!pio!	Brakes, Steering & Suspension	10	01-18-2002 06:59 PM

12-26-2010, 03:35 PM	#2
STI223 Scooby Newbie Member#: 242514 Join Date: Mar 2010	And now that I think about it he car is lowered in the front 1 5/8 and the rear 1 3/8. What size tire should i go with?

12-26-2010, 03:38 PM	#3
STI223 Scooby Newbie Member#: 242514 Join Date: Mar 2010	And the fenders are rolled because I have 255's on the car s summer tires.

12-26-2010, 03:53 PM	#4
gsrcrxsi Scooby Specialist Member#: 236952 Join Date: Jan 2010 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Baltimore Vehicle: 2010 WRX Spark Silver	225/40/18 is what i would go with

12-26-2010, 04:57 PM	#5
STI223 Scooby Newbie Member#: 242514 Join Date: Mar 2010	The michelin x-ice has a 215/45/18. Am I better off with that tire or a 225/45/17 continental Extremewintercontact? I know a thinner tire is better. But the continental came in first in their comparison test over the blizzak and the michelin.

12-26-2010, 07:02 PM	#6
Pinned NASIOC Supporter Member#: 152707 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Western MA Vehicle: 2000 Impreza BRP	If you're looking for winter tires you can probably find them significantly cheaper for the stock wheels (and you wouldn't risk damaging expensive wedsports). Also, tirerack.com has options for "minus sized" tires when you select your car, perfecting for getting a narrower winter tire.

12-26-2010, 07:44 PM	#7
STI223 Scooby Newbie Member#: 242514 Join Date: Mar 2010	The problem is I have rota's on the car now. I dont have the stock wheels. So its either use the 8.5 inch wide rotas or get these wedsports. Except they are 18x8. But the blizzaks and continentals dont have a 215 tire that would fit. The ones they do have, have too high of a sidewall, I think the shortest is a 55.

12-26-2010, 10:42 PM	#8
LGT+WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 91119 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Cleveland/Shaker Hts., Ohio Vehicle: 05/9 LGT-me/FXT-wife ABP-me/SSM-wifey	Between a 215 and a 225, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference, particularly in winter driving. If you're really worried about not getting enough traction in the nasty winter stuff, jump to the next more aggressively winterized sub-genre (i.e. go from a "Performance Winter" to a "Studless Ice & Snow") - but honestly, my rule-of-thumb is to jump by "20," to see any true difference. Also, remember, "narrower is better," but that's only really in terms of "cutting through" fresh-powder and slush. On hardpack or ice - as well as clear pavement (wet or dry) - the question again becomes one of contact patch, and having too little is never enough. So as with many things tire-related, it's a give-and-take, a compromise of one or the other. But even exclusive of that, honestly, in the real world, the difference between a 215 and a 225, for this kind of stuff, is really more academic. So yes, you can probably stretch a tire to get on there, but that'll probably impact the contact patch itself - and on a more practical level, in terms of winter driving, that'll significantly decrease your wheel-face/rim protection. For me, personally, I wouldn't want to go less than a 225-width, on an 8-inch wide rim, especially for the winter.....

12-26-2010, 11:38 PM	#9
STI223 Scooby Newbie Member#: 242514 Join Date: Mar 2010	Thanks a lot. I think im gona stay with the rotas and put a set of continentals on them.