I am using Revolution wheels with Yoko 32's and the fronts are 6x15 ( 195 50 15 ) and the rears 7x15 ( 225 50 15 ) on my ST. I have just bought a new rear set of tyres for the rear which are Toyo 888 ( 225 50 15 ) as the old ones are nearly illegal.

I intend to fit the new tyres with Revolution 3 piece and keep the old ones for track times. Question is the recomended rim width for these is 7" but I was going to order 8" There seems to be a lot of racers with wide rims and wondered if anyone has experienced ( or knows ) of different handling characteristics rim/tyre width will give. The old 7" do seem slightly on the narrow side for this tyre but maybe this is a better setup as the car is light !
Thanks for any views.

Generally if the rim is at the wide end of the fittment range for the tyre size it will give better more responsive handling than a wider tyre on a rim which is at the narrow end of the fittment range.


The reason is a wide rim supports the tyre better, on a narrow rim the tyre can roll about a bit.

[Edited on 22/6/08 by britishtrident]

Thanks for the reply. Looking at the post about Escort rims it seems that 71/2 " would be a perfect width 225 x 85% = 191mm = 71/2 "and the fronts need to be 61/2 "

Most (quality) manufacturers have recommendations on the rim widths they consider acceptable for a specific tyre. If you're outside that recommendation guarantees (and possibly insurance) may be considered invalid.

Yokohama publish this list for their tyres.
http://www.yokohamatire.com/customer_service/customizing_width.aspx

-> 225/50R15 6.0-8.0

Toyo are here
http://www.toyo.co.uk/productdetail.php?identity=products&product_id=18

But they don't list a 225 for that fitment. If you've got 215 50 R15 then 7.5" is the max recommended.

So you'll be fine with 8" if they are 225 IMO

I've got 8" rims with 215 tyres. They fit fine.