Tire Time..size, speedo, capri drivetrain, and good quality?

[Mysticle31]

It's time for me to start doing some research on tires. I know it's been asked 1000 and you get 10,000 answers.

I'm looking for some tires. I've got the complete capri drivetrain hooked to the festivas speedo via the festiva speedo cable. I read that 195/45/14 work. Is there anyone running a wider or taller tire for more grip without rubbing? One thing that is a must is minimal rubbing! I also want a tire size that has good quality tires available for it. Especially nice Max performance summer tires. Falken Azeins would be very nice, but their smallest is 195/60/14.

It seems to me that anything the size of the capris stock tire diameter will rub on the Festiva. Does that mean I will never have an accurate speedo? What do you guys do for this?

Right now I'm on the stock springs and struts. I plan to either buy the Tein Coilovers and minimally (if at all) drop the car or just buy the FMS kit and live with lower ride, suspension travel, KYBs, and other unknowns.


The background story/more info:

I have 2 sets of wheels and tires (8 wheel and tires in total)

4 of them came off of my VW Rabbit. 2x 185/60/14 and 2x 195/60/14. Don't ask me, I didn't do it.

4 of them I bought later from a Mazda shop off of a Miata. 2x 195/60/14 4x 195/60/14.

The interesting thing.

Rear:
VW and Miata 195/60/14s rub on the strut and may or may not hit the body's wheel arch when the suspension compresses. For formentioned reasons, I didn't check.

Miata 185/60/14s rub on the strut.

VW 185/60/14s do not rub on the strut and they seem to not hit the body's wheel arch when the suspension compresses; however I think they are because I can see the evidence on the tire, or the evidence I see is not from this car. Either way, they are close and I would hate to drive hard, have something flex, and gain rubbage.

Front:

Miata 195/60/14s work great on the front, they do rub when you turn sharp and go over a bump. They may or may not hit the wheel arch especially when turning and going over a bump. They definitely did when I was backing out of my driveway turning and going down the curb.

Miata 185/60/14s did the same thing as the 195's did.

VW 185/60/14s work well on the front, but I need them for the rear. I have a sneaking suspension that they would behave just like the others when turned.

VW 195/60/14s rub the body's wheel arch


In conclusion, I've got the Miata 195/60/14s on the front and the VW 185/60/14s on the rear of my car right now.

[mattswabb]

I have the miata rims with 195/45/14's with the FMS springs. Handles great, love the tires and never rubbed yet. The only problems is on the highway. The rpm's are way higher than the stock festiva. Even in the city I'm in 5th before I know it. There is a 5th gear swap you can do to get a better final drive.

195/45/15's also work and are a little taller.

Speedo will be off. Just use a speed/rpm calculator and make a small cheat sheet with the rpm's and speed and stick it on your cluster till you memorize it.

[Mysticle31]

Do 195/45/15s rub? Does that mean I can use 195/50/14s?

I'm concerned as to which size I can find good tires for. GSD3s are available in 195/50/15 and Falken Azeins are 195/60/14. Many of the local tire shop websites including Tire Rack.com don't even list any tires for 195/45/14 or 195/50/14 and I may get a few results from 195/55/14.

Anyone find they can run anything wider then 195s?

I've nicknamed this car the 1/8th inch car.

I've been looking things up.

195/45/15
Sidewall: 3.5 in
Radius: 11.0 in
Diameter: 21.9 in
Circumf: 68.8 in
Revs/mi:921.0

195/50/14
Sidewall: 3.8 in
Radius: 10.8 in
Diameter: 21.7 in
Circumf: 68.1 in
Revs/mi:930.0

195/45/14
Sidewall: 3.5 in
Radius: 10.5 in
Diameter: 20.9 in
Circumf: 65.7 in
Revs/mi:965.0

195/55/14
Sidewall: 4.2 in
Radius: 11.2 in
Diameter: 22.4 in
Circumf: 70.5 in
Revs/mi:899.0

[mattswabb]

195/45/15s do not rub. I've taken some very hard corners and hit some nice bumps and never a rub. I like them so much I thought of buying a set for the BP car.

[muscle_Car1]

Toyo proxies T1R 195/45 r14 from http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/details...122&Country=US


For $30 a pop. Now they are 66, but still a good deal.

175/60 r14 they have are nice too.

[25Horseplay]

The $30 Toyos were the T1-S which were replaced by the T1-R that cost more. Onlinetires.com carry's them too.

[Mysticle31]

I like those Toyos. They look like they are good with water.

I hope whatever I buy can be found again in future as replacements.

Anyone run wider then 195s? Anyone run 195/55 or am I starting to push it?

I ran out of money for this so I've got a week to ask many questions

[muscle_Car1]

The $30 Toyos were the T1-S which were replaced by the T1-R that cost more. Onlinetires.com carry's them too.

Oh well then since I just ordered another set I'll give the T1S to the GF for X-mas.

[oldgrezmonke]

for the speedometer error, do a web search for ''speedometer''. there are companies that can make you an adapter to correct the error, like a small gearbox to fit into the speedometer cable. i had to get one made up for my F-100. it showed 55 when i was actually doin 66! it's been in there so long though that i don't remember the name of the co., sorry. i do remember that it cost way less than a speeding ticket could have , about $ 70-80 or so. wait untill you settle on a tire size , then do a speed and mileage check on a road with mileage markers, also you could pace a friend whose speedo you think is accurate.

[roycehof]

Mattswabb wrote - I have the miata rims with 195/45/14's with the FMS springs. Handles great, love the tires and never rubbed yet. The only problems is on the highway. The rpm's are way higher than the stock festiva. Even in the city I'm in 5th before I know it. There is a 5th gear swap you can do to get a better final drive.

Where can I find out more about the 5th gear swap he referred to?

[oxbrain]

I have 195/55/14 on my miata wheels. The rears rub a tiny bit on the spring perch, but I just use spacers to fix it. With less backspacing on the wheels they wouldn't rub, and there is plenty of clearance everywhere else.

[muscle_Car1]

the 5th gear swap is for the g25mr trans. I dunno about the stocker trans.