Tallest snow tire on stock suspension - 1GA AWD

praeses · Sep 7, 2009

Hi,

I have been scouring the forums to no avail for the tallest tire that will fit with stock suspension without fender modifications.

Most tire fitments threads usually concentrate around wider tires with a low profile (autocross or show) or a wider tire with a larger profile (drag). I am planning on going with either 195 or 205 on a 16" rim for a hopefully reasonably price. I am hoping to gain a little clearance over stock, that is all. Speedometer readout and gearing are minor points as I will be driving quite light and most likely well below any speed limit as is. Unfortunately it will render my spare useless on pavement as I would rather not risk any drivetrain damage.

While examining the car, I believe the main issue is clearing the fender while the suspension is compressed and the plate below the spring on the strut. It appears as if I can go up 1" in diameter from stock although this is a little tricky to gauge without new tires (and advertised tire sizes differ slightly from make/model) and a more definitive means of compressing the suspension. I am thinking of one of the the following sizes:
205/55-16 24.87dia 12.43rad (stock)
205/60-16 25.68dia 12.84rad (probable choice)
205/65-16 26.49dia 13.24rad
195/65-16 25.98dia 12.99rad
195/70-16 26.74dia 13.37rad

Which would be the largest that will fit without rubbing?

I haven't decided on the exact tire model yet although I am leaning towards Michelin X-Ice Xi2.

Thanks,

- Praeses

Skywise · Sep 7, 2009

Ok, you're unclear on a lot of important facts about your suspension and ride height. From your post its unclear as to what you're actually trying to achive. What do you think tall tires will fix for you? The distance between the tire and the spring perch on the strut doesn't change as the suspension travels. The distance between the tire and fender is determined by ride height. Stock struts and springs don't have a plate that the spring sits on so you possibly have coil overs, which are adjustable by screwing the plate up and down the strut body.

praeses · Sep 7, 2009

I am looking to achieve a slightly increase in ground to lower control arm clearance while running my winter tires, so I'm not dragging my control arms through the snow paths. Taller tires will increase this distance.

The distance doesn't change between the spring perch on the strut as suspension travels although there is a limit to how tall (and I guess in conjuction with its width) of a tire will fit there. The plate in question is more like a shield for the perch rather than the actual adjusters.

I had coil overs on the car when originally purchased although they were shot and unable to adjust to stock height. As such I replaced it with what I believe is stock or close to it from my other talon that has recently became my parts car.

praeses · Sep 7, 2009

I should say that the control arms are of my biggest concern for clearance as in the future I am hoping to raise the ride height (one way or another) which would make the control arms the lowest point, and also currently while driving, the snow tends to push up on the transmission/lower mounts somewhat high-centering me, which lifts the rest of the car higher than the control arms. May sound a little weird, but this is the situation I run into.

For the record, this is not a shiny talon.

Skywise · Sep 7, 2009

You really want to adjust your ride height, you might get an inch more clearance with tires, but it won't amount to much when its snow piling up underneath the car. I would look for rally based suspension solutions. Taller ride height for more clearance, a skid plate could help with snow piling up under the car. You will also want to get tires as narrow as possible, 180 series or so, to apply the highest ground pressure for the most traction. Our cars by design have a low ground clearance, it will take more then tires to undo that.

praeses · Sep 7, 2009

Definitely understandable, and I am taking all that into consideration.

However, I am purchasing snow tires regardless and my budget only permits for this right now. For the short term, I would like to gain 0.5"-1" if possible from the tires. Any gain here will be welcome and will be a negligible cost difference ($0-40) compared to buying stock sized snow tires.

Rally based suspension however will probably add $2-3k on the cheap which is much more than say $40 although I realize the gain will be much more significant. The only problem is I wouldn't be able to purchase the suspension until next winter instead of this winter. Its a great longtime solution however it entirely falls out of scope for me.

Skywise · Sep 7, 2009

Get a ruler and look at just how small 1" actually is. It sounds large interms of stock clearance but its nothing compared to snow build up. Even if you could get a tire that much larger mounted, it wouldn't be perfectly round. The contact patch would be flattened and I doubt it would raise your ride height while being more likely to rub on the fender or spring perch. You need a different strategy, you need more traction. I'd recommend 180 series Blizzaks, they have great traction in snow and ice, look on tire rack for tire comparisons.

Remember what I said earlier about ground pressure. If you just look at rally cars in the winter they're practically running bicycle tires. Higher ground pressure means more grip which means you can apply more force and plow thru those snow drifts instead of getting high centered and slipping. For an excercise measure from the body to the ground with the tires at 20 psi vs max psi and see how much more clearance is gained.

gstguy97 · Sep 8, 2009

Skywise said:
Get a ruler and look at just how small 1" actually is. It sounds large interms of stock clearance but its nothing compared to snow build up. Even if you could get a tire that much larger mounted, it wouldn't be perfectly round. The contact patch would be flattened and I doubt it would raise your ride height while being more likely to rub on the fender or spring perch. You need a different strategy, you need more traction. I'd recommend 180 series Blizzaks, they have great traction in snow and ice, look on tire rack for tire comparisons.

Remember what I said earlier about ground pressure. If you just look at rally cars in the winter they're practically running bicycle tires. Higher ground pressure means more grip which means you can apply more force and plow thru those snow drifts instead of getting high centered and slipping. For an excercise measure from the body to the ground with the tires at 20 psi vs max psi and see how much more clearance is gained.

agreed... and think of it this way, a 1 inch taller tire is only going to net you 1/2 inch ground clearance... you're talking less than 1/2 inch of difference in O.D. on your tire size from what you know will fit so why not just go with what you know will fit and adjust air pressure accordingly. Get a decent snow tire such as the blizzaks and you shouldn't have any major issues.

Tallest snow tire on stock suspension - 1GA AWD

praeses

Skywise

praeses

praeses

Skywise

praeses

Skywise

gstguy97

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