Best tire size with 20s?

gMcizzLe

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Hi all, I'm looking to buy some 20x9 +38 wheels on all-stock suspension. I am debating between running 245/30, 245/35, and 255/30 summer tires. Which do you think will look/perform best? Any clearance issues with the 255?
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Welcome to the site, @gMcizzLe !

20x9 ET+38 will put the lip of the wheel about flush with the fender lip: 255/30R-20 should fit without issue. If you want to bump up in size a little more, at least from a height standpoint, 245/35R-20 should work too.
 
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tinyman392

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Welcome to the site, @gMcizzLe !

20x9 ET+38 will put the lip of the wheel about flush with the fender lip: 255/35R-20 should fit without issue. If you want to bump up in size a little more, at least from a height standpoint, 245/35R-20 should work too.
wouldn’t the 255/35/20 be a bump up in size over the 245/35/20 instead of the other way around? Or did you mean to say 255/30/20?
 

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wouldn’t the 255/35/20 be a bump up in size over the 245/35/20 instead of the other way around? Or did you mean to say 255/30/20?
That was a Typo - thanks for the catch! We meant 255/30R-20. 255/35R-20 would be on the aggressive side and would likely rub.
 
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gMcizzLe

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Awesome, thanks for the info!
 


RS27

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That’s an easy answer.
Stock. 245/30R20
Possibly. 255/30R20.
35 series is not what was meant for the car. Way too tall. Yeah yeah “it can work,” but it’s not the right size.
 
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gMcizzLe

gMcizzLe

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Oh, I thought lots of people liked 245/35. It seems like it rides more comfortably, less chance that you crack a rim from a pothole, and the tires are cheaper/more options.

Why do you say it's too tall? What are the disadvantages of riding on 245/30 for daily driving?
 
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TypeSiR

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Oh, I thought lots of people liked 245/35. It seems like it rides more comfortably, less chance that you crack a rim from a pothole, and the tires are cheaper/more options.

Why do you say it's too tall? What are the disadvantages of riding on 245/35 for daily driving?
You’ll be fine on 245/35/20 even though they’re 4% larger in diameter and offer 17% more sidewall (comfort). You generally want to stay within +/- 2% from OE tire diameter. Just be mindful that odometer and speedo will be 4% off going with 245/35/20. I ran the same setup on factory wheels. They’re fine and offer more wheel protection.

https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wh...-20X8.5ET38&fcl=50mm&scl=50mm&wcl=30mm&sr=0mm
 

RS27

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Again an easy answer.

Disadvantages?
1) Weight.

2) Rolling diameter. stock is 25.8” which is already a tall tire for a sports car. Going to 245/35R20 is a FULL INCH taller. 26.8”
It’s cute to say it’s “only 4%,” but that’s a far taller/larger tire.

3) slower acceleration

4) it simply is not the size the engineers designed. While I know budget plays a factor to how cars are designed, there is a tolerance zone that certain aspects should be left at. Like don’t take a 60 MM offset, 8.5” wheel and move it to 35 MM offset and 9.5”. It jacks everything up in the intended suspension geometry.

5) Speedo error.

with all that said, do what you like. Plenty of people make negative compromises and deal with it, believing it to be ok because they can’t feel the difference.
 
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Whippleman

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That’s an easy answer.
Stock. 245/30R20
Possibly. 255/30R20.
35 series is not what was meant for the car. Way too tall. Yeah yeah “it can work,” but it’s not the right size.
Is there any reason you wouldn't want to go with the slight bump to 255/30 vs 245/30?
I'm not close to replacing the tires, just planning for what I'll get when I do.
 


TypeSiR

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I bought 245/35/20 simply to protect (17% more sidewall) the factory rims and to have a bit more comfort and more tire selections (cheaper tires). The 255/30/20 only offer 4% more sidewall and tires are more expensive. I don’t track the car so it’s fine for daily use by going with 35 profile.
 
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gMcizzLe

gMcizzLe

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Looking at Enkei TSR-X's now in either 20x8.5 or 20x9.5 both +40.
I know 20x8.5 +40 w/ 245/35 is the safe route.
But if I wanted to run 20x9.5 +40 w/ 265/30 tires will I have any issues?
 

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But if I wanted to run 20x9.5 +40 w/ 265/30 tires will I have any issues?
This will be a tight fit with the 265's.

The 9.5 ET+40 is going to sit about 1-1/4" further out over stock which may poke the lip outside the fender slightly, not including the tires.
 

87elco

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Ew rubber band tires
 

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Hey Discount(Americas) Tire, can you guys put mounting machines in your shops that can actually handle the 20" wheels and tires on the Type R? One of your shops scratched my rim and paid for it to get touched up.
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