Changing rims without affecting speedo

[White_Knight]

Hey

I thought it was time to start putting a bit of money into my car ( 89 Calais ) and one thing i want is to change the rims. I just got the factory calais ones atm ( 205/65/15 ) and wouldn't mind going an inch or 2 bigger. But I don't want to put the speedo outta whack. is there any way round this? I don't know much bout this sorta thing, still learning :P. so any info would be appriciated

Thanks

[coolvxss]

I have 17s on my car and it puts the speedo out by about 1 or 2 km/h at 100 so its good.

[maginoodle]

if you get bigger rims get a lower profile tire so that the outer diameter of the tire is the same as the original one

[mouce]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Just work out the profile of the tyre that you need.

[White_Knight]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Just work out the profile of the tyre that you need.

Thanks for the reply guys. Yea i was thinking bout goin with lower profile tyres but didn't know how much it would put the speedo out by.
Thanks mouce for the calculator, I actually come across it shortly after posting the thread. I figure going 19" rims and a 205/40 tyre should do nicely if i could. id be going 99.9k at 100

[1991_Vn2nV]

Thanks for the reply guys. Yea i was thinking bout goin with lower profile tyres but didn't know how much it would put the speedo out by.
Thanks mouce for the calculator, I actually come across it shortly after posting the thread. I figure going 19" rims and a 205/40 tyre should do nicely if i could. id be going 99.9k at 100

Good luck finding a 19 inch rim that can take 205's man. Its hard to find a 19 incher thats less than 8 inches wide. You're looking at 235/35's I think...

It doesnt matter with the calculator really... when you buy wheels and tyres, the tyre place will work it out themselves anyway... They cant put tyres on that are over 15mm different to the original rolling diameter or they are breaking the law, so they legally have to put the suitable tyres on anyway.

[White_Knight]

[QUOTE=1991_Vn2nV]Good luck finding a 19 inch rim that can take 205's

One can dream can't he? nar i don't know what im gonna do just yet. Tryna figure things out and do sum research. Don't really wanna spend a huge amout on rims and tryes so i might just stick with a 15 inch rim

[coolvxss]

I was gonner stick with my 15s but came across a 12 month interest free deal at bob jane and got some nice 17s for $1100. Its amazing what a nice set of wheels does to your car

[White_Knight]

I was gonner stick with my 15s but came across a 12 month interest free deal at bob jane and got some nice 17s for $1100. Its amazing what a nice set of wheels does to your car

I agree, I wasn't gonna do anything to it when I brought it over a year ago. And after having problems with the coil pack I was thinking bout selling and getting a VR. But the Calais still goes well now and i just love it so im gonna put some money into it and do it up a lil. I just gotta decide on what design rims ta get once i decide on size etc

Thanks for all your replys so far, appreciate it heaps

[holden007]

I didnt realise how how good 17" wheels look good over 15", it's well worth the money.

[prince_dj666]

I didnt realise how how good 17" wheels look good over 15", it's well worth the money.

very true. the wheel makes so much different. i had 15's on b4. got used to it... then got 17's... got used to it... got 19's... now selling my 19's for 1000 so i can get 20's

[pandaman]

Good luck finding a 19 inch rim that can take 205's man. Its hard to find a 19 incher thats less than 8 inches wide. You're looking at 235/35's I think...

It doesnt matter with the calculator really... when you buy wheels and tyres, the tyre place will work it out themselves anyway... They cant put tyres on that are over 15mm different to the original rolling diameter or they are breaking the law, so they legally have to put the suitable tyres on anyway.

Yeah 205's would require a 19*7 inch rim 19*7.5 at maximum. Also an oddball size tyre like that really limits the options when it comes to tyre brand and pattern. With 19*8's and a 235/35R19, the rolling radius is almost exactly the same as standard and damn near every passenger tyre manufacturer has at least one pattern in that size. One thing to keep in mind though is that 19's aren't easily insurable on an 89 calais, in most states they aren't even technically legal without an engineers cert. Not that it's ever stopped anyone really, but just some more food for thought.

[White_Knight]

One thing to keep in mind though is that 19's aren't easily insurable on an 89 calais, in most states they aren't even technically legal without an engineers cert. Not that it's ever stopped anyone really, but just some more food for thought.

Thanks for the info pandaman, tho i live in NZ so i dunno if the legal side of things are different or pretty much the same. Im thinking bout just going with 17s but since i dunno jack about this sorta thing i don't kno what tyre sizes there are and all that.

[cbb01]

very true. the wheel makes so much different. i had 15's on b4. got used to it... then got 17's... got used to it... got 19's... now selling my 19's for 1000 so i can get 20's

Any pics of your 19's for sale???

[pandaman]

Thanks for the info pandaman, tho i live in NZ so i dunno if the legal side of things are different or pretty much the same. Im thinking bout just going with 17s but since i dunno jack about this sorta thing i don't kno what tyre sizes there are and all that.

No probs, I dunno about the laws in NZ, I have a hard enough time keeping up with whats going in in NSW. For 17*8 inch rims, 235/45R17 are close to stock diameter. They're also pretty much the most common performance size around really. 17*7 inch rims are also an option, but I'd really reccomend the 17*8's so you can take advantage of the wider rubber. Also they're not real expensive in the grand scheme of things so no reason not to.