trying to see the difference in 215 & 225 tire size for

[Dominicano]

So i was doing the tire calculations thing from the miata site and i was trying to see the difference between getting 215 or 225. how there is a used wheel i want at an awesome price and the wheel it comes with is 215 pirrellies p7000. so below is the diffence and most of the differnce is about .1 to .3 inches

Specification......215/40-18.....225/40-18
Sidewall............3.4in.............3.5in
Radius..............12.4in............12.5in
Diameter...........24.8in...........25.1in
Circumference...77.8in...........78.8in
Revs/Mile..........814...............804
Difference........-0.4%.............0.8%

Now on paper with such a small difference it does not look like the ride quality will be felt in a such a big way when you compare them both. But for people who have the 215 how is the ride quality? any input would be appreciated.

[escoson]

you will be better off with the 225 simply because there is more "meat" on those tires and you wont have as much as a chance on bending a lip. i have had 215 and 225 but i am now currently using 235 and wouldnt change it.

(my rims are also 18")

[Dominicano]

i live in NYC i bent my stock rims and thats with stock tires. its only like 1/10 of inch difference if you hit a hole it will not make a difference

[mike969mb]

you guys do realized that the first number is the width of the tire and i think it it will really affect the pot whole situation or not. The second number deals with the profile of the tire, which is what you shouldbe more concerned about.

later,
mike

[pinoyesv6]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mike969mb)</div><div class='quotemain'>you guys do realized that the first number is the width of the tire and i think it it will really affect the pot whole situation or not. The second number deals with the profile of the tire, which is what you shouldbe more concerned about.

later,
mike</div>

well the first number does matter with the amount of meat you have for the sidewall because the second number isn't just the height of the profile. its some ratio between the width and the height of the sidewall. so even if the second number is the same, the profile would change if that first number changed.

[thebirdman13]

well, what you should be worried about is the profile, but really worry about the softness of the tire and the tire pressure related to the size...yes there is more meat on a tire that is 10mm wider, but when you put a couple thousand pounds on it, it really doesn't matter...you hit a pothole with either of them with a certain amount of force you are screwed!!

[mrjaydeeone]

I live in NY also
I got 225 40 18s
I also managed to bend a lip on a whell...hitting a crater of a pot hole last year

[vectorz]

Let me tell you about my situation, if it might help you at all. At 225 the tire follows the grooves in the road MUCH more.. at first I thought that maybe my Corvette's handling sucks, but after putting wider tires on the Galant, I can see it's a wide tire issue. The comfort is noticeably more harsh. When you drive around, you will feel more of the road but it will handle tighter and better. I'm at a 45 height, so you being at 40 height will even feel more stiff. Oh yeah, at a width of 225, your tires will not fit within the wheel well. Meaning it will stick OUT a little so if you're really low, you will hear a lot of rubbing of the tires and the fender.