So I'm currently building a 400 whp miata and as of wheel/tire selection I'm not too satisfied. I know the current widest tire I can run is a 225 on a 15x9 (I could do 245 on 16's but the tire selectino is not there) So my plan was to get some 17x9 or 17x9.5 enkei rpf1's with a 245, 255 or maybe 275 tire all around, get a 5 lug spacer/adapter, some fenders and have my traction or at least a little more than a 225 can offer. I nkow this will throw off my speedo, id there any easy way I can compensate for this? Does this sound retarted? lol Either way it will be different and I will have good traction. share your thoughts....

 

Stop looking at the actual width and start learning about different tire compounds, that's where you will find your answer.

 

Last time I checked re-11's, star specs abd rs-3s are the stickiest street tires available. I have 255s on 17x9s on my type-s with 220 whp and I can break traction in 3rd. Believe me I know about the compounds and 225 just won't cut it with 400 whp.

 

FWD RWD

 

So are you guys trying to say that 225s are plenty adequate for low to no spinning on a 400 rwd car? If that's the case why don't vettes get that from the factory?

 

because they make the power alot faster.

and if you sold a car with r specs, the drivers would be pissed when they brought their car in for its first service where they needed to spend another 1500$ in tire.

 

They also weigh 1.5x what our cars do. you can run the A6 in 275 35 15 its dot, a soft compound and can be purchased in rain tread.

 

Yea....id like to get more than a 1000 miles out of a set of tires. So no one seriously thinks "my plan" is a decent idea?

 

no, buy a bigger car.

 

It's not width that makes you get traction, it's height. FYI

 

Exactly...and I will have a taller tire.

 

You could also consider how the torque comes on in your car, and try to optimize that so that it is more easily controllable in the first place. A flattish torque curve with a declining slope with RPMs provides passive traction control FWIW. You could also think about tunable TC. Cars with very drivable natures frequently outperform somewhat higher dynoing cars with lesser drivability / throttle response.

 

Also might want to search around and see what others with 400+ whp are using.

 

Then why where you talking about width in your first post? I run a 205 tire on a 7" wide wheel with limited traction issues over 400 whp.

 

Fenders, spacers, and 17" wheels are not worth the extra $$$ for limited width advantage.
With the weight disadvantage, you might as well make it a 350hp engine anyways.

Either:
A. Settle for low mileage on R-comps or,
B. Learn to control your right foot with street tires

 

If you can get into suspension part changes and altered pickup points, then you can adjust things like antisquat such that the rear briefly but usefully pushes down more on throttle down. Ala live axled muscle cars. When the Miata was designed the suspension did not need to accommodate high torque. It's a design issue too, not just rubber.

 

Good info....I might just do because it no one else has.

 

because I'd like to stay as close to a 23" tire as possible.

 

I'd stay away from a 23" rim, 22" rims are where it's at.

 

lol I meant 23" tire