[Poita]

Hi all,

Firstly I used the search and got totally confused as most of the stuff was for sierras. And most seemed to want huge tyres.

I have a 1992 Vitara softop 2 door.
It will be driven to and from work and used for getting down the beach fishing on the weekends. So no rock hopping or anything extreme.

It's completely stock... no lift or anything like that.

Factory rims are 15x5.5 +25 with 205/70 rubber.

I am looking at some 15x7 Sunraysia rims with 215/75 Toyo AT rubber. 235/75 was also an option but I don't know if that is getting too wide.

I DON'T want it to stick outside the guards as I already have a sports car to worry about the cops with. I also don't want it scrubbing on full lock.

So what offset will I need?? The tyre places weren't much help as none had done a Vitara before. Available choices : -13, -12 or +10

Anyone had any experience and can let me know what is safe?

Thanks in advance,

Pete

[royce]

if those are your choices, +10

I have -13 with 235, they hit the firewall and need a 50mm flare to cover

[gregwatkins75]

Were in Adelaide you live?
Sunny's gave me the choice of 0 -3 or -12, I took the -3 option with 235 ATs they are perfect for Goowla and salt creek beaches, and dont stick out the gaurds to much, though the higher tires do rub through stock suspension movment, I ended up cutting gaurds slightly and increasing car height and it seems to have fixed all the rubbing issuse... Police dont even look at it twice BTW

[christover1]

There are steering stops that can be adjusted, if needed.

[Poita]

gregwatkins75 wrote:

Were in Adelaide you live?
Sunny's gave me the choice of 0 -3 or -12, I took the -3 option with 235 ATs they are perfect for Goowla and salt creek beaches, and dont stick out the gaurds to much, though the higher tires do rub through stock suspension movment, I ended up cutting gaurds slightly and increasing car height and it seems to have fixed all the rubbing issuse... Police dont even look at it twice BTW

I live in Hillbank (north).

What manufacturer are your rims? Kings only do a 10P or a 13N. CSA only do 10P. I think Dynamic do a 3P as well.

So if I got 3N and a 215 I should be fine?

Thanks!

[Poita]

Bump for this one....

Found Speedy can do them in 6N. Just want to confirm that this would be ok with a 215/75 tyre. From what I can figure out and the help greg gave me, the 13N will stick out way too much.
I will be putting some rubber flares on to hopefully allow a little more width.

[royce]

thats only 7mm less, still going to stick out

though for a 215 I cant see why you would want a 7" rim, 6" is probably more suitable

[Poita]

Only going to a 15x7 as that is what seems to be made with the 5x139.7 stud pattern...

Would they stick out past the rubber flares though?

How do you guys come up with these 7mm less etc, I can't seem to figure it out?

[royce]

N13 = rim lip is 13mm towards the outside of the car in respect to teh centerline of the rim, N6 is only 6mm = 7mm less sticking out so not a whole lot when you are already going to be 30-40mm outside the guard

[Poita]

aaaah you are a champion!

Next noob question... 215/75R15... 215mm is the width of the tyre? Because then I can figure out exactly how far out it is going to stick with the tyre on...

[royce]

yeah sort of, you are better looking up the specs of the exact tyre you plan on running and it will tell you the tread width and over all width (think it will be called section width) which will be more accurate

[Poita]

Simply brilliant:

http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

[Poita]

Ordered 15x7 with -6 offset and 215/75 Toyo AT!
Fitting tomorrow, will let you know how they go.

[got_bar_work]

Don't know bout sa but In nsw +10 is the legal limit u can change to on a vit as they are 25 p standard
Ps the more u go out the more the rear will hit the outside of the guards rather then going up into the wheel well

[Poita]

Update:
Fitted yesterday and very happy with them, they look HEAPS tougher than the factory setup.
Ended up going the 215/70 instead of the 215/75 as the 215/75 was a little too large in diameter and I was worried about hitting the front guards. Rears would have been no hassles, but kept all the tires the same.

The tires stick out a bit but not too much. Some 35mm rubber flares would cover them no worries at all, but not sure that I will bother. They shouldn't attract any attention.

While it was up on the hoist I noticed my CV boots were split and a couple bushes seemed worn, so getting them checked this afternoon. Want to get all that sorted before I head for the beach.

Conclusion:
-6 offset would be the most I would go or it would start sticking out quite a bit. There may also be hassles if you hit a bump hard of the tyres hitting the front guards.
Raising and flares would fix all this but not high on my priority list.
Between 0 and +12 would be perfect for stock height with 215/70... probably more towards the +12 if you want to be 100% sure that the tyre will sit behind the guard.

[royce]

flares on the front are worthwhile as otherwise they throw a lot of crap at the front edge of the rear guard, hammers the paint quite quickly

[Poita]

Ok... never thought of that.

Fitch the Rubber Man and Clark Rubber sell rubber flares but they don't look like they will hold their shape very well. Cheap though.

Found some fibreglass ones on ebay (link from another thread):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... OTORS:1123

Less than $300 shipped but no idea how hard it will be to fit them.