It is not impossible to move on from factory tires, this is easier than you think. You must however understand how to select the right tire size for a given rim size to be able to maintain the overall diameter of the wheel as close to the diameter of the original tire on the stock rim.
What is important is the overall wheel diameter at the end of the day, therefore, no matter what you do, learn to only put on the tire size that helps you achieve this.
So, what size tire do I need for a 15×8 rim? Of the tire sizes used in the past on a 15×8 rim size, most user reports support the P 205/50 R15and P 195/55 R15 as the most agreeable size of the tire to fit onto a 15×8 rim.
As you continue reading this article, you will at some point understand the codes used to represent the size of tires and rims. So if you do not at this point, hang on, as this will be featured later.
One of the comments complaints and invariably the comm must drawbacks with tire change is the accuracy of the speedometer.
The speedometer works with the revolution of the tire and this is greatly dependent on the tire size. Therefore, when the tire size is upgraded to a bigger size or when you decide to downsize your tires, the speedometer records an inaccurate value as a result.
With the development of a tire size calculator, most of these drawbacks are no longer considered drawbacks.
The calculator when used appropriately will show tire sizes that will alter the speedometer of the car. By simply inputting the tire size of your old tires and the new intended ones into the calculator, you will be able to tell if the tire plays or not for your designated rim.
Let’s learn a little about the 15×8 rim, not every car owner understand what these numbers stand for. The first of the numbers, that is, 15, simply represents the diameter of the rim while the width is represented by the second number, that is, 8.
When considering compatibility, the diameter of the rim is a more significant determinant and therefore given a higher priority.
A few things you should know about bigger rims before moving ahead to have them installed on your car is that, although they allow you to install large tires which improve performance and looks, they are not without drawbacks.
They are wider than factory size rims and therefore may not fit all types of cars, especially small cars. They, by their size, are a bit heavier and therefore put an extra drag on the car engine. This consequently results in reduced fuel economy.
Handling and acceleration may also be adversely affected with large rims and they may not do well when driven over rough pavement. These drawbacks explain why a decent amount of research must be put into learning about car-specific proper sizes of rims and compatible tires to avoid finding yourself in such a situation.
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What size tire will fit a 15×8 rim?
Here in this section, we shall attempt to provide a more comprehensive list of the various tire size which have been used with 15×8 rims and have proven to be compatible with the rim size.
Note that every car is built differently, its offset, brake configuration, backspacing, and other specs may be completely different from other types of cars. Therefore, when asking about rims or tires compatible with your car, ensure to be car specific.
Most of the cases of rim size or tire size recommendations do not take into account the model on the ground of the basic similarities that exist amongst modern cars. However, this may become necessary, especially when your car is the lockout type of the heavy type of car.
Before proceeding to provide the list of the commonly approved tire sizes for 15×8 rim, it is important to sound a note of warning to car owners who believe easily every claim or advice out there when it comes to suggestion or disapproval of certain types of tire sizes.
Not every piece of advice is valid, including those on the famous car chat forums. The best advice or recommendation will come from the manufacturers of the rim. Most manufacturers are easily accessible, give them a call or send in your mail asking about what tire size is recommended for the size of rim you have on your car.
As mentioned earlier, the P205/50 R15, is a perfect and suitable size of tire for a 15×8 rim. Others include; P 165/ 45 R15, P 215/ 70 R15, P 175 / 55 R 15, P 195 / 40 R 15, P 165 / 45 R 15, P 165 / 50 R 15, P 176 / 55 R 15, P 205 / 40 R 15, P 205 / 45 R 15, P 205 / 50 R 15, P 195 / 45 R 15, P 195 / 45 R 15, P 195 / 50 R 15, P 195 / 60 R 15, P 195 / 55 R 15, P 225 /45 R 15.
The right tore size for your rim size is not selected from a mare observation and general outlook of the tire. Rather, the decision is more technical than that. A good number of factors are borough into consideration including the width and diameter of the rim and that of the tires.
The backspace and offset of the car as well as its suspension and braking system are all brought into the picture before a more comprehensive decision is made.
What are the tire sizes good for a 15×8 rim?
Whenever a car owner mentions his or her desire to change the car tire, it is commonly assumed that this family means plus sizing. This is not always the case.
There are different sizes of tires there, each with its unique pros and cons. therefore, while the most commonly sought after maybe plus-sizing following the need to work on the looks of the car and its driving performance, downsizing is also considerably popular.
Therefore, rather than asking for the biggest size of tire that could be placed on the 15×8 rim, this category of car owners who wish to downsize their car tires would prefer to know about the smallest size of tire that can be put on a 15×8 rim size.
Small size tires are not popular during all seasons, their use is limited to the winter months in geographical locations where the winter is usually heavy with snowfalls and ice that may sometime block off the road.
Winter or as referred to by many, snow tires, are not for aesthetics, they exist for a single reason, and that is to help navigate through the ice and snow during the winter months.
Sedans and other classic cars represent the most types of cars with 15 rims. This rim size is not commonly seen in cars such as SUVs, which require a more giant wheel. Generally, the wheel size of most wheels for most car range between 14 to 19 inches. The 18 and 19 inches feature luxurious cars as well as heavy-duty trucks.
What is the maximum tire size for a 15×8 rim?
Only those who have ever installed a tire that is way above the tire size fitting for their rim size and the type of car can relate when I say this will make driving a living hell.
Not to exaggerate, the experience is quite tedious especially with the tire rubbing on the fender and the great difficulty associated with making a turn.
That being said, note that the highest or maximum tire size fitting for a 15×8 rim is said to be the P 225 / 45 R 15. Note that doing beyond this size will mean risking your tire rubbing against the fender of the car, which will increase the rate at which the tore wears off and the tire’s lifespan.
When a tire size is written as P 225 / 45 R 15, what can you make of this code, and how does this tell the size of the tire? The code can be said to contain three parts, the part before the slash, the middle part, and the part after that.
The part or number before the slash represents the total width of the tire. This must be fitting to the width of the rim upon which the tire is to be installed.
The middle number, in this case, 45, represents the height of the sidewall expressed as a percentage of the width while the third part with the preceding ‘R’ represents the diameter of the wheel recommended for the tire size. This history is why the diameter of the rim is a more important measure than its width.
What Size Tire Do I Need For A 15×8 Rim – Conclusion
With the wrong set of tires, there is always the risk of riding on the sidewall each time to make a corner, a comprised handling, and other significant setbacks.
By sticking to the recommended tire size, not only will you be able to improve the looks of your car, its performance, speedometer, fuel mileage, and other aspects will remain perfectly fine or improved.
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I am passionate about all things automotive and have a deep understanding of the topic. As a mechanic, I use my free time to share knowledge of everyday challenges that any car owner can experience – helping you make informed decisions about tires.