Hello, and tire question

[jrc]

Hello--first post--I have a Birkin S3 and have been running it on 15" ACB-10's. I'm thinking of going to Toyo R888 as they seem to be well reviewed, cost a lot less, and are easier to get. Problem is (as most Birkin owners know) the space is very tight in the front fenders and I doubt if I can squeeze anything bigger than a 195 tire in there. The ACB10 front is 195/45/15. The R888 also happens to about the only DOT R tire that comes in a 195, but it's 50 profile. Has anyone tried fitting the R888 195/50/15 on the front of a Birkin without modifications? I'd also be interested to hear if anyone has found a 15" DOT R tire in 205 that fits the front without rubbing.

 

On the rear I'm considering 225/50/15 or 225/45/15 -- I think both should fit, but would appreciate any input in that regard too (have been running ACB10 in 215/40/15--again an impossible size to find from other manufacturers)!

 

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

jrc

[11Budlite]

Hi jrc, welcome! I also have a Birkin and just switched over to 205/50-15 Falken Azenis and I haven't had any rubbing issues so far. They're mounted on 15x7 ET35 Enkei wheels with a 5mm spacer to get the proper offset. It's tighter than the 195's I had on there before, and it's a little tighter getting the wheel off but I like the way they fit. I did move the fender out a little bit with a spacer. I think Gary S is running Toyo R888's in 205/50-15 front and 225/45-15 rear on his Birkin without any issues but he'd have to confirm that. Here's the only picture I have of the fronts:

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1340366145_1715483191_20080809_0003.jpg

 

Bruce :7drive:

 

PS: Have any pics of your Birkin, and where are you located if you don't mind me asking?

[Ian7]

While my car is a clamshell Caterham, I'm pretty sure your fenders ride up and down and steer with the wheel hubs right?

 

ie. if there's only 1mm of clearance, that's all you'd need?

 

If your tire of choice is closer than you'd prefer, buy them from The Tire Rack, and get them to shave the tires down for you. Autocrossers do it all the time.

[jrc]

Thanks gents. That's good to know about the 205/50's -- widens the choices a bit. I guess I need to look at exact manufacturer specs to determine height/diameter for a specific model of tire, which i think can vary a little even within the same published size, and then make a decision.

 

Cheers Ian, but there is already less than 1" clearance to the fender brackets with the 195/45 ACB10's as I had to replace the original brackets with something beefier a while back after the OEM's failed dramatically when airflow at speed almost peeled one of the fenders back and off the car! So I don't have a lot to work with when changing the profile up from 45.

 

Gordon--I wonder what year your car is, as it seems to have slightly different front fenders (at least mine don't have the reflectors) -- maybe yours are wider. My car is a 2002

 

But good tips/reminders on tire shaving for height and putting a spacer on the fenders for width.

 

Bruce--I'll try to take some pics soon and post them up. In florida by the way.

[soareyes]

I've got 225/45/15 Toyo T1R's on the back and they fit fine. I went with 195/50/15 T1R's on the front because the Toyo RA's that came on the car when I bought it (used) were 205's and they rubbed the fenders during cornering. It was only mild rubbing, and I probably could have played with spacers to get rid of it, but I'm happy with the 195's.

 

 

 

[gjslutz]

Hi jrc,

 

Like Bruce said, I also made spacers for the front fenders. Depending on what wheels I run, I can run some 8MM spacers behind the wheels also. I do like the handling of the R888's. I also have a set of the Falkin RT-615's, that I use in the rain. They are a little hard and don't hook up real well in the dry. I couldn't get 225's in 15" with the R-615, so the foot print is a little narrow. My car came with longer studs on the hubs, so I have some options with three sets of wheels. The 3rd set is with V710 slicks, they are also 225/50's and are the best traction I have.

 

Now if I can just find an slight oil leak, replaced the rear main seal twice in the last few weeks. I'm not sure where the oil came from though. With the salt Ohio uses, I have only run it on the lift so far.

 

Enjoy the Birkin

Gary

[Ian7]

Hi jrc,

Depending on what wheels I run, I can run some 8MM spacers behind the wheels also.

Gary

 

While 8mm isn't a lot, be careful changing the scrub radius with spacers too much, as the undesirable change in contact patch shape and additional diagonal weight transfer that results from turning the wheel can offset any gains you get from using the 'better' tires.

[RDROCKT]

Hi jrc,

 

I also have a set of the Falkin RT-615's, that I use in the rain.

 

Gary

 

:hurray: Gary, you are my hero! You're the only guy I know who has the forethought to have a set of rain tires which you change to in order to drive in the rain in a Seven. Heck, when it's raining over here, I leave the Seven in the garage and just take the tintop.:jester:

 

just kidding...but really, you ARE my hero! :hurray:

[tnttim]

I think I am just going to start off with a good pair of snow tires.

 

[pi7ot]

My Birkin came with unremarkable 195 50 15 Firestones on the supplied TSW wheels. I switched to 205 50 15 V700 Victoracers from Kumho and had some rubbing of the shoulders on the Mudguard brackets.

I obtained a 1" x2" piece of wood, placed it behind the inside wheel rim and carefully tightened the wheel nuts. The mudguard bracket struts will bend and give you the necessary clearance.

 

m