I want to put some performance tires on my 97 honda accord. They recommend 215/35/18. I would like to go with a wider tire, 225/40/18. But i don't know what the pros and cons are with going with a bigger tire. what would be the difference if i put a wider and taller tire on my 18" rims?

 

Contact patch on the tire is not really determined by tire size its determined by weight on the tire and the psi setting. The reason drag cars use wide tires is thy run very low psi 6-13 psi so thy need the wide tire to get the correct contact patch. If you are running street you will use around 30 psi to keep tire heat down.

I would stay away from taller tires on a honda. Just looks goofy. Taller tires do change the axle to tire ratio essentially another final drive gear ratio to figure in. Story gos like this smaller more tork bigger higher top speed. Not sure I believe that 100%. Because a taller tire is more mass. I would be like adding a heaver fly wheel your engine would have to work harder. So like I said I'm not a 100% on that.

Keep the same tire size or go a bit wider don't get to crazy in the front you may run into a problem turning. The tires may hit the body. If you want more performance out of a tire get a sticker one. For a street tire look at the tread where number a sticker tire is around 200 and a hard tire around 800-1200 the hard tires last longer but are not as sticky so keep that in mind. Their are also traction ratings, temp ratings,speed ratings, all seasons, winter tires, dry weather tires, slicks, street legal slicks (one little grove to dissipate water) and directionals.

So its not that easy you cant just grab a tire and expect to have a tire that last forever sticks to the road and drives in all types of weather perfectly.

I would just call tire rack thy are the pros. Their are all kinds of triad offs you alway lose something but also gain something in return.

 

Thanks for the info! great!