I was thinking of running a set of 215 Azenis for some extra grip this year. I read in one of the topics here that a 215 Azenis is only .1 inches wider then a 205 Azenis. Is this true?

Thanks

 

It's actually 10 mm. The first numbers in a tire size are the section width of the tire in millimeters. The second number is the aspect ratio--the percentage of sidewall height in relation to the section width (e.g. a 50 series tire sidewall is 50% as tall as the tire is wide.) And of course the last number is the rim diameter in inches.

Not only will the 215 be slightly wider, but the sidewall will be slightly taller as well. Unless, of course, you go down a bit in aspect ratio--a 45 series vs. a 50 series.

 

BUT on a 15 inch rim they only have ( what I can find) 205/50-15 and 16 inch rim has the 215

 

Yes… I am comparing the 205/50/15 to the 215/45/16

My goal is to run in the NASA time trail events this year. I do not want the point penalty of running R compounds and I do not have the $$$ to run R compounds.

I need a DOT tire that has a tread wear above 80

 

First, what size rim do you have or plan to get?

 

I am planning to run:
3gen RX-7 wheels (16 x 8 ) or
Mazda Millenia (15 x ?6.5?)

 

from what I have seen 16x8 would be the best of the two.
15x6.5 is ok but I think the Millenia rims are 15x6 so I would not put the Azenis on them

 

I understand that an 8 inch wide rim running a 215 tire will not bind as much as an 6 inch rim running a 205, but if the 215 is not going to give me an improvement on handling then why run it. That is what I wan to know.

 

I think you answered yourself on that. The 215 on a 8inch will give you a percise feel vs the slugish/sloppy feel of a 205 on a 6inch. There is just not enough rim for the 205 tire.

 

205 is not a very wide tire to be putting on an 8 inch rim. most 7 inch rims use 205-225. I could be wrong but you may want to double check that. My friends wheels are 17 x 8 and hes got 225/40/17 tires