I'd like to try to fit a 205/60HR-13 tire onto the stock 5.5" rim of my 1983 RX-7 GSL. Does anyone know if this will work?

 

A few of us are actually running 215/50/13 Sumitomos on the stock "plus" wheels. I have had no issues with fitment. I had the 205s first time around, so either way you should be fine...

 

I've run this size for 20 years on my SA, no problems other than finding tires this size now. I may go to 195s to get a decent performance tire.

 

The Sumitomo HTR 200 from Tire Rack was actually was I interested in purchasing. Sorry, but what is a stock "plus" wheel? I have stock "four spoke" rims.

 

the 4 spoke is the "plus" rims or "+" if you will

but i didnt know 215's would fit, WOOHOO, Im going tire shopping, I'm running the sumitomo's now, love them, they are grippy in wet or dry situations and cheap!
Im running the 205/60/R13's

 

Thank alot for the help!

 

can you guys with the 215/50's post a pic so i can get an idea of the look? I like they way the 60's fill the wheel well. Thanks
and i have the 1" drop Eibach springs on all 4 corners.

 

The 215s are slightly smaller in diameter than the 205s. This results in a larger wheel gap (slightly), and throws off the speedometer about 4mph @ 70 (estimated). However, the car feels a little "zippier" due to the reduced drive ratio. On the car, they look pretty beefy.

 

factory put 205-60-14's on the gsl-se wheels, which are 5.5" too, so 205 is fine...

 

yes, you'll be fine with 205s. i, personally, won't run anything less.

 

bro, you can fit 235-50-13 on the stock rims

 

i thought 205/60/13 would rub on the front of an SA with the 5.5" rims? am i wrong then? Also wouldn't the 205/60/13 sides walls flex to much? i was just going to go 195/60/13

 

I don't understand why the speedometer would be off... doesn't the speedometer cable run directly from the tranny? And if it does cause a poor reading, what would 17" rims with those like 1" sidewalls do? O.o

 

Will 215/50-13's also fit on either the "keyhole" or "waffle" wheels on an SA?

 

Man I run 215/45/16 on my aftermarket rims with no clearance problems.

Speedometer is off because the outside diameter of the tire changes, changing the gearing ratio that the transmission attached cable reads. It means the tire takes less distance (assuming a smaller tire outside diameter) to complete a full revolution while the speedo reads one revolution at the stock sizing, my set up is within 1% of the stock set up which tire wear can account for more than that

A quick break down of tire sizing is

205 width of tire section in millimeters
45 percentage of tire section width ie 45% of 215 or 96.75mm
16 rim diameter in inches

 

Thanks for the Speedo lesson, I always wondered about that.

BTW I found this in another thread,, its pretty useful fo figuring tire sizes and such...
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

I'm thinking of running 205/40/17 Falken F452's with a Kobe or Enkei Rim in the future and its nice to know that they will fit the wheel well the same as my stock 185/70/13 Plus Rims do. (a 1.1% diff, not bad at all)

 

They'll fit, but won't perform as good as intended when pushed hard, especially at a track day. 5.5" rims should run /175-185's

 

I know you have the answer already. I autocross on used Formula Ford Hankooks 205 60 13's. When the inside tread wears, I reverse them. Seems to work well as long as the rotation direction is maintained.

 

I run 215/60-14 on my GSL-SE rims even though they are wider than recommended, but they work just fine.

 

So does anyone know if 215/50-13 tires will fit and clear the SA strut on either "keyhole" or "waffle" wheels?

 

I mounted a 215/50-13 BF Goodrich R series tire on a "waffle" wheel to check the fit.
It works with no issues on my 1979 SA in the rear and about 0.2 " clear from the spring perch on the front. Looks like a 60 series might put the tire bulge further out (due to the larger diameter) and may result in need to grind the spring perch for clearance.
Hopefully this will be at least one data point with "real data" in all the hundreds of threads with no clear answers.

 

my 205/60-13 sumitomos rub in the front. I am running ground control's coilover setup and the tires are rubbing on the springs.

 

This is my car with the Sumitomo 215/50/R13 HTR200, I havent had any problems with fitment. When I went Tire shopping I was actually looking for the BF Goodrich TA tire in this size but there no longer available

 

Now I am convinced. I'll order the 215's this week. Your car is clean!

 

Thanks. She is my pride and joy, she will never see rain or snow and limited use on Sundays. Of course she will make the local car show rounds. As for the tires I had them for last 4 months and driven the car about 300 miles and they have never rubbed. Now my car is completely stock including suspension.