235 tire on 10" rim

[Exanimas]

Well, for anyone who was following my wheel thread, you'll know the two back tires on my setup aren't holding any air. I'm still unsure if it's a problem with the wheel design (has a step near the back lip) or the tire, but if the PSI drops under 50, air starts leaking out all around the tire. Preparing myself for the worst case scenario, I may have to buy all new tires. Currently I have Falken FK452 and for the 20 minutes I actually drove on them, they seemed pretty good. Any recommendations from anyone for a REALLY good tire for stretching? Any help is appreciated.

[diagnosticator]

235 is ~9.250" so the rim bead seat is wider than the tread with the 10" rim width, that you know already. Is there any corrosion pits on the rim bead seats? Buy 2 wider tires for the rear?

[Exanimas]

I'm not sure what you mean by corrosion on the bead seats, but they are brand new wheels. I was considering going wider, however, with the offsets I have, I may end up rubbing if I get 245s. Also, I'd have to buy brand new tires for the fronts as well since they are 225 and I'm pretty sure 245 would put me outside of the 3% rolling diameter people say to stay within.

[italian a4 1032]

have you talked to brian aka devilsrejects maybe he can help you?

[Capt. Obvious]

Dunlop Direzzas are the new stretch king now that Falken ruined the 512 and 451.

[Exanimas]

Dunlop Direzzas are the new stretch king now that Falken ruined the 512 and 451.

I know I keep bothering you with this shit, but what do you make of this whole situation? Do you think what I said makes sense? (i.e. the whole step in the wheel is causing the tire to not seal right). Also, would it be retarded to run those tires on the back with the Falkens on the front?

[lunamarA4]

won't that create bubbles in the sidewall esp if underinflated

[Capt. Obvious]

I know I keep bothering you with this shit, but what do you make of this whole situation? Do you think what I said makes sense? (i.e. the whole step in the wheel is causing the tire to not seal right). Also, would it be retarded to run those tires on the back with the Falkens on the front?

I don't know why your wheels won't seal. But usually, there is a slight ridge on the bead of the tire that helps hold it in place. Have you tried test fitting another (larger) tire to see if that helps? It sounds like they aren't sealing because your friend screwed them up trying to mount them.

won't that create bubbles in the sidewall esp if underinflated

No. Possibly if underinflated though, but that can happen whether they're stretched or not.

[Exanimas]

I don't really have any other tires available to me to test fit. Also, it's not only the one he put on, but when I ordered a replacement I had another shop with a better machine put it on.

[diagnosticator]

I'm not sure what you mean by corrosion on the bead seats, but they are brand new wheels. I was considering going wider, however, with the offsets I have, I may end up rubbing if I get 245s. Also, I'd have to buy brand new tires for the fronts as well since they are 225 and I'm pretty sure 245 would put me outside of the 3% rolling diameter people say to stay within.

To clarify, since the wheels are new, there is practically no chance for the bead seats on the wheels to have pits from corrosion, so that eliminates that possible cause for the air loss.

Regarding the tire diameter, the tread width specification does not really effect this directly so don't use the width to compare tire diameters as installed. The aspect ratio or side wall height is the key variable involved, and even that varies in effect depending on the installed conditions when load and inflation pressure are considered. A lower number aspect ratio with wider tread width, compensates for the wider tread width. To determine side wall height from aspect ratio, a simple calculation is useful. For example, 235/45 is the tread width in millimeters, 45 is the percentage of the tread width that is the side wall height. Therefore, 45 percent of 235 is 105.75 mm, (round up to 106 mm.) (235 X .45 = 105.75) Add the value of 2 X Tire Sidewall Height), to the Wheel Diameter, 2(106) + (Wheel diameter in mm) = Overall diameter, mm. [2(106) + 483] = 695 mm = 695/25.4 = ~ 27.36", Rounding down, 27.3 inches Overall Diameter. (In the unloaded condition.)

Finally, as tire rubbing issues often occur only on the rear, adding some additional negative camber can help minimize rubbing and adding some spacers between the upper spring seats and the body, to increase positive rake a little bit can help a lot too. Combined with camber tweaks, spacers are easy to add and will help to minimize or eliminate tire rubbing problems. Even on lowered setups, spacers will increase positive rake, and improve the appearance by evening out the visual tire to fender gaps.

A solution consisting of a balanced application of the above described techniques tailored to the unique situation with your setup, should result in a solution to any tire rubbing problem with wider tires on the back.

[RAVI]

i have falken fks 235/35s on my 10s and they hold just fine.. i actually had a problem with my front not keeping air.. but it ended up being the fact that the beed for the barrell is leaking.

try spraying windex or some soapy solution behind the face of the wheel by the bolts and barrell.. you might be leaking there like i am.

[doublezero30]

nick when we do your camber, bring one of the rear wheels/tires(assuming you havnt dismounted them). ide like to take a look at it. maybe i can see something youre not...considering i deal with leaking tires almost every freakin day.

[gotdubd]

Dunlop Direzzas are the new stretch king now that Falken ruined the 512 and 451.

shit yeah, i think i like the dunlops more than my 512's

My a3 is louder than Kaits MK4....that doesnt make a bit of sense

[Bpitz15]

I don't really have any other tires available to me to test fit. Also, it's not only the one he put on, but when I ordered a replacement I had another shop with a better machine put it on.

i got 2- 275/30/19 FK-452's layin around. Ran them on my 9.5" rim. Maybe you can test fit those?
I know offset is an issue. Just throwing it out there.

[Exanimas]

i got 2- 275/30/19 FK-452's layin around. Ran them on my 9.5" rim. Maybe you can test fit those?
I know offset is an issue. Just throwing it out there.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't think any amount of camber would allow a 275 to fit on a 10" rim with a +35 offset. Hopefully the shop I dropped them off at can give me some more info by the end of the week. Thanks again to all who replied.