So I'm trying to get a meatier tire in order to eliminate the little bit of wheel gap I have going on. I'm running a 195/50/15 right now. I'd like to go with a 205/?/15 that will close the gap between tire and fender. If you can help, please do.

Here's a pic:


I was at Walmart today and put a 205/60 up next to it just to see how far off that was. I thought it would just barely fit, but the tire, with no rim in it, obviously, came to well above the bottom of the fender.

 

Get 17" wheels unless you like that off-road wheel look, waaay too much sidewall.

 

The second number in a tire size is aspect ratio - the size of the sidewall expressed as a percentage of width (first number.)

60% for 205mm is going be quite a bit larger than 50% for 195.

1 'section' of sidewall on a 205/60 will be 123mm high, as opposed to 98mm on a 195/50.

Grab a ruler.

 

I don't know anything about tires so forgive me if I made a stupid comment, but wouldn't it be better to try and get a larger wheel? or get quality coil-overs/springs to lower the stance? Don't people usually try to get smaller sidewalls because it handles lateral g-force better in cornering situations?

 

is your car lowered? i think a 205/55/15 would give you a factory spec wheel diameter. what does the sticker on the inside of the driver door say for a tire size? tire diameter will also affect the accuracy of your speedometer.

 

Yes, my car is lowered an inch and a half...the stock tire size was 185/65....I changed to the current size when I first got the car, based on the tire sizes of most of my previous hondas, because 185/65 sounded so strange to me. I was probably wrong in doing so, but there's got to be a better size than the stock size that won't hurt anything and looks/performs better...
As far as a bigger wheel, I won't go any larger than a 16, and I'd really prefer to not even do that. That's the reason I'm trying to find a good size for a 15. I'm happy with the drop as it sits because I'm not having to worry about scraping things everywhere I go, which is why I'm trying to eliminate the wheel gap without lowering the car more.

 

33x12.50 Nitto's FTMFW

 

I really think your best bet is going to be a larger wheel. I think 16" would look great.

 

205/50 will give you more sidewall and more tread. You probably don't want to go any bigger than that.

 

If you get a larger diameter tire, you'll not only decrease the wheel gap, but also raise the car back up. Larger diameter increases size all around the tire, not just the top where the fender is.
You'll also lose power at the wheels because you'll effectively change your final drive ratio. This will change your speedo, odometer, etc., accuracy also.

If you keep the same size wheel, and go with a higher sidewall height tire, your little wheels will look even smaller than they do now..