Largest 15" tire on a type 44 avant OR sedan

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

Depends more on the wheel you use than the tire, IME.  My 87tqw has run a 
variety of sizes (now resting on 235/4517x8.5.  Using the stock wheels (all, 
including fuchs, turbo alloys, etc), you can go to a 215/60x15 and not hit, 
but you'll be darn close.  That said, I usually recommend that folks stay 
with the 205/60 tire, and just go with a wider rim, the difference is more 
dramatic (205/60 on fuch 15x7 is one of the best factory combos).  For plus 
1, I found that the 205/55fit with my BBS lightweight (16x7.5 36ET) and a 
customer that used the 16x7 A8 wheels, but the swap to 225/50 required fender 
flaring in the back.  The swap to plus 2 required *more* agressive fender 
flaring in the back, and deletion of the plastic trim piecs on the front side 
of the front wheel arches.

That said, I use stock alignment settings and camber at .5neg x4.  Several 
have had good success with running a bit more neg camber.  The reason the 
tolerance is closer on the passengers side is that the wheel well plastic 
liner has a tighter clearance due to the gasoline filler neck.

HTH

Scott Justusson
Agreed.  There is variance from vehicle to vehicle.  I understand in
general, there is less clearance under the passenger side rear well.  

I know that on mine, 215mm tire would not allow me to put my pinky(small
hands) between the tire and the wheel well when I had a loaded trunk.  This
would be the same as going over a bump with 2 passengers in the rear seat
and going over a bump.  A blowout would ultimately be certain with a 225mm
tire and a moderate load.

If overall traction is the objective, there is probably an optimal size
(215mm) that can be exceeded.  Tire design and compound should be factored
into the equation.

If were talking about putting the car on the track, high speed, dry pavement
then, maybe the owner would want to cutout the entire fender well and put on
some very wide tires and super stiff struts.  But I don't think that is the
objective.;} 

I was suggesting a safe width for these cars in general, then probably 215mm
is as wide as yould go before haveing to alter the vehicle in some fashion.

I would bet, BTW, those who have tried the 225 didn't check the clearance on
a fully loaded vehicle, say 500lbs in the trunk.  They might not have gotten
out of the driveway.

Ben 

[Ben,
I have been told by several listers that 225/50R15 can fit,
depending on the tire. The people in question all have the
15x7 Fuchs wheels and are using various tires.

It is most likely a case-by-case basis, as I've found that
Yokohama performance tires tend to run very wide.

The best thing to do is flare the rear fenders, get some 7 or
8 inch wide wheels with an ET35 offset and then you can run
225s w/o any problems.

Taka]