Bridgestone Announces Large Diameter Narrow Tires

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted by BrandonMods

I just came across this posting. I wonder where you could buy aftermarket rims that would; A) Work with these tires, and B) work with your vehicle. If anyone could answer this I would appreciate it because the only high load bearing rim I can think of right off hand would be trailer rims.

First, the tires described in Bridgestone news release are not available in the open market. They do have prototypes available for vehicle manufacturers to try to see if they can be made compatible with current suspensions. They would need to work out any problems they encounter BEFORE the first tire is available to the general public.

Second, those tires would more or less work with existing rims, provided the dimensioning is correct. The tires described in the Bridgestone news release require a narrower, but larger diameter wheel and those would be provided when you purchased the vehicle (once they become available). Retrofitting to older vehicles might be added at a later date, but that remains to be seen.

So don't be looking for these yet - and when they are available, consult with places like Tire Rack or Discount Tire for fitment advice.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by freebeard

It would take 8 of them to hold up a Suburban; they're for the BMW i3.
.

The I3 is roughly 3000lbs my very old suburban is only about 5500lbs laden on the scale.

There are various sizes available in this tire which is why the actual weight rating would be nice.

[QUOTE=freebeard;429662
You were in the thread in March, have you followed along since? All this back and forth about bumps and energy absorbed by the suspension ignores the fact that a key design feature is using a high-profile aspect ratio so higher pressures can be run.
.[/QUOTE]
Nope, I haven't really followed.

I get the higher pressures but there is a lot more to the tire than higher pressure. Its construction for example is considered novel.

Originally Posted by freebeard

Centerline can make a wheel in any diameter, offset and bolt pattern you require. All the 19x4s have long since left the junkyards, try swap meets.

[freebeard]

BrandonMods ——



Chrysler wires on a Ford. You may have to get your hubs or drums re-drilled.

The I3 is roughly 3000lbs my very old suburban is only about 5500lbs laden on the scale.

rmay635703 —— I was talking in rounded numbers. My Beetle weighs 2200lb all up. But still 5500/6000 equals 91% — only 9% off.

Is it one of these? That would be awesome.

[blownb310]

Various wheel manufacturers will build wheels to your specifications.

Centerline: Centerline Wheels

Custom Tires, Custom Wheels, Wheel and Tire Packages, Chrome Rims for your Car, Truck, or SUV from Performance Plus Wheel and Tire

Bogart racing wheels is another: Bogart Racing Wheels

I think the prices will be a turn off though.

[NeilBlanchard]

BMW may be selling the i3 wheels, though they are 5 bolt. IF they sell a steel 19" wheel, then possibly transplanting a 4 bolt hub would let me use these tires on CarBEN.

[blownb310]

Does anyone know the overall diameter of the i3 tires? I see them for sale on the tire rack but even they have a blank in the spec column for overall diameter.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....orld&tab=Specs

[freebeard]

I poked around a bit but didn't find the overall diameter, I'm sure it's in this thread somewhere.

From memory <26".

[NeilBlanchard]

I think is about 26" outside diameter, but I could be wrong.

Here's my earlier guesstimate: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post360948

[sheepdog 44]

If you punch in the specs, it spit this out for 155/70 r19, and 175/60 r19(REX)
tires:


For comparison this is the 115/80 r15 and 145/55 r16 of the XL1.


And the Xl1's 115/80 r15 compared to the Insights 165/65 r14:
IT would only be 0.2 inches smaller for a 0.9% difference. 0.6inches less sidewall, and the magic number: 43.5% less width!


If you look through European websites 155/70 r19 spare tires are actually a standard size. You can buy these tires fitted for spares. They're for various luxury cars that run 19inch wheels. The problem is the spares are usually bulged outward to clear large brakes. May or may not be ideal. 19inch spares are always some 5 bolt pattern.

You can get 115/80 r15 spares from Mini coopers with 4x100 bolt patterns in the US same as stock Insight wheels. These are ideal if i could get some XL1 tires. The Xl1 is a 4 bolt wheel. I would wish it was 4x100. 4x100 was actually a standard bolt pattern on older VW's. But 4x115 is also common on other vehicles so who knows. The XL1 wheels are made of gloriously expensive Magnesium unobtainium though!

If you couldn't somehow change the bolt pattern, Wheel adapters might work. All the forums and websites say not to use them though. I think last i recall a set of four factory i3 wheels are at least more than $1,150. Probably more.

I searched this thread, and a while back i said the BMW i3 had a 5 x 114.3 bolt pattern. I can't confirm if that is true or not. Neil had a post on his Facebook page several months back all about the i3 wheels and tires, including prices and bolt pattern. I'm not able to find it though.

[hege]

I'm again bringing an old topic up. Anyone heard any updates on this? Has any of you heard these tires being used or tested?

The 155/70R19 tires seem to go for around 100€ each when new and used i3 wheels and tires are getting more and more available. But the 155/70R19 tires are reported quite heavy, their weight is 16.37 lbs (7 kg), with rim that weigh will probably be way over 30 lbs. I found a internet blog stating that 155/70R19 winter tires with i3 optional rim are 36 lbs.

The BMW i3 has 5x120 bolt pattern.