Tire help

[Shrep]

Hey guys...I know many of you are guru's, so I'm looking for some direction here.

Untill I can get some dedicated racing rims, I'm going to need to put my 18's on. The problem that I'm running into is that it's an 18x8 and judging by the tires that are on it now (junk Nankang NS-II's in 215-35-18) 215's are too narrow. Now...I need to keep the OD as small as possible in order to fit 225's without having to buy spacers (and even if I did, I would have clearance issues witht he fender), so 35 series will have to remain.

The problem is, I can't seem to find any AutoX worthy tires in a 225/35-18 (Keeping in mind that I'm on a tight budget)

So, the main question is: Should I stick with 215's even though they're too narrow for the rim, or are there decent tires out there that I'm just not finding?

Thanks for your help!

[GodSquadMandrake]

http://www.edgeracing.com/images/tire/toyo_proxes_t1s_front_zoom.jpg Toyo T1 225/35WR18 $161 per tire (http://www.edgeracing.com/tire/636/) Or $154 if you go 215

http://www.edgeracing.com/images/tire/falken_azenis_rt615_front_zoom.jpg Falken Azenis Rt615 225/45WR18 $177 (http://www.edgeracing.com/tire/1540/)

OR my personaly favorite:

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/kumho/ku_ecsta_mx_ci2_l.jpg Kumho ECSTA MX 215/35YR18 $111 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+MX&partnum=135ZR8EMX&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes)

The Kumho MX's are known to be good autocross tires, and they don't cost that much. The Azenis would give you top performance but they cost more. The Toyo T1's are a good all around tire.

[GodSquadMandrake]

Oh yeah 215's are not a problem on an 18" rim. You'll have a stretched look, but a lot of people like that look. I won't say anything as far as performance goes though. You want the tire straight up and down for best performance. But honestly with that low profile of a tire it may not even matter.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/215000-215999/215105_265_full.jpg
http://oneilcastro.com/albums/album06/new_tires1.jpg
http://student.iu.hio.no/~s114411/schmidt5.jpg

[GodSquadMandrake]

http://www.evolvecars.com/albums/album32/160_0502_S40_001.sized.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/wolfie18t/stuff/websize/Picture%20243.jpg
http://www.hostdub.com/albums/SoLo2pointO/stretched.sized.jpg

[GodSquadMandrake]

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/8283/blang.jpg
http://www.tornadored.com/pictures/svf/dscn0334.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/mk1_love/alloysozf3_3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/onelowjolf/deeeeeeeep.jpg

[GodSquadMandrake]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/onelowjolf/loweuro6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/ghostrado/stretch.jpg
http://www.dub-nation.com/show/ndcarshow/images/4-ndcarshow_558.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/potd/pics/admin/855.jpg

[GodSquadMandrake]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/215000-215999/215105_318_full.jpg
http://www.vw-teilescout.de/gallerie/data/media/54/WSee2005_77.jpg

[Shrep]

LOL! They certainly don't stretch to the extreme of anything you pictured...I wouldn't trust the bead to stay like that. :o

I've pretty much decided on the MX's if I go 215...I'm just wondering if there's anything good out there in 225 for cheap too...

[GodSquadMandrake]

225 = more rubbage, more money, but %5 more rubber

[Shrep]

225 = more rubbage, more money, but %5 more rubber
I think my dillemma here is that I don't want to pay 150ea for tires that aren't going to perform as well as the MX's, you know?

Anyone have any experience with AVS Sports? TW rating is similar...their a lot more expensive, so I'm hesitant to venture that direction...