YACT: What 16" tires for my 16" wheels?

[Shawn]

I currently have these 16" wheels with Yokohoma 205/45R16 tires and it's time for me to replace the tires. I was wondering if 215/40-16 tires would work. I used a tire size calculator and that size is actually extremely close in diameter to the original size (185/60-45), within 0.1%. That's much better than being 2.3% off like I am now and they are wider which I'd prefer. However Tire Rack recommends 205/45-16. I'm just wondering why that is. Would there be clearance issues with the wider tires or does that mean they may not fit the rim properly?

 

[Apex]

You didn't specify the width of that wheel.

There may be clearance issues with the wider tires. How close are you now with the 205?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Apex
You didn't specify the width of that wheel.

There may be clearance issues with the wider tires. How close are you now with the 205?

No clearance problems with the 205s. The wheel width is 7".

 

[Czar]

go for a high bling factor
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/DisplayW...eelModel=RG-F&wheelFinish=Gold+Painted

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Czar
go for a high bling factor
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/DisplayW...eelModel=RG-F&wheelFinish=Gold+Painted

Already have the wheels. Just need new tires.

 

[iamwiz82]

http://www.kumhousa.com/News/News2005.asp#Sept23

 

[Shawn]

ttt

 

[Tyrant222]

well i use falken ziex ze512's. they are an all season 360 tread wear tire. hardly any road noise from them either. You can get 4 of these for ~300.

When I was shopping around I was looking at the khumo 711's, and the Fuzion ZRI's. these 2 are summer tires with decent treadwear on each. Both also cheap, less than 80 each online.

http://www.edgeracing.com

http://www.discounttiredirect.com

and you know tirerack.com

 

[mercanucaribe]

I have 215/655-16 tires on my 16x6.5 wheels and it works great for protecting the wheels from curbs. I can't even imagine having 185mm tires on 7" wheels... That has to look ricey. In any case, don't buy a crappy brand with low threadwear rating. Buy BF Goodrich's directional one with the 400 rating yet high traction. They are summer tires, and that's fine for Florida.

 

[NutBucket]

You didn't specify what kind of tire you want/need. All-season, summer only, etc.

If you want an all-season I'd recomment Kumho Ecsta ASX. Not sure what my current summer tire rec would be.

 

[mercanucaribe]

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direc...?tpc=MTAHZI&tp=Passenger%2FPerformance

 

[Shawn]

Ok these are the two tires I am looking at:

BF Goodrich g-Force Sport (205/45ZR-16 83 RBL)

and

Falken Ziex ZE-512 (215/40ZR-16 86W REIN)

The Falkens are all season and have higher treadware, but they are also more expensive. I am also worried that since they are 40s I might cause damage to my wheels if I hit a pothole or something, but maybe I'm just paranoid? What seems to be the better choice?

 

[NutBucket]

I doubt you'll have pothole trouble. Are you sure you wouldn't rather get g-Force KDWs?

 

[CraigRT]

Fuzion available in that size?

I have ZRi's on my 17's, they work great and are affordable.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I :heart: my F1 GSD3's

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Ok these are the two tires I am looking at:

BF Goodrich g-Force Sport (205/45ZR-16 83 RBL)

and

Falken Ziex ZE-512 (215/40ZR-16 86W REIN)

The Falkens are all season and have higher treadware, but they are also more expensive. I am also worried that since they are 40s I might cause damage to my wheels if I hit a pothole or something, but maybe I'm just paranoid? What seems to be the better choice?

The theoretical threadwear is only a little better for the Falkens.. 360 vs 340. All season will have less traction than summer, so I'd go with the BF Goodrich tires. You live in Florida (I assume the BF Goodrich work well in water). 40% of 215mm is 86mm, and 45% of 205 is 92mm.. so I don't think if you'd be more likely to damage your wheels. The car will look better with bigger tires though.. 6mm of gap may be visually a very big difference.

 

[cavemanmoron]

265/75/16 Load range E

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...eSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=1

Blizzak W965 with UNI-T studless light truck winter tires were developed to combine good snow and ice traction with commercial light truck load carrying capacity. Available in Load Range E (10 Ply Rated) sizes, Blizzak W965 tires are for the drivers of most medium-duty, heavy-duty and commercial light trucks that require winter driving traction on dry, wet and snow covered roads.

 

[Shawn]

screw it. i'm getting these.

 

[NutBucket]

The Neros are suppose to be awesome tires. Enjoy!

 

[mercanucaribe]

Why the hell are you getting M+S tires?? Going mudding in your car? It doesn't snow in Florida. I wish there was a bang head on wall emoticon. :roll:

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
http://www.kumhousa.com/News/News2005.asp#Sept23

dammit, and I just bought plain old tires for my minivan

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
The Neros are suppose to be awesome tires. Enjoy!

I didn't like them. I much prefer the Goodyear F1's.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: Apex
You didn't specify the width of that wheel.

There may be clearance issues with the wider tires. How close are you now with the 205?

No clearance problems with the 205s. The wheel width is 7".

Shouldn't be much of a problem.

The Goodyear F1 GS-D3 is a good all-around choice in that size.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Shawn
screw it. i'm getting these.

Great choice.

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Why the hell are you getting M+S tires?? Going mudding in your car? It doesn't snow in Florida. I wish there was a bang head on wall emoticon. :roll:

They're ultra-high performance all-seasons. Despite the M&S rating, mud and snow is not where they shine (although they are capable of light snow with a talented driver, but it takes a talented driver to push a Miata through the snow even on the best snow tires). What M&S does mean for these tires is that they have a softer tread compound that works well in a wider range of ambient temperatures, especially temps below 50F, where summer-only tires do not work as well. The OP lives in Northern Florida (per his profile) where it does drop down into the 30s and 40s during the winter.