New tire help

[MuddyREX]

I need some new tires. The stockers are 205/55 16. I found a few sites that say that I can fit tires sized 225/50 16 on the stock rims. What would be the advantage of widening the tires?

I can only imagine they would be a little sloppier during cornering since the sidewall bulges out more. My car is AWD, so I do not need any additional traction from a dig.

Info is greatly appreciated.

[TehWagon]

I'm most likely going to risk sounding unedumacated, but aren't you also decreasing the sidewall? That would seem to help the bulging problem a bit... i'm not too bright but my common sense sometimes pulls me thru...
If you need a recommendation as far as brands go, I'm pleased as pie with my BF Goodrich G-Force Sports - they're a performace tire but not super-dooper top of the line.
Good luck ;)

[teh DIRT]

i just got new tires. 17in yokohoma paradas 20540R17. havent driven on em yet but they look like they kick arse.

Teh breakdown.

Wider tires = better grip. The more rubber your grabbing the ground with, the better handling you will achieve.

Smaller Sidewall= less tire roll. When you go low profile the tires are less likely to roll and squish under hard cornering....also improving handling.

-pete

[Blaise]

i just got new tires. 17in yokohoma paradas 20540R17. havent driven on em yet but they look like they kick arse.

Teh breakdown.

Wider tires = better grip. The more rubber your grabbing the ground with, the better handling you will achieve.

Smaller Sidewall= less tire roll. When you go low profile the tires are less likely to roll and squish under hard cornering....also improving handling.

-pete

No offense, but Paradas suck. I thought they were really awesome until I tried a set of real tires (Falken Azenis).

MuddyREX: Are you hellbent on keeping the stock wheels? I'd really recommend a set of 16x7s for summer use, and a set of Kumho MXs for the summer in 225/50/16. :mrgreen:

[wrx_snobordr]

Chris, I am currently running 225/50/16 on stock rims and LOVE THEM. Our size rims are perfect for 225s. The sidewall actually doesnt bubble out at all. Also, this will actually IMPROVE cornering. While no more rubber is in contact with the pavement, your changing the shape of the contact patch. With a 205 the contact patch is more elongated and rectangle like. This makes for great straight road driving and will cut through snow better. But if you want good corner handling you want a wider contact patch that can handle the cornering load. By going to a 225 you will make the contact patch more square, allowing it to handle more latteral force.

As far as tires themselves go, I am running toyo proxes 4. I have no complaints, they are a great all season tire for the price. They handle MUCH better than the re92's. WHile they will not keep up with a set of dedicated summer tires in an auto cross, for daily spirited driving they are more than adequate. They also handle amazingly in the rain and decient in the snow. Ice is another story, but you need studs for that obviously and im an idiot.

[TROLL]

you definitely are widening the contact patch with wider tires. you may not need the traction from a dig but you can always use mroe grip in the corners, and it wont hurt when you're slamming on you're brakes either. 225/50/16s should work well on the stock tires... before you spend $500 on the tires and mounting and balancing, consider looking for a set of used rotas with decent tires for $700-$800 or so. 17x7.5 will handle better than the 16x6.5 and it can handle an even wider tire if you'd like. if you consider that you're saving $500 on rubber and you can sell your stock wheels for $200 ($300 with decent tread left) then it kinda works out if you can find some decent used wheels. just a thought...
bryan

[teh DIRT]

No offense, but Paradas suck. I thought they were really awesome until I tried a set of real tires (Falken Azenis).

MuddyREX: Are you hellbent on keeping the stock wheels? I'd really recommend a set of 16x7s for summer use, and a set of Kumho MXs for the summer in 225/50/16. :mrgreen:

they might suck...but anything is better than the re92 potenzas i had on there.
-pete

[MuddyREX]

With the weather getting warmer, I will be heading out into some dirt and unpaved roads a little more often. Therefore, 17s will not work for me. I don't want to be swapping wheels every two weeks. Thanks for the help everyone.

[thewake]

I need some new tires. The stockers are 205/55 16. I found a few sites that say that I can fit tires sized 225/50 16 on the stock rims. What would be the advantage of widening the tires?

I can only imagine they would be a little sloppier during cornering since the sidewall bulges out more. My car is AWD, so I do not need any additional traction from a dig.

Info is greatly appreciated.

I had 205/55 16's all last year, on stock rims. I had the Falken FK-451's. They were cheap but loud. This year I bought new 17x7.5 wheels for 225/45 17 tires. The extra width is not a problem for the car. The actual grip went up significantly as well.

I think most 225/50 16's will fit on a 6.5" wide rim. Just check the detailed tire specs from the manufacturer. The tire will end up slightly narrower on the 6.5" rim vs. the same tire on a 7" wide rim (the measuring rim), and look like the tread bulges out a little more, as the side walls are pulled in more to meet the lip of the wheel. The tire would then also be slightly taller. The difference should be very minor, and perhaps only noticable by actually doing the measurements.