Hi, I just put a set of factory 1995 turbo rims on my car (1990 Talon TSi FWD) I was wondering if I could replace my current tires (205 55 R16) with wider and lower profile tires. Also what do you recommend for an all season perfomance tire, with excellent dry and wet traction. Thanks!

About the widest tire that would fit on the stock 16x6 rims would be a 215 tire, but even that looks a bit pinched at the bead.

On wider aftermarket rims, you can go with a 225/50R16, which is the same overall diameter as the stock 205/55R16, but you should realize that the actual sidewall height is identical, since "profile" is expressed as a percentage of the tread width, so 55% of 205 mm is 112.75 mm and 50% of 225 mm is 112.5 mm.

To get a "truly" lower profile you would have to get a larger diameter rim, e.g., 17's or 18's.

If you run a lower profile which actually gives you a smaller overall diameter (e.g., 215/50R16), your speedo will always show a little faster than you're really going and your klicks will rack up faster. If your overall diameter gets larger (e.g. 215/55R16), your speedo will show slower than your are going (actually, I find this tire size gives my speedo a dead-on reading compared to those radar signs by the side of the road that tell you your speed).

Um, that's probably not what you were asking...

As for tires, you really should run a dedicated set of summer tires and a dedicated set of winter tires. There is no such thing as a "good" all-season tire.

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Marta
90 Eclipse GSX
92 Talon TSi AWD
http://i.am/dsmgrrrl

Thanks for replying, but the guy that sold me the tires said I could put any size on them, as long as they were 16". He said he had 245's on them. His car was a 1995 TSi. I was mostly concerned about how wider tires would fit my 1990 car...

P.S. I just bought these rims today, so I don't think I'm going to get 17" aftermarket rims anytime soon.

[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited July 30, 2000).]

Jeff, everything Marta said is correct. However, if you want to put 245's on your 6" rims, no one is going to stop you; but it's not a very smart thing to do. The reason is that the tire bead will not properly seat on the rim because, as Marta points out, the tire has to "pinch" in to accomodate the narrow rim. Also, the "pinched" sidewall will be less stable, resulting in decreased performance (cornering, braking, etc).

But your question: what's the widest tire that will fit in the wheel well. I think 245's will fit but I'm sure the'd rub a bit on full turns. (I have 225's on my 90 FWD--but, of course, I have 7 inch rims (16x7)).

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90 Talon TSi FWD
90 Talon TSi AWD

A good all-season tire for those that can't afford two seperate sets? The BF Goodrich CompTA VR4 would do it, as well as a really cheap tire, the Dean Quasar (which I have).

These would be good only when new, though. Let the tread wear down about halfways, and you'll be riding on pontoons. The AWD helps a lot on snow and ice, but does dick-all in slush...

As for sizes, both the tire width and profile help your cornering, but below a 55 series tire the width becomes a lot more important than the profile. So a 205/45 won't do much more than a 205/55 except give you a harsher ride and increase the chance of dinging your wheels.

The TSi can accept a 245 tire, but I think it would rub in the front without a modified offset. You're also talking about using the stock rims, so that size would be out. What a friend of mine is doing is running 225/50R16 on the rear, with 205/55/16 on the front. He only pushes the car on straight-line blasts (and his is underpowered anyway) so roll-over in the rear is not important. He only did that because he didn't think 225's would fit up front, though. Note that this can only be done with the same brand of tires (different brands can be different heights, even of the same size tire) and only between the 205/55 and 225/50 sizes, as it's only a 0.79% difference.

Now, 245/45's in the rear with 225/50's in the front? Would be sweet if it'd work right. (:

Jeff,

I guess you must have not heard me correctly. I said, I had 225/50-16's not 245's? Anyways, I told you, you could put any size tire YOU want on the rim as long as they fit 16's, that's up to you. If you check the ClubDSM site under The Auto X-Files, under Tires, under DSM Wheel/Tire fitment Guide for 2G's. It will show you that the 95/96 TSIAWD come with stock 16x6 215/55-16's. I don't want people on here thinking I was ******* you around. Just want to clarify things.

Fred

Ok, so could I get away with 225 50(or 45) 16's all around? 225's should fit the rims and not rub the car, right??

P.S. sorry for my ignorance I've been driving a 1988 Mazda 323 for the past 3 yrs.

Jeff,

Like I said, I put on the 225/50-R16's 91H on my stock rims before I got the new rims and the tires that I bought actually made the car feel a LITTLE more comfy/softer that's if you want that. They were Dunlop D60's A2. They drove great and looked a lot better than stock 215/55-16's.

Fred

I got 245/35/17 all around with Eibach sportline lowering springs and I still have a 1"+ gap . No rubbing on the fender but when I make very sharp right/left turns it rubs a bit on the inside of the wheel well. Notihing major though. Im hoping with AGXs it might lower it a bit more.

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"Wheeez"
'90 FWD Laser RST
ICQ# 54853135

225/50's will work all around. I don't know if I'd try 45's, they'd work the sidewall pinch even more with the stock rims.

225/50R16's in an H rating, Fred? That's why you're getting a complimentary 'softer' ride. That's a med. performance touring tire that you have there. Try the same thing with any Z range, or even a V rated tire. The sidewalls are a lot harder.

I forgot to mention that those 245's are not on stock rims. The rims are 7 1/2" and fit quite well.

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"Wheeez"
'90 FWD Laser RST
ICQ# 54853135

Troy,

Ya I know it's a Touring Tire but I use it as a daily driver and don't plan on going high speeds any time soon. When my warranty on the car runs out in 2 years than I might get serious about the mods and possibly racing. So far just the basics: Nology Wires, Ngk7's, boost gauge, Brode UIC pipe with a 1gbov and a BBC (thanks Vlad!) but I haven't put it on yet since I've been contemplating on getting a cat-back. If anyone could suggest a Cat-Back with a 4" inch tip or smaller that isn't going to be much louder than stock, Please let me know! It doesn't matter if it comes from the U.S or here.

Fred

I am currently running on 225 45 17 on my 6 or 6.5 (don't remember) inches stock wheels. They fit pefectly. I think it depend on tire brand. 225 is not the same thing on different tires. You have to check the tires specs in books.

I install Marangoni and love those tires.

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Talon Tsi AWD 1997
Red.
Basic mods.

The easiest way to find out if a tire will fit a rim is ask at a tire shop. Most manufacturers have a minimum/maximum rim width listing in their catalogue. I sell a lot of tires at work and have checked the rim vs. tire width for the 245/45r16 and the minimum most recomend is a 8" rim. There are a couple of exceptions but they list a 7.5". The 225 is the largest tire that will fit on a 6" rim. No reputable shop would even try the 245, to much chance of the tire unseating from the bead.

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Darren Schoff
90 Laser Turbo