205/45-16 vs. 205/55 Front tires

[87maniac]

I'm running 7x16 \ 8x16 '87Carrera3.2

Considering running 45's /vs/ 55's in front.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport - Size: 205/45ZR16


~3lbs. lighter, smaller sidewall + 1.75-2.00" smaller diameter
= better turnin and 'feel'. ?????

Why Not ??? Comments please!

[T77911S]

you will never notice anything other than looks.

the 55 will look taller than the rear if you run a 45 in the rear.

[trond]

I too have been thinking to maybe go lower profile in the front to reduce rubbing and sharpen steering response. With matching rears for looks and reduced rolling diameter

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 87maniac

I'm running 7x16 \ 8x16 '87Carrera3.2

Considering running 45's /vs/ 55's in front.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport - Size: 205/45ZR16


~3lbs. lighter, smaller sidewall + 1.75-2.00" smaller diameter
= better turnin and 'feel'. ?????

Why Not ??? Comments please!

Here's what it looks like, You gain ~8lb-ft of torque for acceleration, turn in will be a tad better, you get more clearance at the front lip, thew car will gain more nose down this last may be good or bad it depends on the rear

[T77911S]

no acceleration from the front.

you will never notice the turn in difference.
if you are planning on tracking it then find a better tire especially if that is an all season tire.

I just tracked my 930 with those, although I never tracked it with the Michelins I had on I thought the michs were better. BUT!! when I went to track the 930 I found that the shop aired my tires up to "spec" which was like 46 in the rear and 40 in the front or something really hi so the street driving I was doing on them was influenced by over inflated tires. (slip angles were much higher and car was not stable).
I did do a mountain drive at those pressures and even though the added over steer helped in the tight turns I felt I had no corner speed.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by T77911S

you will never notice the turn in difference.
if you are planning on tracking it then find a better tire especially if that is an all season tire.

I just tracked my 930 with those, although I never tracked it with the Michelins I had on I thought the michs were better. BUT!! when I went to track the 930 I found that the shop aired my tires up to "spec" which was like 46 in the rear and 40 in the front or something really hi so the street driving I was doing on them was influenced by over inflated tires. (slip angles were much higher and car was not stable).
I did do a mountain drive at those pressures and even though the added over steer helped in the tight turns I felt I had no corner speed.

no acceleration from the front.

you will never notice the turn in difference. ]

really, do tell?

[msterling]

If 225/50-16 will fit on the front without rubbing you might get better turn in, more ultimate grip up front and consequently less understeer. You might need to increase negative camber and roll the fenders a bit for clearance. Stock wheels and/or offset? BV is the oracle on wheel fitment.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by msterling

If 225/50-16 will fit on the front without rubbing you might get better turn in, more ultimate grip up front and consequently less understeer. You might need to increase negative camber and roll the fenders a bit for clearance. Stock wheels and/or offset? BV is the oracle on wheel fitment.

Its a bit of a toss up 225/50 on 8 would be better than 205/55 on 7 but, 225/50 on 7 gives up some grip compared to on 8, the biggest issue w/ 225/50 x16 is the height, you need to tuck the wheel a bit further inboard because of this and usually restrict ride height and add - camber, if going to a 225/ front 225/45 is much shorter and uses much less energy to rotate but you want an 8 to use it. The usual Fuchs 8ET23.8 works better w/ this tire than w/a 225/40 because of the shorter height.

Even 205/55 x16 on Fuchs 7ET23.3 can have issues at the lips w/ certain ride heights and alignments

[msterling]

The Conti Extreme Contact Sport doesn't come in 225/45-16. He could use Dunlop Direzza ZIII or Toyo Proxes R1R which are both fairly streetable and 200TW. He could find another pair of 8's and run a square setup. It is tough to find the tires you want for 16" wheels.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by msterling

The Conti Extreme Contact Sport doesn't come in 225/45-16. He could use Dunlop Direzza ZIII or Toyo Proxes R1R which are both fairly streetable and 200TW. He could find another pair of 8's and run a square setup. It is tough to find the tires you want for 16" wheels.

True
Here's what sort of square 7 & 8 x16 might look like, this would be useful for A/X, you lose ~5.5lb-ft of torque in this comparaison, due to the tire weights, front is short like in the original proposal, this induces more nose down which can be good or bad, it just depends on the rest of the setup



You used to be able to fit a 225/45 & 245/45 x16 on 8 & 9 but that choice has gone the way of the Dodo

[87maniac]

I'm talkin' 'shorter' front tires here and Stock size rear tires.
Here's the result.
About the same tread width, in a shorter sidewall.
dropped the front height a bit, lighter feel steering slow speeds.

[Bill Douglas]

Could lower the car instead. There looks to be a bit of spare room above the tires.

[DeRRis]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Could lower the car instead. There looks to be a bit of spare room above the tires.

Not only above the wheel. Also at the front and rear. The wheel looks to small imho.