Tire size question

[gost]

I have 6 & 7- 16" Fuchs rims and need new tires now. Standard size for the rims are 205/55-fronts 225/50-rears. Can I put 215/55 or 50 on the fronts and 235/50 or 45 on the rears with the rims I have? I want to put on the widest tires I can. I did a search but could not find the answer. Any input is appreciated.

Gost

[cbeers]

Hey gost,

I was unable to get 225s on the front with 16/7 Fuchs. Others have been able to and there are a lot of variables, but on my stock '87 Carrera, I could not do it. It would rub on turn in......

You may have better luck with those sizes


-Chris

[anthony]

I wouldn't go larger. The stock tire sizes already bulge out from rim too much in my opinion. I just put my 7" Fuchs in the front and got a set of 8" Fuchs for the rear. They seem like a much better fit for the stock 205/225 tire sizes. The contact patch seems more stretched out and flatter.

[gost]

I just spoke to TireShack.com and they tell me that 205/55 in front is max and that 245/45 is the only option in the rear but with the 245's the car will not feel as nimble as with the 225/50's. 245 sounds wide for a 7"rim no? They have no option fro 215/50-45/16 on fronts or 235/45-50 on rears. I know I've seen them and they sound like a happy medium. I will keep digging. Looks over handling...hmmmm!

Thanks for the info guy's.

[stlrj]

TireShack.com and they tell me that 205/55 in front is max

Not exactly accurate. I have 215 60 16's up front without any problems. But it also depends how low your front end is.

Thinking about 225's in the future.

Joe

[gost]

Differences in opinion are a-plenty with tire sizing. I'm thinking if I want wider rubber and better traction that the way to go would be to move the 7's up front with 225/50's and get 8's for the rear and put 245/45's on them. It would mean a hefty outlay of cash though which is scarce these day's. Perhaps the best option is to stick to the 205/55's and 225/50's and put good rubber on them. Perhaps PS2's or Yoko's AVS Sports or S02's or Kuhmo Ecsta MX. I've also heard really good things about the Avon Tech M500. Anyone hear or have experience with the Avons? Great pricing and excellent performance as well. Then I could keep my eyes open for 8" Fuchs at a good deal and do as planned at that time.
Thanks again to all.

[gost]

So I ended up getting the Yokohama AVS ES100 205/55/16 up front and 225/50/16 in the rear. I know it's a level down from the PS2 and AVS Sport and even the MX but I'm not running the car on track or very hard so the ES100"s look great and perform admirably for the price. By the way I got them at Pep Boys who price match and beat by 5% any price out there even on the web, just print out the price sheet and bring it into them. You also get free mounting and hi speed balance with the purchase of 4 tires which I did. And if that was not enough of a bargain I also got a $50 gift card for free with this coupon I've been holding which was out of one of their promo calenders which cost a buck.
Total cost installed for the Yoko's was $ 321 plus the $50 gift card so really it was $ 271......is that remarkable or what?
So all of you can give them a try as well. Just print out Tire Racks quotes and run like the wind to Pep Boy's or I'm sure others will do it as well ie: AutoZone etc.

[Carl83911]

Keep the stock rims and use spacers if you want the tires to fill the fenders space.

[cbeers]

Hey Gordon.

Those are the tires I run, and while they are not SO3s, they ARE pretty decent tires. You can't beat the price either. I figure while I am scrubbing around wasting through tires learning to drive, I may as well use these. Plus, they give PLENTY of warning before letting loose


-Chris

[serge944]

Stretching those larger tires on the 6&7s would be overkill. In fact, the car will not only handle worse with the larger tires, but the 205/225s will actually grip better (laterally) once the tire pressures are ideal.

[gost]

I think I made the right choice considering the use of the vehicle especially based on all of your feedback and man-o-man the price was right. I'll post how I like them next week although I hear that there is a minor break-in period before getting to the fruit of the tire. The spacer idea I will keep in mind as well.
thanks for all your input

[gost]

Just curious about what tire pressures you guys run. Factory is 29 front & 36 rear as you all know. I am a bit aggressive and do hit the 120mph+ mark often but don't track the car. With the new Yoko's I want to treat them right as I'm sure pressure is proportional to wear especially on that tire. When I read reviews on it I was puzzled at how many mixed remarks there were on tread life, from 10k or less to 30k. Most had no or very little track time on them. I would imagine that different tires react differently at various pressures. Are Yoko's set differently than Michelins or Kumho's etc?

[PatrickB]

Originally posted by gost
Just curious about what tire pressures you guys run. Factory is 29 front & 36 rear as you all know. I am a bit aggressive and do hit the 120mph+ mark often but don't track the car. With the new Yoko's I want to treat them right as I'm sure pressure is proportional to wear especially on that tire. When I read reviews on it I was puzzled at how many mixed remarks there were on tread life, from 10k or less to 30k. Most had no or very little track time on them. I would imagine that different tires react differently at various pressures. Are Yoko's set differently than Michelins or Kumho's etc?

I would agree with most of everyone's comments posted. The 245/50's would look fat, but wouldn't handle as well on the 7 inch wide wheels... My Carrera has 6 & 7's x 16 with the 205/55 & 225/50's. Ya just gotta have rim width to fill out the tire for optimum handling! Other important factors include the obvious tire quality, but also lowering the ride height makes a huge difference. I lowered my Carrera about an inch... WOW what a difference!
On my 70T, I'm running 15 x 8 & 9's. 205/50's on the front, and 225/50's on the rear, with spacers.... The wheels on the T really fill out the rubber. This car actually handles better than the Carrera...

Following my mechanic's advice, with the Carrera, I actually run 35lbs in the front, and about 30lbs. in the rear. With the car lowered, I'm able to get longer life out of the tires - usually 18k on the rear's, and about 30k on the front's...
As a general rule, you can usually expect about twice the tread life on the fronts. This of course depends on how hard you drive.... If you are driving all the rubber off the rears by 10k, chances are you will not make 20k on the fronts

My only SERIOUS concern with having the tires installed at Pep Boys, is having some 19 year old high school drop-out with an impact gun in his hands, tightening the lugs to probably 300 ft. lbs. of torque... They should be no more than 100 ft. lbs. max on factory Fuchs Wheels! Check them ASAP!! Over torqued lugs could potentially cause cracks and ultimately wheel failure...

[livi]

I went the other way.
From 215/50 - 235/45 on 17" rims to standard size on 16".

The ride is Soo much better. The whole car feels lighter, quicker in response and more pleasant and comfortable overall.

Just my observations - of course I donīt track.

[gost]

I'm glad I stuck with the stock sizes for the rims. I picked up my wheels from Pep Boys just now, I took them off and brought them in...just to be safe, and man they look sweet. I know people there so the top mechanic does my wheels on their special no contact tire changer. I'm about to do a valve adjustment so I won't throw them on till I'm done and man I'm itchin to try them out. Thanks for your feedback Pat and Markus.

Gordon