Need tire help!

[tpweiss9953]

Just purchased....Car is low...
Anyway, on my ride home (850 miles) I developed a bulge in the right rear and now there is a really bad vibration. Fronts are pretty much shot so I need to purchase all 4s.

What are my options? I have looked but cant decide and would like input.

I am driving the car daily so a good all around tire would be preferred and to be honest i hate the tires that are on the car. Prefer flat side walls.

Also, what can i do to the rears to fill in the wheel wells more (ie spacers etc...)?

Also posted in the for sale forum....my bad!

Thanks!

[jason2guy]

yeah id say its a little low, the rear in particular. tires.....first of all- find a really good tire shop, preferablly one w/a hunter road force balancer. as far as brand i just recently purchased a set of michellins that are really nice

[Dublinoh]

Lots of threads on this subject. What size wheels do you have? and how will you be using your car? Be sure you have adequate length studs if you add spacers.

[tpweiss9953]

Will be for daily driving....kinda thinking something middle of the road.
6X16 on the fronts and 7s on the rear.
Currently riding Dunlop SP Sport 8000 205/55zR16 on the front and 245/45zR16 on the rear.

[Dublinoh]

The tires you have now are not original equipment size. Also the number of tire choices that fit a 16 inch wheel has decreased dramatically. If you want a tire for daily driving I would suggest you return to a stock size, 205/55/16 225/50/16, and I would talk to someone at Tirerack.com for an experts opinion. I would probably steer you toward Kumho Ecsta SPT, very good value for the price.

From the Tirerack site:

The Ecsta SPT (KU31) is Kumho's Ultra High Performance Summer tire developed for sports cars, coupes and sedans. The Ecsta SPT was designed to offer grip, handling, comfort, wear and good looks in order to provide enthusiastic drivers the ability to "Drive Hard, 'Go Big,' Look Good." Ecsta SPT tires are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

[Oh Haha]

Check out Falken Ziex912.
I had them on our DD BMW 5 series and they were awesome, dry or wet and even ice/snow.

I have Fierce Instinct VR(made by Goodyear) on my DD Mazda 5 and they are excellent in all weather. The sidewalls are not attractive but that's my opinion.

Buy the correct size as others have posted. 205/55 front, 225/50 rear and then add .25 spacers in the rear. You shouldn't have to change out your lug studs unless you go wider.

[tpweiss9953]

Thanks for everyone's input. Think i might go back to stock sizes. Just want to fill out the wheel wells a bit more...

[tpweiss9953]

Unfortunately the wheels have been chromed. Since i need to buy tires should i just put the 7s upfront and buy wider fuchs for the rear? Or just sell the 6s and 7s and buy a new set all together? Decisions....

[Oh Haha]

Well, if you can swing it, a set of 17's will help with a better selection of tires AND get some more tread in the rear.

[tpweiss9953]

Unless i can find a pair of 8s and put the 7s up front....will probably go with 205/55 for fronts and 225/45 on rear with 1/4in spacer.

[mclmk8d]

Fronts: Continental Extreme Contact DW 205/55-16
Rears : Continental Extreme Contact DW 225/50-16
Continental*ExtremeContact DW

[darrin]

Originally Posted by mclmk8d

Fronts: Continental Extreme Contact DW 205/55-16
Rears : Continental Extreme Contact DW 225/50-16
Continental*ExtremeContact DW

+1, on my second summer with these fine tires -- imo the perfect balance of performance and ride for my daily driver (and they seem to be wearing quite well too) -- although these are summer (warm weather) only tires, that shouldn't be an issue for you down in the bayou (I switch to winter tires from November to April)

[Dublinoh]

Originally Posted by tpweiss9953

Unless i can find a pair of 8s and put the 7s up front....will probably go with 205/55 for fronts and 225/45 on rear with 1/4in spacer.

This sounds good to me, but 225/45 is a typo? should be 225/50. a 225/45 is approx 23.7 in diameter , a 225/50 is 24.9 inch (about the same as 205/55)

I have also had good experiences with the Continental Extreme Contact DWS, but as other said the DW will be better for your location.

[tpweiss9953]

Anybody have 7s and 8s for sale? I like the look of mclmk8d's red coupe.

[mclmk8d]

Originally Posted by tpweiss9953

Anybody have 7s and 8s for sale? I like the look of mclmk8d's red coupe.

Thank you...she is fun to drive!

[Porchcar guy]

Running Kumho ASX on 7' and 8's aftermarket FUCH's with 205/55/16 and 225/50/16 and they are quite good. I have had them on my SC, Camaro, Magnum and RX-7. Quiet, wear well and stick good. I second the road force balancing system and do an alignment plus corner weights and ride ht. Check the archives for heights as they are subjective to the driver. I tried 245's on the rear and they just looked too wide in the fenderwell.

[madmmac]

Loving these:

Dunlop*Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

[darrin]

The 911 offset 7s are actually the same as the rears you currently have, so you COULD get another pair of 7s to run up front and use your current 7s in the rear with spacers.

The 911 offset 8s are harder to find and command a $$$$ premium. Using spacers on your rear 7s will get the rear wheels out to a point that's close to the 8s (there are also 944 offset 8s that don't stick out significantly farther than the 911 7s).

Putting 7s up front can cause rubbing issues between the tires and inner fenders that's generally solved by rolling the inner fenders.

The tire sizes for 6s and 7s are the same as those for 7s and 8s (205/55-16 front and 225/50-60 rear), so you may want to start by getting tires and simply swap out the wheels if/when you find a set of 7s/8s that work for you.

[tpweiss9953]

Yep, think i am going with 6s and 7s until i can come up with all the extra cash for 8s. Just use stock wheel size and 1/4in spacer for the rears. Should work nicely. We will see.

Thanks for everyones help!!

[tpweiss9953]

Okay mine are for sale now. Starting at $900 but i am open to offers or trades/cash for RS Carpet and door panels.

Looking to move these by mid next week when my new 6s and 7s come in.

PM if interested.