The cars in the states here came with 195/55R15.

 

Hey Jim, I am thinking of a more performance oriented tire for my GE(currently running 205/50/16 Fuel max). The candidates are the Conti Extreme contact, Dunlop Direzza Z1s or Bridgestone Potenza re760s. Do you recomend one of these over the others for this car. Would there be any reason to go with 195s over the 205s?
Thanks for your time and advice.
If anyone else has an opinion please chime in. Thanks

 

If you are looking for more performance the Dunlop would be the best. The RE760 would be a good combination of better performance, ride quality and tread life than the Dunlop. It really depends on where you set the priorities.
If I can help let me know.

 

currently im running 185/55/16's but two of my tires are completely bald due to alignment issues. Are there any effects to running (2)195/55/16s with (2)185/55/16 tires? Should i put the 195s on the front since they're wider?

 

I would match the tires if you are only going to do two tires. The 195/55R16 is also a taller tire and can throw off the anti lock brakes. You are also going to end up with mis matched tires as well.

 

Hey guys...kind of a wish list here but I'm looking at Enkei RPF1 16x7 +43 offset wheels with Dunlop Z1 Star Spec tires at 205/50/16.

-I understand that recommended offset is +45. Are there any disadvantages to using 2-3mm spacers when mounting the new wheels?

-Would this combo work with stock suspension setup with 0 rubbing? (With or without spacers)

-Would this combo work with a slightly lowered (1.2" F 1" R) suspension setup with 0 rubbing? (With or without spacers)

Probably won't get any of this anytime soon; just researching the possibilities =D I will probably get the wheels/tires first and I may want to upgrade to the Progress springs at some point in the future - would be nice to make sure my chosen setup will work for stock suspension as well as the mild lowering of the Progress springs.

 

First off the tires are too big. Stay with a 205/45R16 tire and the diameter stays the same as stock. Any wheel lower than the 45mm offset and you can have rubbing issues. If you lower the car it would be even worse. You would need to roll the fender lips to make it work.

 

Wouldn't spacers would be a much more economical alternative to rolling the fenders?

I have 205/50's being 1.52mm larger than stock, but 205/45's being 18.95mm smaller. I'm interesting in filling the stock wheel well out a little more while still having room to use slightly lower/stiffer springs at some point, so the 205/45's are probably a good idea.

What if I used the 43 offset Enkei's, +3 spacer, and stuck with the 205/50's? I didn't see the Star Spec tires in narrower widths/aspects but I didn't check all possible combinations...

 

Spacers will make it worse. They move the wheel and tires even further toward the fenders.

 

OK now I'm confused...is a +43 offset +2mm spacer significantly different from a +45 offset? I'd prefer to avoid spacers altogether, but I thought this plan would get me to the recommended offset and help avoid rubbing on the fender well.

Regardless, it looks like some good choices are available in the 205/45/16 range. This will result in a little shorter than stock diameter, but I guess it will provide some extra motivation to get the lowering springs installed. Any GE8 owners around with a similar combination?
Progress springs 1.2" F 1.0" R drop
Enkei RPF1 16x7 +43 offset
205/45/16 tires

Any recommendations regarding Potenza RE760 vs. Yoko S. Drive tires?

 

Adding a spacer lowers the offset. It would make the rubbing worse.

 

So it will...man I feel silly right about now. Checking out some other wheel options now; thanks for the info =D

 

[quote=Charles Lasitter;9034]Tires have specs for section width, rim width, and rim width range.
(Plus lots of other stuff).

Looking at a Pirelli PZero Nero 225/45-WR17, it lists a rim width of
7.5" and a rim width range of 7-9".

If this wide tire were mounted on a 17x7" wheel, it would seem that
the sidewalls would protrude a bit on either side, offering the rim
some small level of protection against curb scrubbing.

That would seem to be a good thing, but what I need to figure out is
if there are any handling / ride considerations for using a 7" rim
versus a 9" rim.Any implications for sidewall flexing / rolling resistance / contact
patch / "spring" effect on a tire as a car enters a corner?
quote]


There are 2 issues you need to consider when changing tires/wheels.
1. Any additional weight of the tires/wheels will cost you in acceleration and mpg. A wider wheel than 7" is purely for looks, not for performance assuming you get the offset right'
2. Any larger diameter tire will slow acceleration and mpg unless the tire is much lighter than the one replaced. The bigger the diameter the harder it is for the engine to turn. If you go wider you need to have shorter diameter.

You can get better cornering merely by changing the brand of tire. A wider section tire will not necessarily yield better cornering. The tire construction and tread composition rule that issue. And wider also means less contact pressure which may not be a good thing; there is an optimum road contact poressure for squeezing that tread rubber into the surface pores. Grip.
Right now our hot shoes are using Dunlop Direzza Stars in 185/60x14 size. Lightest tire.
We have one here with 14x5.5 wheels that weigh only 8.2 pounds each that is cleaning the clocks of any other Fit especially those with 205 width tires. And another with a 14x6 wheel that weighs 9.5 pounds mounting 185/60 Direzza Stars is closest behind. 195/50's are next.

 

I have an 09 Fit Sport 5MT and at 41k+ I'll need to buy new tires very soon.

There's d*mn all available in the stock 185/55/16 other than OEM, but I'd like to upgrade to a tire that's quieter and more comfortable.

Fuel economy isn't a big issue, but I'd prefer not to lose too much MPG.

The new tires will need to fit the stock Sport alloys.

Would appreciate any and all recommendations....

Thanx
Alex

 

I'd recommend 195/50x16 tires, preferably one that fits what performance you want. For good mpg choose oine with high UTOG rating like a michelin, or a hipo one from TireRack ratings, like ContiExtremeContacts, which is both lightweight and has good performance along with high UTOG as well. Both are SOOOO much better than stock.

 

Take a look at the 205/50R16 tires. A tire like the Yokohama Avid Envigor would be excellent for the car. They are an all season performance tire with a low rolling resistance rubber compound. They are quiet and smooth riding with better handling than the OE tires. They are in stock at 100.00 each and they have a 40.00 mail in rebate.
If I can help let me know.

 

Thank you both!

The Yokohama looks good & I'll probably order early next week after I talk to the tire place I use about having them delivered there.

 

Just give me a call if I can help.

 

Jim I have a question--I've been keeping up with/reading this thread for a while.

I noticed a few posts back, you were saying that 205/50 would be too big...and then more recently, recommended that someone get a 205/50.

I personally want to run 205/50 as it is much closer to stock diameter than 205/45...and in order to accomodate, I am trying to find a +45mm rim for my car (which is proving difficult--especially keeping weight savings in mind)

I am interested in the Continental Extreme Contact DWS...

Can you help with any insight? Thanks!



There are some people here that have reported running 40mm with 205/50 and lowered with no rubbing...(on GE's)

 

Let me know what year and model the car is and I can check.