205/50-16...what tire size are YOU running?

[AG DesignWorks]

Anyone else running this tire size? What size are you running with your 16" wheels?

Had some rubbing issues and i'm just wondering if it's the tire size that's causing the problem.

 

[Jordysoso]

I'm currently running 205/50/16's with no issues whatsoever. My tires are Goodyear eagle gt's. Absolutely love them as a high performance all season tire

 

[OGLaughtzalotzz]

i'm running the same size...got falken's on my wheels...no issues

 

[AG DesignWorks]

What wheels do you have?

I had these tires on a 16x7 Rota with a +40 offset and was scraping the sidewalls on the fenders.

 

[Jordysoso]

Maybe it's your rims? Mine is on stockers

 

[justanothermp5]

What wheels do you have?

I had these tires on a 16x7 Rota with a +40 offset and was scraping the sidewalls on the fenders.

The offset is too low for you to be running such a big tire, step the sidewall down to a 45 and you wont rub anymore

 

[walkingchaos]

im running a 205/50 on a +38, lowered on RB springs, and i had to have my rear fender wells rolled . . . but now im fine

 

[socal5]

Im running 225/45/17 all the way around and the only time I rub is when I have people in the back. I did roll my fenders myself though it was really easy xP and I just ordered tein s techs and camber kit from assualtech.com and stretched tires 205/45/17 for so after that there wont be any rubbing what so ever

 

[brokenpath]

205 45 17 on 2005 Mazda 3 wheels

Just took spacers out and only rubs on front when going over a fairly large bump at speed.
Went with the 45 A/R so I have room to lower.

Running bridgestone potenza grids. Wanted to go with a better tire but decided to go with something in between performance and daily driver because this is my daily driver and I need the tread wear and good wet traction.

Also, even if i make this car faster, Chances are i'll never need anything more than a W rated tire with a 94v load rating. After all, we're driving economy cars not corvettes! We don't need crazy sticky tires that are made for track driving and have 15,000 mile tread life on real roads.

 

[CTt3P5]

The offset is too low for you to be running such a big tire, step the sidewall down to a 45 and you wont rub anymore

^^^this....I've been running 205/50's lowered on S-techs with no issues and a +55 offset....I just need some 10mm spacers to get rid of the hellasunk look. lol

 

[Jackie chan]

215/45/17 with +40. with a 3" wheel gap. seriously 4x4 status. how much ya think it could be lowered and not rub?

 

[AG DesignWorks]

I just looked at my tires, it's actually a 205/55-16. That's even taller than i thought.

What happened was when i bought the car from a dealership, they had put these wheels and tires on the car from a mazda 3. So the set was brand new, but they're too tall for the car, especially after lowering. I have no idea where the orginal wheels and tires are.

Here's how my car looks now. I love the drop, but I'd really like to put the rota's back on. Maybe if i get a lower profile tire (which would help with handling ftw), the tire will be short enough to avoid rubbing.

 

[brokenpath]

I just looked at my tires, it's actually a 205/55-16. That's even taller than i thought.

What happened was when i bought the car from a dealership, they had put these wheels and tires on the car from a mazda 3. So the set was brand new, but they're too tall for the car, especially after lowering. I have no idea where the orginal wheels and tires are.

Here's how my car looks now. I love the drop, but I'd really like to put the rota's back on. Maybe if i get a lower profile tire (which would help with handling ftw), the tire will be short enough to avoid rubbing.

I have the 5 spoke 17" Mazda 3 version and I personally like them They're not really loud, but since the spokes are not rounded they still look just a little agressive and look clean on the car I think the original stock chrome 16's look super gay but that's just me.

The rims aren't too tall for the car, it's your 55 aspect ratio tire. the 55 represents the gap between the rim and the contact surface of the tire. i'd just drop down but you can probably find a deal onc raigslist for wheels AND tires around the same price as a set of brand new tires, but they wont have a warranty.

 

[AG DesignWorks]

Yeah, i get the difference. My problem has been offset.

These wheels: 16x6.5 +50
Rotas i had: 16X7 +40

I put the 205/55 tires on the +40 Rotas and i was rubbing because the tire now sticks out 10mm further than the OE wheels. That's 10mm closer to the fenders. What i'm wondering is if i can get a set of 205/45-16 tires put on the Rotas and not have rubbing issues because the sidewalls are so much shorter (about .81" shorter according to a tire calculator). My fender gap will be bigger on lower profiles, but i'm willing to take that to have better looking wheels and no rubbing.

These are the rotas i had on there before, with the same 205/55's tires. I never bought new tires because the ones that came with the car were brand new. Pic is before i lowered it.

 

[hoanmy]

I run the 205/55 on my stock wheels. Smoother ride but the car gets wobbly, the feeling is closer to losing traction, when I turn left. It doesn't handle the same in a bad way and it throws off your speedometer too. In return it's a smoother ride and much cheaper tire prices then the 195/50

 

[AG DesignWorks]

Make sense. Taller sidewalks usually translate to a smoother ride because the tire can soak up bumps much better. But as you say, it feels wobbly. Those taller sidewalls also mean the tire has softer handling characteristics than a stiffer, low profile tire that doesn't allow as much rollover in the corners.

 

[CTt3P5]

I run the 205/55 on my stock wheels. Smoother ride but the car gets wobbly, the feeling is closer to losing traction, when I turn left. It doesn't handle the same in a bad way and it throws off your speedometer too. In return it's a smoother ride and much cheaper tire prices then the 195/50

You could always run a 205/50, more options than a 195/50 which translate to cheaper tire prices but then you trade the smooth ride for less wobbly.

 

[Jordysoso]

205/50 ftw

 

[slyguy]

205/45/17 for the summer and 195/50/15 for the winter

 

[P5SPDKILLZ]

Hey guys just my .02 but if you're running 16's I recommended running a 45 sidewall. That's what I usually run in summer and handling is great. Have 65's on from the winter still and taller tire = feeling like you're going to tip over when hitting off ramps hard lol