Need new tires...

[Spyder01]

So Im just starting to see the wear bar thing on my stockers after nearly 60,000kms on the pro. I've changed to a 15x6.5 rim at about 42,000kms. Now I need tires, Im planning on getting Falken ze512. BUT, should I be getting the stock 195/55/15 size? Here is the question...

195/55/15 and 205/55/15 for the Falkens are V rated... more than I need since the pro can't even reach 200km/h. Because of this, it is more expensive. About the price of a extra tire compared to sizes such as 195/50/15 or 205/50/15. I went to the tire calculator and the 205/50/15 size would give me about 1.6% off on the speedo. 1.6% difference.. humm... I thought to myself I shouldn't mess up the speedo just to save money and pretty much decided I should go ahead and get the 195/55/15 stock size for $100 more compared to the other sizes. Then I went to the Falken website and their chart says the 195/55/15 size would fit best on a 15x6 rim! s***, lol I have 15x6 which means I should get a 205 size... but 205/55/15 will give me 1.8% difference and 205/50/15 will give me 1.6% difference on the speedometer... ha ha ha now what? I know I could stretch the 195/55/15 falken on my current rim, but I've seen the falkens, and their sidewalls are very straight unlike the stockers where it kind of bulges out.


so,
195/55/15 = stretch tire but speedo correct
205/55/15 = good fit tire but speedo off (1.8% slow)
205/50/15 = good fit tire but speedo slightly off (1.6% fast)

 

[njaremka]

205/50 would be a good compromise, and actually help your accelleration a little bit

 

[Tom03es]

Don't worry about the stupid speedometer error. You can experience the type of error you're fretting over just by wearing a new tire out (the difference in tread height). And that's only assuming your speedometer is accurate to begin with.

 

[jcjax]

wierd, when I last used the tire calculator, compared to the stock 195/55/15, 205/55/15 were slightly faster, not slower. not sure how if the circumference is smaller 205/50/15 that you would be going faster, wouldn't you be losing more ground? I currently use 205/55/15 after replacing the OEM Potenza and I am pretty satisfied, better traction and braking imo.

 

[SciFiMan]

I'm running the 512 in 205/50/15 now. Good size as it adds some more meat to the contact patch. Very good tire for an all season.

 

[Spyder01]

Thanks guy, I ordered the 512 in 205/50/15.