new tires: 195/55-15 or 205/50-15?

[Astral]

My stock Bridgestones are gonna be reaching the wear bars in just 2-3K miles, so I need new tires. I have the stock 15" LX rims. Looking for summer tires, not all-seasons, since I have separate winter tires.

I'm looking at Yokohama AVS ES-100's, since they got really good reviews from most people. Even if they are imperfect, still great bang for the buck.

I don't know whether to go for the wider 205/50-15, or stay with the stock 195/55-15. Is anyone running with 205/50-15 on stock 15" LX rims? Any insights? Any pictures?

Tirerack.com has Yoko AVS ES100s for:

• 195/55-15: $58/tire, $259.84 total w/ insurance
• 205/50-15: $75/tire, $331.52 total w/ insurance

$71 difference.

Is it worth it? Well, if the tires really were wider, it would be. However, since the stock rim is 6" and not 6.5", apparently the width increase won't be as dramatic.

According to this data, we have:

• 195/55-15: tread width of 7.1", overall width 7.8", as measured on a 6" rim (887 revs/mile)
• 205/50-15: tread width of 7.5", overall width 8.2", as measured on a 6.5" rim (894 revs/mile)
• 205/50-15: tread width of 7.3" (???), overall width 8.0", as estimated on a 6" rim

So I gain .4" (10mm) on both width and tread with, assuming I switch to a 6.5" wide rim. However, I'd be staying with a 6" rim.According to Tirerack, "The width of a tire mounted on a narrow rim would be "narrower" than if the same tire was mounted on a wide rim. The industry rule of thumb is that for every 1/2" change in rim width, the tire's section width will correspondingly change by approximately 2/10"." So, with the estimated numbers, I only gain .2" on the section/overall width of the tire.

.2" gain doesn't seem worth $71. Or am I all wrong about this?

*shrugs*

 

[95ProLeila]

You have to remember you're decreasing the sidewall too, which will add stiffness in the tire, which is just as important as width.

 

[Astral]

You have to remember you're decreasing the sidewall too, which will add stiffness in the tire, which is just as important as width.

Yeah, I was actually more in it for looks Good point, though. Still $71 extra?

Anyone else has some insights?

 

[davens]

You have to remember you're decreasing the sidewall too, which will add stiffness in the tire, which is just as important as width.

Actually the sidewall measurement is a ratio...not an absolute number
50 does not necessarily mean less then 55.
195-55-x and 205-50-x are nearly identical sidewall sizes.
215-50 would even be hair larger then a 195-55-x

The only trade off going to the larger 205 that I can see is any extra lbs the extra rubber carries.

 

[Astral]

Ok, so since I'd be gaining minimal tread width, and sidewalls are similar, I think I'm giong to go with 195/55/15, since it appears that it won't look any wider really.