Wheels tires suspension advice please

[sleepwalker]

Anyone tried the Falken ZE 512's?

I'm not 100% certain what model they were, but when I first bought my car in 2007 it had Falken tires on it, and something about ZE 512 is sticking out in my head; that may have been them.

I came from a Neon with Douglas Xtra-Trak 185-65-14's on stock steelies, so I didn't have a basis for comparison at the time, but for the first few days I had my P5 on Falkens I was insanely impressed with the way it rode and handled.

I also bought a tire replacement package when I bought the car, and so after a few days they had me bring the car back in so they could put brand new tires on it for the tire package. They put on a set of Dunlop something-or-other, and when driving home, within a few miles of the dealer I could feel the difference - and I did not like the Dunlops.

I guess what I'm saying is, I had Falkens for a few days and didn't realize how much I liked them until they were replaced with something else.

 

[P-Funk!]

Consider just painting (or powdercoating) your stock wheels & get the tires you mention at the 205/45/16 size...
Cheap and effective.

Keep stock springs and replace rears when the ride gets 'jouncy'.

My $.02 worth.

 

[tweety2300]

I'm not 100% certain what model they were, but when I first bought my car in 2007 it had Falken tires on it, and something about ZE 512 is sticking out in my head; that may have been them.

I came from a Neon with Douglas Xtra-Trak 185-65-14's on stock steelies, so I didn't have a basis for comparison at the time, but for the first few days I had my P5 on Falkens I was insanely impressed with the way it rode and handled.

I also bought a tire replacement package when I bought the car, and so after a few days they had me bring the car back in so they could put brand new tires on it for the tire package. They put on a set of Dunlop something-or-other, and when driving home, within a few miles of the dealer I could feel the difference - and I did not like the Dunlops.

I guess what I'm saying is, I had Falkens for a few days and didn't realize how much I liked them until they were replaced with something else.

Close to bald tires will hook up and handle better than a new tire. But new tire will do better in wet and snow conditions

 

[John_1975]

Consider just painting (or powdercoating) your stock wheels & get the tires you mention at the 205/45/16 size...
Cheap and effective.

Keep stock springs and replace rears when the ride gets 'jouncy'.

My $.02 worth.

Sensible plan. I'm going to go 50 ratio if I can though. What kind of rims on your little avatar pic? Can I see some bigger photos of that car?

 

[sleepwalker]

Close to bald tires will hook up and handle better than a new tire. But new tire will do better in wet and snow conditions

You may be right, it was years ago, but IIRC, they looked pretty new - or at least had decent tread depth on them. The tires didn't *need* replaced when I got the car, but it was required in the terms of the tire package I got.

I wish I'd never gotten the package, as I paid quite a lot of money for nothing - by the time I needed a tire replaced, the tire package had expired.

 

[John_1975]

In later comparisons, CR ranked the 512's midpack among UHP all-season tires and noted they had been surpassed by newer tires.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/tires.htm

What criteria do they rate them on? I wonder how important road noise is in their tests? I drive like a grandpa so. That's my nickname with one of my friends actually. lol I don't see how you can make this car do well in the snow. It's a little better than my compact rear drive truck but not much.

 

[pcb]

lol I don't see how you can make this car do well in the snow. It's a little better than my compact rear drive truck but not much.

Snow Tires !!!,... Up here in the great white north, EVERY P5 I see in the winter has their winter wheels on, unless they don't mind crashing their car. P 195/50/16's are a "sport/ performance" size tire. All seasons are still too much of a compromise for snow and ice. Our snows are on 15" winter rims. P 195/55/15's,... super soft and sticky.

 

[tweety2300]

Snow Tires !!!,... Up here in the great white north, EVERY P5 I see in the winter has their winter wheels on, unless they don't mind crashing their car. P 195/50/16's are a "sport/ performance" size tire. All seasons are still too much of a compromise for snow and ice. Our snows are on 15" winter rims. P 195/55/15's,... super soft and sticky.

+1 had Firestone winter force on my 323 with an open diff and I couldn't get it stuck in 8". Wish I still had pics but lost them with my old phone. Only issue I had was having to stop on a hill cause someone else got stuck. And it's lighter than the protege. LSD will also help my Honda had 175-65-13 with LSD and it didn't have any issues in the snow either and it weighed 1900 lbs

 

[kamesama980]

205/55r16 nokian I3s on factory rims clear with no rubbing on the strut. factory suspension. I doubt there'll be a satisfying difference going from a 45 to 50 sidewall. I'd strongly recommend going to 15's as mentioned.

ANY performance spring/strut will be stiffer and probably lower. If you want ride comfort, don't go that route. I'd suggest stock springs with regular replacement struts (you'd be surprised how rough the ride can be with bad struts even though logically it would be the other way round) but get decent quality ones, not the cheapest OE replacements (as in: don't get monroe matics, get the OEspectrum (AKA sensatrack). Personally I'd go with the KYBs over monroe too. Don't even bother with gabriel. Get them at rockauto for a MUCH better price. Dont forget the strut mounts.

 

[anthonyallred]

Thanks. This thread helped a lot.

 

[anthonyallred]

I'm looking for some tires for the stock 16" wheels. This thread has helped, what's the biggest I can go as far as width for the tires. Need more options for used tires online. Thanks.

 

[Installshield 2]

To the OP:

not sure if it was mentioned...but you could always try and source a set of 15" protege wheels...i'm not sure if the 15" wheels ever had the same 5 lug pattern though, so you may have to look at aftermarket options...however, in that size range, wheels would be cheap...

the smaller wheel diameter will allow you to run a 55 or even 60 aspect tire...and no fitment issues...you'll seriously be into a 'comfort' oriented set up with that, as you'll definitely lose some handling with a sidewall that large...