Who's used 205/55/16 on OEM P5 wheels?

[grunt_99]

I need to replace the OEM Dunlops on my 03 P5 (I use winter's 5 months of the year and only put on like 20,000 km's/year so they've lasted a good while, probably 12 of those 20 are on the non-winter's). Canadian driver, East coast. First post too!

I have the leather pkg that added the sunroof and polished wheels, but I believe they're the same size as the base P5 (correct me if I'm wrong).

So I need tires, but my local places (small town PEI) charge way too much for the stock size (195/50/16).

This car is mainly for my wife, and drives 2 toddlers around in it. Mainly city, with occasional highway driving. So we don't need an autoXing super sticky tire. ANything that's going to last for at least 50,000k's is what I want. Quiet is better too (found the dunlops loud, but good other than that, and the low treadlife).

So 2 Q's:

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1 - 205/55/16 siz (and part B - Nexen n5000/n3000)

So I'm considering the best match from Wal-Mart, it's a Nexen N5000, but in 205/55/16. Nexen seems to get decent reviews in my google'ing. They have a sportier model too in that size N3000, same price. The 5000 are 110km rated, the 3000 are 75km.

So does anyone knwo this Nexen brand (are their 205 a typical 205, or are they wider/skinnier than typical?) Are they decent?

Or, has anyone run this size in other brands (I've searched and there are some) - did you like? I don't care about 5% speedo probs etc. Do they look ok? Turn your handeling to crap??? Safe?

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2 - OEM sizes, what ones last longer (Proxes4, Falken 512, Kumho ASX)

If I stick with OEM size I'm going to have to order online. Then it'll be either the Kumho ASX (some love, some hate), Toyo Proxes 4 (great, but may not last long enough?), or Falken Ziex ZE-512 (also good, but some say they don't last in < 60 series sizes).

The web retailers are suggesting the ASX's, but I think the others sound better. Searching on here turns up mixed results. Of the 3, what last longer - if they're all close to the same lifespan, what one is a better overall tire? And I do drive in cold temps with the non-winters on, so a pure summer tire is no good (these 3 are ok right?).
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Thanks in advance lads. And is going 4.7ish% oversize a problem like one website said (they state brakes could fail over 3% diff)? Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give ALLLL the relevant info. (blah)

 

[JCell]

205-45-16 over here

 

[bluenoser]

Hi from a fellow maritimer,

I would stick close to the stock size if I were you. The taller/wider ones may have clearance issues when the car is fully loaded. My bud just put Toyo Proxes4's on his Miata, and they are a very good running tire. The balancing guy said he has never seen tires that needed such little weights. He had them "road force" balanced, and they are as vibration free as you can expect for a 50 series tire..nice.

If you want to estimate how long the tires last compared to each other, then look at the specs on them. The number(usually around 260-300+) is a percentage value. If one tire says 280, and another says 300 the 300 tire will last around 20% longer. Hope this helps.

Terry.

 

[Action Jackson]

You could get away with the 205/55/16 if you have the stock suspension and as you've said it's not for crazy driving.

195/55/16 would be nicer but probably harder to find.

Tires last as long as you take care of them.

 

[Kagymp5]

I had 205/55/16 DZ101's on my car and loved it no rubbing at all and very nice going over bumps and other road problems

 

[Thekid760]

205/45/16 here also

 

[CTt3P5]

205/50/16 Kumho AST's here. I have read mixed emotions on the ASX's as well....which led me to buy the AST's. So far I am happy with them.

 

[Mr.Ames]

i have 205/50/16 michelin x-ice for the winter. not too far off from stock. works good