Which reasonably priced tire?

[MR 325]

Well, I spent hours reading up on tires and made a purchase. I went with 205/50/16 Yokohama S.drive tires. I know they weren't mentioned in this thread but I'm hoping I made a good choice. I paid $400 shipped.

[MR 325]

PS. I went with 205/50 over 225/45 for two reasons. First reason is there's much more selection in the 205, other reason is I don't want the overly beefy tire look on the car. I will space them out to the fenders for a mice flush fit. FYI the 205/50 and 225/45 are the same height.

[RobertK]

Can't beat $400 shipped for a name brand tire.

The main reason for my preference of 225/45 is more meat on the pavement as it does make a noticeable difference on the mountain roads we frequent but for DD its overkill.

But all the OGs I run with swear that 45 profile provides the "correct circumference" on a 16 inch wheel. Never took the time to actually measure the height.

[E30 331is]

225/45 maintains diameter, increases width by 15.4%, maintains circumference, decreases sidewall height by 20% and maintains revolutions per mile. It has only a 0.01mph reduction which will add up to 0.02mph up to 65mph.

205/50 increases diameter by 0.4%, increases width by 5.1%, increases circumference by 0.4%, decreases sidewall height by 19% and reduces revolutions per mile by 0.4%. It increases mph accuracy by .08mph which will add up to .25mph up to 65mph.

2.5mm height difference between 225/45 and 205/50.

All numbers compared to 195/65 14.

[Jean]

Well, I spent hours reading up on tires and made a purchase. I went with 205/50/16 Yokohama S.drive tires. I know they weren't mentioned in this thread but I'm hoping I made a good choice. I paid $400 shipped.

You'll be happy with those! They are an older tire, but still very good. The Dunlop star spec is a little better in wet and dry than the S.Drive (not sure if it comes in the size you wanted though) and a little more expensive. S.Drive is still a good tire, much better than the crap like Nexen and the like...

[MR 325]

Thanks guys. I was torn between the BFG G-Force Sport and the S.drives. Hopefully I am happy.

Jean, the Hartge wheels will be refinished next week.

[smooth]

If you want a bit more aggressive tread but don't want to go up to a 225 the BFG's might be a good choice for you next time. I'm not certain about the G-Force Sports but a lot of BFG's have a mushroomy tire tread so the 205 will sit on the ground a bit wider than most 205's. It's a good way to get some decent road contact without worrying about fender rubbing, too, which is more of a concern running 225's on 16's than I have running 225's on my 15's.

I haven't shopped around for 16's for a long time but I have 205/50's on currently and I was thinking of looking for a 215. I think 205/50 looks a little too tall and narrow for my tastes but I don't think I want to risk going below a 50 series tire with the ridiculously expensive wheels I'm running.

[MR 325]

One thing that people don't seem to understand about tires is the sidewall height is based on the width. As mentioned above the 205/50/16 and the 225/45/16 are virtually the same height with the 205/50 only being 2.5mm taller in overall height! Something that is definitely not noticeable.

I really was torn between these and the BFG tires. We'll see if I'm happy!

[ZekeTheSneak]

Stretching? I have falken 512s I love them. 550 mounted balanced and stretched. loads of grip

[smooth]

Do you have a picture of how the tread sits?

You're right that the 2.5mm isn't noticeable by the numbers but it might throw you off aesthetically because the thinner tire exaggerates the height difference. But that's probably only going to bother you if you prefer a more aggressive appearance or you're coming from a 225.

I just tried a 215 in both 45 and 50 and unfortunately neither are suitable so it looks like I'll be paying out the nose for some BFG's :(

[Kvasi]

Im running Federal SS-595. Cheap, not to noisy and some trackdays wont wear them out.
Not so good in high speeds when wet, but dont bother me..

[einstein57]

Well, I spent hours reading up on tires and made a purchase. I went with 205/50/16 Yokohama S.drive tires. I know they weren't mentioned in this thread but I'm hoping I made a good choice. I paid $400 shipped.

I hate those tires with a passion. They make noise like crazy even at low speed. Tread squirm is very uncomfortable when tossing it arround. And even with 245 fronts and 275 rears the wet weather tractioin is garbage. Will never buy again. I think the only people who like those are people who want them stretched.

[cbouchez]

I'm pretty happy with my Falkens 512's we get a lot of rain and hot weather in the summer so also some snow they have been thru a lot of extreme weather and still great handling.

[Jesse30]

I hate those tires with a passion. They make noise like crazy even at low speed. Tread squirm is very uncomfortable when tossing it arround. And even with 245 fronts and 275 rears the wet weather tractioin is garbage. Will never buy again. I think the only people who like those are people who want them stretched.

Hate to say it, but I agree with einstein. Wet weather traction is terrible with these..

[MR 325]

Oh well, what's done is done! Haha.

No worries on the wet traction though, I don't drive it in the rain. And when I do, there's no traction anyway...