Smaller Tires Up Front?

[Threehz]

This question has been asked a million times I'm sure and searching I've found some possible info, mainly for other cars and lots of useless information...

So my front and rear tires are 195/70/14 and I'm finally going to get my 14" Compomotives back on and lose the disgusting bottlecaps.

The rear tires are brand new, the front tires are not bad wear wise but have tiny cracking and need replaced.

So my plan is get two new tires, keep my current rear tires, and throw these all on my Compos and on the bimmer.

Just to clear something up, the Compos are 14 x 6.5 and I just read that bottlecaps are 14 x 6 is this correct?

So I'd like to put some spacers on (I have some 3mm or something ones that came with the car), those if nothing else for now but the front tires already rub a little when I make a sharp turn and hit a bump with a passenger.

Anyhow kinda the whole point is how will smaller tires on front effect performance, ride, etc?

For instance 185/70's on front and the 195/70's on the rear?

Thanks and sorry again if this has been answered a million times

[george graves]

185's? It's an e30, not a geo metro. ;)

Not much - but you'll get some understeer I'd imagine.

I have 225's in the back and 205 in the front - wish I didn't do that, but the tires were on sale at the time.

[Threehz]

Hmm there's a nice set of 195/65's for two bills on the car, might have to go with that.

You think the difference will be very noticeable with 195/65 front and 195/70 rear?

My biggest concern is now my front end (and oil pan) will be that much closer to the road again...

[e30Rooster]

uhhh, HI. you said 185/70's hahahahhahahaaaa. Maybe this will help you.
Self educate.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=46

And a personal favorite.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[Threehz]

Rooster what are you trying to say? I am definitely no wheel/tire expert but both those links are beyond basic tire info?

The car came with 185/65's and I'd like some tires a little taller to give my oil pan more clearance.

I've been running 195/70 front and rear on bottlecaps for a while now which has been working fine besides being ugly as fuck and that slight scrape I mentioned.

[MR 325]

195/65/14 is the correct size for the car. That's what I would run on those wheels.

[lonestar22]

im currently running some used 195/60's up front and normal 195/65's out back. i leveled my coilovers out to get rid of the rake. i didnt notice a difference in handling