I waz look at new tires for my max I would like to step up to 215/50/15, These http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes OR 205/50/15 http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

it'll screw up your speedo, but they'll fit.

you should try 215/60/15 size.. they're wider than the stockers, but the speedo won't change.

I would recommend the Nitto 460 if you're looking for a performance tire that fits the stock wheels.

Which would u choose http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes OR http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

There both same price and have same rateings.

Just by the avarage response from the own web sites you provided the 2nd option is better. (yokohama) they are both 60 bucks too.

I still like my kumho HP4s

the right size for 15s is 205-65-15

Whats the maximum width you can fit onto a stock GXE rim.. Anybody know?

like i said, 205-65-15 is the correct size, so 205

And the maximum size?

wider is better

Not always... you really should try to balance sidewall flex with tire width. Go to the maximum allowable tire width and you might (or might not... that's another debate) improve your contact patch, but at the same time the tire sidewalls aren't supported as well and they become more compliant. So do you really improve "handling"?

That's likely one reason why the SE runs the same size tire, but the wheel is 0.5" wider.

I believe GXE wheels, which are 6.0" wide, can only go up to a 215/60R15 tire maximum and still maintain proper overall diameter.

to avoid problems, you need to use the proper tire size for its corresponding wheel diameter....for example 205-65-15, 215-55-16, 225-45-17, and 225-40-18. If you want wider tires, then you need to get larger wheels.

"Problems" like what exactly?

like rubbing, like decreased performance

It can but not always. Depends.

How so? 215/60/15 would be fine in place of 205/65/15, only difference is the length is taken from the sidewall and used as increased tire width (which in turn should give better grip, and hopefully no noticable decrease in anything else, right?

Well throwing the "keeping the original dia thing out the window", a thinner tire will give better lateral performance along with better gearing. But it also has drawbacks also. A BIG tire will give a cushier ride if that is something he wants. But again, there are drawbacks.

as jeff was pointing out tire size affects alot of things.
everything from gas mileage to acceleration to handling to ride comfort.
those are also all affected by tire design as well so before you go about changing your tires, do a little studying, you'll find out that the more you think you know about tires the less you really do.

Well, from your experience,... say a thinner tire, but the same overall diameter (or pretty close to it), as in going from the 205/65/15 to 215/60/16, reasonably I can guess it'll be a little less cushy, but then on the other hand, it has the same amount of air in there, just less air distance between the rims and the ground. But the area on the ground in increased - so it would have more area to grab onto I.E more traction, but also more friction? So having more friction would probably also bring down gas mileage?

I know car manufactures user certain peices by defualt as a balance of things - comfort, traction, ect, but one is price. Would a reason for not having the smaller percentage being sidewalls mainly be a price issue when they considered what tire would be best opn the car?

Not with as minor a change as going from 205/65R15 to 215/60R15.

There's always some leeway when tires are specified for a car, and tire industry standard practice typically allows for up to 3% variation from stock tire diameter to maintain proper gearing and speedometer reading. Usually you can play with the section width dimension one or even two sizes larger as long as you compensate by reducing the aspect ratio and you know the wheel can accomodate the tire. There are exceptions sometimes, but in cases like this, it's okay to do. Apparently even 225/60R15 tires will fit without interference problems if you have SE wheels.

Tires always have a range of allowable wheel widths that they may be mounted on. As long as the wheel falls somewhere in that range, and maintains a close diameter to stock, and you know there's enough free room in the wheelwell to fit the tire, there's no reason why it shouldn't work.... IF that is what you want to do.


Really though, a change from 205/65 to 215/60 isn't going to make a TON of difference. You will likely see more difference in choosing from the many variations of tire types, models, and casing types out there... such as choosing between a long wearing, comfy "touring" tire, to a sharper handling, stickier, high performance offering. I would just pick a tire model in either size that floats your boat and not lose any more sleep over it.

Now, if you're upgrading tires AND wheels (say to 16" or 17") that's another story all together......

BTW, there really isn't a way for Joe average to discern the rolling friction of different tire models, although all other things being equal a narrower tread width tire would theoretically have less rolling friction than a wider sized one. Again, see 2 paragraphs up ^^

are you talking about going up to a 16?

[QUOTE=Bman] Apparently even 225/60R15 tires will fit without interference problems if you have SE wheels.

Bman... will this work on a '90 SE, too? I already have 215/60R15 and want to try 225/60R15 for looks using the stock rims. I think the wider look would be worth trying without spending cash on new rims. BTW... I really like the Dunlop D60 Sport A2 tires. Money well spent for a fun ride.

Yes, it should as I'm pretty sure SE wheels have always had the same dimensions even if their finish differed slightly. Pervis Anathema had this setup so if you look him up he might even have some pictures to look at.

I thought they discontinued the D60's for the SP Sport A2's?

oops... my bad. i meant to say sport A2. somehow D60 kinda rolled out, too. thanks again for the info. i PM'ed Pervis who gave some good information.