Need some help/opinions on this one. I've got a 97 SE 5spd Sage Mist that I'm planning on getting some new rubber. Don't have the $ to upgrade to 17/18" rims :bawling so looking for some good rubber that will fit on the OEM 5 spoke rims. Pretty much settled on the Yoko AVS ES1 but now comes the hard part....the size. OEM tires are 215/55 16"s would like them to be a bit wider. Anybody in the same situation that I'm in? What have you got? What would you recommend? The 225/55 seems safest and there wouldn't be a huge gap between tire and fender. Yeah, some day I'll get some H&Rs and AGXs....on my list. Thanks guys.

I have 225/55/16 Toyo FZ4's on my rims, very happy with their look and performance. Go with the 55 aspect ratio and the Yoks.

I have A520's 225/50 ... they're very nice. Coming from 245's it was no huge leap.

I have 225-50-16s on SE rims. There is a pic in my sig, but it makes the gap look worse than it really is. Try my homepage, it has a lot more pics of 50-series rubber at stock height.
I like the 50 series for handling, though the 5% difference is prob not much. It will affect power (larger daimeter robs power) if you go with the 55, but again, not by much. It is a tossup, looks v. handling...

I went to 225/55/16 just 'cause there's more options. The performance difference would be nil. Either size would be fine.

-RMB

i have 225/50 on my stock 16's, im happy i went with 225/50 instead of 225/55....makes the rims look bigger

225/50/16
This will keep your speedometer consistent to factory specs.

i've had both sizes on my stock rims... personally i like the 50's better... eventhough there is a bit more fender gap, i still think it looks better. i have 225-55-16 kuhmo's ecta's... i don't dislike them that much... but compared to other tires of that size, they are narrower... and taller than the others. they give me a softer ride... but i can tell they have hurt my acceleration and cornering. my next set will def. be a 50 series instead of a 55. but if you want a bit more performance.. go with the 50's... if you want a better ride... like on the highway, go with the 55's