just ordered my first new batch of tires:

car came with bf goodrich t/a radials-215/65/R15

ordered dunlop sp sport a2's-205/65/R15

i had noticed that when i would turn the wheel fully right or left i'd get some rubbing with the tire in the wheelwell, which i attributed to the tires being slightly larger than original size. i've read some of you folks riding with 215/60, but not 215/65.
figured i'd give the 'proper' size a try.

do you think i'll notice any difference in looks/ride with the difference in size?

i've been scouring parking lots reading other maxs tire sizes and comparing them...i hope folks don't think i'm planning on thieving thier cars. =)

*jared

 

lol d/a. I doubt you'll actually notice the difference. might be slightly thinner i believe.

 

From what I can gather, the Sport A2s are supposed to be great tires. However, I am not sure how you could be rubbing with 215/60s. I used AVS dbs 225/60R15 from 03/01 to 09/02 and then I switched to ES100s 225/50R15. Both of these tires were on stock rims. I have never had a problem.

 

Do you have a stock suspension? I REALLY doubt that's rubbing you're hearing. When you turn the wheel fully, you usually hear the power steering pump loading up because it can't turn the wheel any more against the steering stops. It sounds like a whizzing noise and can probably be mistaken for wheel rubbing.

215 tires are only 10mm wider than 205's. That's not much at all. I am running 225/60R16 on bigger wheels with a dropped suspension (1.3") and I get absolutely no rubbing.

 

heh, thanks for the input guys...puts my little mind at ease. i'm not a big fan of the really small tire on the big car look.

i'm actually running with 215/65R15 and when i take the wheels off, you can actually see a little mark (about 1.5 or 2 inches wide) towards the inside top of the wheel well where you can tell something has been rubbing...like i said it was only when i'd turn the wheel totally to the right or left (read as illegal u-turns). =)

i went with the dunlops because not only did they score very well on tirerack.com's survey but also they were highly touted by members of this forum.

*jared

 

yeah, sumthin weird there...i just got my dunlop a2's (215/55/16) and no probs here either....should asked around about sizes cause i wanted to go 2 225 but tire place said they might rub