I am planning on getting the Dunlop A2's and I'm trying to decide on size. I'd assume I'd get better gas mileage with the narrower tires, but is it negligible? Also will the extra 0.3 inches of tire section width be noticeable on the stock '98 SE rims? I'd also assume I'd get better handling with the wider tires, but is it negligible as well?
Thanks for reading.

 

are you running these tired w/stock 98 SE wheels? if so then how are you going to use a wider tire w/the stock width? if your running them w/rims? what size rims are you going with?

 

They are for the stock rims. 6.5 inch width, correct? Both tires fit on a 6-8 inch rim according to the manufacturer and tirerack.

 

i like the look of the wider tire, however if you'll be running these rims thru winter conditions thinner tires handle better in snow conditions. hope that helped

 

Either tire will work. 225-55 will run at slightly lower rpms than the stock size, so gas mileage may actually increase slightly in spite of the wider tread. Speedo will read ~2% lower than actual (actual speed will be 2% higher than indicated). Another alternative are 225-50's, which is what I've been using for 4+ years. Less sidewall for slightly improved handling and slightly higher rpms for slightly better acceleration. Gas mileage should decrease slightly though (I saw a neglgigle change), and actual speed will be ~2% lower than indicated on the speedo.

I'd find the best value tire in either of those 3 sizes and go for any. None are really any better than the other. You'll likely find that the 2 225-series sizes are cheaper than 215-55's with better selection, though. I also like the look of the wider 225 tread.

 

Good point. I didn't even think about the snow. I think I'm gonna roll the dice and try the 225's.

 

Another point worth mentioning is the 50's will probably be lighter than the 55's.

 

What happend to you top end after?
was the acceleration noticable?

 

I had 215/55/16 Bridgestone S-03s and then switched to 225/55/16 S-03s and now im on 225/55/16 Firestone Firehawks. I would definately go with the 225s. They definitely handle better and i also noticed they last longer.


225/55s read ~2% lower? Interesting, i didn't know that.

 

I never do top end runs so I have no idea how my top speed was affected. Acceleration with the 225-50's is slightly improved but it's barely noticeable and not really worth mentioning. The main improvement is the shorter sidewall and a massive selection of tires from super high performance to long lasting cruisers. Pretty common tire size.

 

i've had both 225-50 and 55's... the 50's handle a bit better, ride a little harder, but don't fill the wheel gap as well. the 55's handle well, fill the gap... and plus they will register fewer miles than a 50 series over time... fewer miles on your odometer. and i think they will actually correct the speedometer to read actual speed. compared to the other max owners i know, side by side i usually register 5mph slower @ ~80mph. but your choice for a 225- is def. the right one. it makes your stance wider... which looks better IMO.

 

id definately do 225-55s, best choice i think. Thats what im running...

Pic of wheelgap with 225-55


And 2KGLE: be careful, you may think one day your doing 5 over, and your really doing 7 over or something, the drawback of oversized tires...


Eric

 

Don't get the dunlop, They suck, Get something else maybe sumitomo or something....

TT

 

i'm ordering 225-55-16 Yoko AVS ES100's today with my alternator recall refund $$... yippy!! $382 shipped

 

You do know that Dunlop and Sumitomo are basically the same company
correct?

 

good man, howd you get them for 382 shipped?! Mine were 394 from tirerack...



Eric


EDIT: your shipping rates are probably less...

 

i have Michelen Pilot HX's. 205/50/16. they are simply awesome. as JMAXIMA said, however, the 50 aspect ratio does not fill the fender gap very well and looks a bit anorexic. but they handle so well that i am going to keep them until they wear out, despite some nay-saying from onlookers. and maybe because they are not wide, as they are only 205's, the front wheels turn almost with the ease of a RWD car. that is, the understeer is highly neutralized. not eliminated, mind you, but highly negated as the steering is so nimble and light with the new tires. like a cream dream. i started a thread on this earlier but people have since stopped posting to it. later, i will go up to the 55's to fill the gap better. i just can't get rid of these 50's now, though. the handling is so amazing that i am hooked. i think 55's would not be so different. my fear is that if i go up to 215 or 225 in width, the wheels will turn more sluggishly and resemble the familiar factory condition of steering feel: typical FWD understeer with slow response.

generally speaking, this topic is great to discuss because tires alone either make or break the handling. they are very vital but often ignored.

 

whoa, your running 205-50 series 16s?!?!?! I was running 205-55 from the dealer and they were rubber band tires, they looked horrible with sooo much wheelgap. Do you have any pictures of how your tires look, cuz i imagine you have enormous wheelgap..


Eric

 

yes. i have pics at the drugstore. not home yet. and yes the wheelgap is large. not that bad when you get used to it. plus my car is lowered 1.5". as i said, i will later go with 55's, maybe even 60's now that you mention it. but these handle so well that i will just keep them. the tread life for Pilots is short anyway. and they ARE rubber band tires. but the response is amazing. nearly unbelievable. but they will not win points for looks, for sure. in this case, i have sacrificed looks for handling. i got the tires used for cheap with about 85% tread and did not quite know what they would look like. they don't look so bad to me, as the car is lowered. it is tolerable. but most car savvy people who have seem them do not approve of them because they want the top of the tires to touch the fender edges. i largely ignore the remarks, as the feeling from the front end with the Michelin Pilots is like orgasm. but now i know better for the future what tire aspect looks better on 16's. i need taller tires to compliment the looks with 16's. i have always known that >>> i lowered the car because the look of reduced fender gap is the way to go. so i went against my own taste. for now. the tires were only 100 bucks for a whole set so i could afford to experiment. retail, the Pilots are $1000 for four. this excursion into hi-performance tires for cheap has actually made me hyper-aware of what real tires can do for a driver. so the bonuses just keep on coming.

despite the fender gap, they do handle out of this world. i took the car through laurel canyon the other day and it just stuck like nobody's business. insane response from the FWD, an entirely different personality from the 3rd gen.