Right now I have 215/60-15 tires on stock 15" SE wheels. My tires are worn out. I would like to get 16" wheels and tires but I am short on cash. If I were to go to either 225/60-15, or 225/55-15, what would the consequences be other than the obvious speedometer being off 2-3% in either direction. I don't want my car to be any slower than it is now, but changing the overall diameter has to change the gearing or something.

 

i have had six differnt sets of wheels and tires and if you get 16 inch wheels you won't notice anything really only thing will be the tire size and i say that cause the wider you go the less tire chirp you will have, but you are only looking at 225's so you won't really have to worry about anything

 

Shouldn't be any change in performance. Even a 16" rim/tire combo may not slow you down depending on the combined weight. Think the rubber selection will make the biggest diff if you're worred about 0-60 and 1/4.

I'd go with the 225/55-15 if it was me. Down 1.6% in diam vs up 1.9% and a lower profile.

 

Try a tire size calculator to see what size you should use to keep your speedo and odo honest.

http://members.aol.com/mx6perform/tirecal.htm
http://www.cs.fredonia.edu/~stei0302.../tirecalc.html

Also check with www.tirerack.com to see some of their recommendations.

 

I have 225/60/15 on my max an my speedometer is not off at all. The issue are larger tire thus heavier = slower. I have not noticed the car being slower. Upside larger tire more contact with the road = better traction. I have the Dunlop SP5000 an they are great. Hope this helps

 

Is it better to have slightly larger or smaller diameters if I had to choose. Somebody was saying that it changes your gear ratios and one will help in the quarter mile and one will hurt. the ones I am considering are not off more than 1-2% in either direction.

 

If the tires are virtually the same diameter the wider tire will be slower. More drag coefficient to over come. My understanding is that changing tire size will not change your gearing. The only way to change your gearing to actually change them.

My .02 worth....Since my max is my daily driver I felt that better traction was more important than being every so slightly slower.

 

True, the only way to change the gear ratio is to change the gear ratio. but your final drive gear ratio, or the ratio the tires will produce can be very different. Ever see those lifted trucks with huge tires in upward of 44", they're gear ratio can go from a 4.11 to 3.56 thus slowing their trucks greatly.