p00tan6

iTrader: (2)

Would it make a big difference going one size wider than the stock 215/55/16's to 225/50/16's? It will be a little wider and a little shorter. My question is will the new shorter diameter of the tire throw off the spedo by much? The difference in diameter 24.9(225/55/16) and 25.4 (215/55/16) is 1/2 inch for the tires i am looking at - bfgoodrich traction t/a. How would it affect acceleration and gas mileage?


For those running 225/50/16's, have you experience any extra road noise or vibration from the stock 215/55/16's? Pics would be helpful!

Wetballoon

If my calculations (and your diameters) are correct,your 225 has a circumference of 487 inches and the 215 has a circumference of 507. This creates a 4% error in the speedo reading which means that you will be running 62.5 when your speedo is on 65.
I used the formula Circumference = PI * (1/2 Diameter)^2.

Dubbya

iTrader: (16)

I had that size on my SE rims and got a very small rub on tight turns. I did notice a little more road noise, but that could be attibuted to the type of tires as well. Also bumps and such were had a harsher feel to them. Over all I was pleased with switching to that size because of better handling aspects.

justinbryner

You probably won't notice much except the tight turns already mentioned. Just don't try to turn sharp often or you can shred your tires and hard earned money.

BourneJ

From personal experience, I would go with 215-55-16.

225-50-16 is a bit too wide for the stock rims & the tire sticks out from the rim (when looking at the car from behind). That does NOT give you better handling on curves because the tire actually has movement on the rim.

I had 225-50-16's and I just went back to 215-55-16.
Don't get me wrong...it's not like I hated it. But besides looking nicer (because it's wider), it does not really do any good.... Your acceleration will be a bit worse too (not too noticeable).

- Jay

SoLid97SE

yeah i had 225/50r16's on my stock se wheels for a bit and honestly i think the only differences i felt can be attributed to the different tire brand/model. right now i'm back on 215's and these tires are noisier than the 225's. i was expecting 225/50's to look a lot more aggressive but they just looked too wide. and the profile didn't look lower either, so i'd say just stick with 215/55r16.

MaximaSE96

iTrader: (8)

i ran 225/50/16s.....speedo was off by like a pubic hair...i noticed an improvement in handeling...especially on the auto-x course.....i say go for it

now i got 215/45/17 and i miss my 225s.....the 215/45 came with the wheels i am gettting new tires next spring

YoKramer

iTrader: (1)

Try this site. Its a good tire calculator

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Supermax95

iTrader: (2)

wth...i have 245/45/18's and i dont rub....

z32drifter

I had 225/50/16s on my SE wheels .... I had no problems with rubbing. I however was on stock suspension at that time. The 225s don't really look much wider due to the narrow 6.5" wheels. If you are not lowered the fender gap is even larger with the 225s. I don't mind the small speedo error since it reads alittle faster than you are going.. helps with the tickets I have 3 sets of wheels and tires that I share with my Z32. 17x9s with race tires 255/40/17 (on the Z right now) 16x7.5 Z32 wheels 225/50/16 (in the garage) 17x8.5 and 17x9.5 with 255/40/17 and 275/40/17 (on the Maxima right now) well I also have my SE wheels but they won't clear Z32 brakes

Wetballoon

Aftermarket wheels will probably have a different offset. The vertical center of the tire is no longer the same distance from the center of the car.

Subzero

iTrader: (5)

I thought there were alot of people on here running a 225/55 16? There taller and wider, but just a bit. Im also running a 235/40 18 with no issues.

Sounbwoy

iTrader: (2)

This site lets you compare several different sizes of tires to the stock size AND gives the percentage of fast or slow the speedo will be..

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

exactly. i have better traction but thats it. i think the tires roll more since the rim is rather narrow.

PoKKi

Well I don't know if I should attribute this to the tire size or the tire itself. I have Potenza G009 225/50/16 on stock SE rims and when I do corner quickly, sometimes I would feel that the car is sliding. Not sure if it's the tires or it's because the tires are wider than the rims causing the extra 10mm to not hold up as well or just the outer edge of the G009 aren't very grippy.

ti2tmax

iTrader: (18)

I went from Cooper Cobra 215 55 16 to Yokohama AVS ES100 225 50 16. Less height and cornering is Much improved but that is mainly the difference in tire . I have no rubbing issues and I turn lock to lock because of my driveway alot. My speedo isn't even off the width of a line. I would say none as I can't see any difference, but there is probably a slight one. I am currently lowering on S-Techs and Illuminas, so we shall see about that too.

packerZ

iTrader: (7)

On my 96 SE 5speed I also am running 225/50X16's on ZX wheels and the combo is excellent. The ZX wheels are distinctive/different from OEM without being stupid and the tire size gives agressive handling, pleasant ride, no speedo error, NO rubs and a really healthy look (just wish I could get a set of Max center caps...only giveaway to Z car source of wheel).

southeast_first

iTrader: (3)

AREA=PI*r^2...

c=PI*d

there's nothing else i can add that you wouldn't find on the tire calculator sites... just saying.

DaEnigma

I have 16" Kosei K1 rims (7.5" wide) I currently am using the stock tire size but they seem a bit narrow for the rim so I may be going to the 225 50 16 for my next tire.

Too bad very few tire makers produce 235 50 16 which is within .2% of OEM size...

ardika

iTrader: (3)

z32drifter: What kinda setup you are running on the Max with Z32 brakes? Is it the "regular" setup involving caliper/line swap and decreasing the stock Z32 rotor by 3mm? Or was is the one with caliper relocation bracket and all?

I am interested in getting the Z brake upgrades but I would need to buy new front tires for winter. Are you saying that the stock z32 wheels (16x7.5 I presume) pictured in your signature clear the z-caliper on the Maxima?

z32drifter

I have the old school Z32 setup .... reduced Z32 rotors and calipers bolted to stock locations. Yes the stock Z32 wheels fit fine and clear the calipers with no problems. I'm running NA wheels but would love to find 2 sets of TT rear wheels.. 16x8.5 +35 would be nice

ardika

iTrader: (3)

z32drifter: I am sending you an e-mail regarding your setup. I don't want to pollute this thread. Hopefully you get the e-mail and be able to reply it, since I believe you are one of the few who could answer my questions regarding the setup.

Tosh

iTrader: (1)

Don't get too hung up on the nominal dimensions of the tires. All tire widths must be stated ito the closest number of millimeters ending in five, so a 220mm wide tire (as measured on the stated measuring rim) can be either a 215 or a 225, while a 219mm has to be 215 and a 221 has to be a 225. What this means is that there are 225mm wide tires that are actually barely wider than 220mm and there are others that are in the neighborhood of 229mm. Similarly, aspect ratios have to be stated in multiples of five, so the difference between a 50 series tire and a 55 series tire could really be the differewnce between real aspect ratios of 52 vs. 53. Moreover, if you mount a tire on a rim of different width than the measuring rim, _both_ the width _and_ the aspect ratio will be affected.

In short, whatever somebody may tell you to the contrary, just as you can try on two shoes of the same nominal size from different shoe companies that use different lasts and find one shoe too tight and the other too loose, so two tires of the same nominal size may have quite different diameters when they have actually been mounted on your car.

I have run 225/55-16s on my Maxima for four years, and the speedometer/odometer error -- if there is any -- has been too small to be detected. You will also find that 225/55-16s will generally have greater load capacity -- and therefore a greater margin of safety -- than 225/50-16s.

BTW, why are you looking at 1980s technology tires (BFG T/As) when there are 21st century technology tires available? Since Michelin acquired the BFG brand ten or fifteen years ago, BFG has not been Michelin's conduit for its innovation. Why not look at some modern tires?