Hi all tire freaks.
I'm thinking of buying new tires. I currently have stock SE 17''. I know that I can go either 225/50 or 235/45 but is wider always better?

 

Well, a wider tire means you have more rubber on the road at all times, which theoretically translates to more grip. Whether or not you'll notice the difference between a 225 and a 235 I have no idea. One more thing though: More grip from a wider tire also means more friction, so wider tires tend to mean lower gas mileage. It's hard to say how noticeable it will be though.

 

In broad terms:

Advantages:
- More grip
- Better traction on dry pavement
- Better performance on sheet ice (all-season or winter tires only)

Disadvantages:
- Lower mileage
- Greater tendency to hydroplane
- Higher unsprung mass (hurts ride quality and ability to track over rough surfaces)
- Higher rotating mass (hurts acceleration and initial braking response)
- Potentially slower steering response (likely cancelled out by the higher grip)
- Worse performance in snow


Basically, in terms of traction and grip, think about what you're driving on. If it can be compressed and/or moved out of the way (rain, slush, snow), then narrower is better. If it can't (dry roads, sheet ice), then wider is better. In terms of everything else (ride, tracking over rough surfaces, acceleration/braking/steering response), narrower is better.


I have 225s on my car and I've been fine in the rain and snow. This is a relatively big/heavy car, so the benefits of that width over anything narrower are well worth the tradeoffs. That seems to be the sweet spot for my car. Your 5th gen is a little heavier, so 235 is probably a good size for you as well -- just make sure you pick your tires carefully. Anything wider than 235 is questionable.

 

that sucks I was wanting to run 20x9.5 this spring

 

depends on the width of the wheel.......... so, no, wider is not always better. I have 8 inch wide wheels and can go as wide as 255. However the contact patch with the road is ether the same as or very close to that of 245s due to the fact that the 255s will bow outward and in turn also have softer sidewall, something not favorable for cornering. I would go with 225s, you really gain nothing by going with 235s on that width wheel.

 

I didn't know I could do that width on a wheel 9 or 9.5 inches wide.

 

wider is better only for summer