RJP 951

I'm currently running stock size tires on my stock 16" phone dials, and need to replace the front tires soon. The rear tires have less than 3,000 miles on them (I replaced them right after purchasing the car last year), so I don't want to buy a full upgrade for all four corners at this point.

Since the rear is stock size (225/50-16), should
I stay with stock for the new fronts (205/55-16) or go with a wider selection? What would work well in combination with the stock rear size?

Better yet, can I have my 225/50's remounted on the 16x7 front wheels and go with a beefier rear? That would be great, but I don't want to get into rolling the fender or grinding, etc.

Help and comments appreciated.

Ron

Ag951

I run 225/50-16s on all four corners. I have a stock suspension (except STB), and stock height. I autocrossed it on Sunday and didn't have any rub.
You can fit 245/45-16s on the back without rubbing, but I went with a smaller size, because I wanted Kuhmo Ecsta MX, and they don't have a 245/45-16.

Z-man

RJP:
You can go up to 245/45 16's in the front! No fender rolling is necessary!

For track use, I will soon be going with 245/45's all around (R-compounds), mounted on 16x8 wheels.

For autox, I will do 225/50-16 front, 245/45-16 rear to stay in stock classes. (Wheels: 16x7 front, 16x8 rear, tires: r-compounds)

For street, while I currently have 205/55-16 front, 225/50-16 rear (great deal on a set of used wheels & tires), I plan on going to 225/50-16 front and 245/45-16 rear. Before getting these tires, I had 225/50-16 front and 245/45-16 rear and had no rubbing issues, and the car handled better.

I have a stock suspension setup, btw.

For most applications, 225/50-16 front and 245/45-16 rear is a nice setup for our cars. The larger patch in the front helps counter our car's inherent understeering issues.

Confused you yet?
-Z.

Ag951

Hey Z,
Are you saying 245s fit on the front stock rims? Or just that they'll fit in the fender?

sybelix

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ag951:
<strong>Hey Z,
Are you saying 245s fit on the front stock rims? Or just that they'll fit in the fender?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I believe, he means they will fit in the fender..

RJP 951

Thanks guys. I think I'll have the rears moved to the front and upgrade the back end with the 245's.

Ron

Z-man

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ag951:
<strong>Hey Z,
Are you saying 245s fit on the front stock rims? Or just that they'll fit in the fender?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Sorry I didn't clarify: you need 16x8's for 245's: you cannot fit them on 16x7's, which are the stock wheels for the front.

So, if you only have 1 set of stock wheels, your best bet is:
225/50-16's front
245/45-16's rear.

Just my $0.42.
-Z.

jason952

ag,
how are the ecsta MX?

Ag951

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by jason952:
<strong>ag,
how are the ecsta MX?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">They'll make you Ecstatic!
(I couldn't resist.)
They grip really well. And they have great sidewalls, I was running mine at 33psi at Sunday's autoX and didn't have any rollover.
I just wish they did 245/45-16 for the rear.