Anyone running 225/50R16 on the Factory 16s???

[Machine]

Need some new tires, and what you know; the dealership I work at offered me some factory 16in takeoffs for $100. Perfect timing.

I am considering trying to squeeze a 225/50R16 on there. Front clearance to strut is going to be tight but I think it will fit. Anybody run this size before.

I'm also considering going a bit shorter with 205/50 (will be lowered after winter).

Either way, the tire is going to be Falken Ziex ZE950, which is factory rated down to a 6in wide wheel.

ZIEX ZE950 A/S TIRE | Falken Tire

 

[The Champ]

I just bought an extra set of 16's so that I can put winter tires on, but will stick with the 205/55/16's for the snow.

Heckuva deal on those rims for $100.00. I thought I did good finding a set for $300.00 with some tires included. My wheels still have the little lime green stickers on them - so I know that they are new. The guy I bought them from thought they'd fit an '04 GTO and had mounted some used (but in very good shape) 215/55/16's.

After I sell the tires - hoping to end up with less than $150.00 in my rims.

I haven't crawled under my car to look yet, but am considering 225/50/16's for summer tires. 225's will be .8' wider - but you are only adding .4" to the inside of the existing tire - on most cars that slight change isn't a problem.

I know there are several on the forum running 225/45/17's - which are the same width. I've read of one that is running 235/45/17's without a rub (could be that a different offset being used).

I don't like your idea of a 205/50/16. That's nearly an inch shorter (24.9 vs. 24.1) and will affect your fuel mileage without giving you a wider footprint. A 215/50/16 would be 24.5" tall - wider and closer to the the OE tire.

Still, I think the 225/50's will fit - and have a much better tire selection available.

 

[Machine]

I considered the 205/50 to get the car lower, and reduce gear ratio a bit. But I think I'm going with the 225/50. I like the look of a meaty tire, and bringing the edge out closer to the fender should add some effect.

I just finished painting them Bronze, and am really looking forward to seeing them on the car.

 

[Hdmanny]

I would think that the 225 width tires would be too wide for the 6" wide rims. I am actually thinking of going to 205/60/16 tires to fill the wheel well a bit more.

 

[The Champ]

Hdmanny

225/50/16's have a recommendation by the tire manufacturers of a 6 - 8" rim. The 225/50's are also the same tire height.

A 205/60/16 is nearly an inch taller. The 60 series taller tire (.8" taller) will lessen the handling capability of your car and reduce it's acceleration due to the functional change in the effective gear ratio.

Better idea to lower the car to fill the wheel well than buy taller tires.

 

[Hdmanny]

Hdmanny

225/50/16's have a recommendation by the tire manufacturers of a 6 - 8" rim. The 225/50's are also the same tire height.

A 205/60/16 is nearly an inch taller. The 60 series taller tire (.8" taller) will lessen the handling capability of your car and reduce it's acceleration due to the functional change in the effective gear ratio.

Better idea to lower the car to fill the wheel well than buy taller tires.

The 205/55/16 are 24.9 and the 205/60/16 are 25.7 but the 205/50/17 are 25.1 which is only a .6 shorter. Some 205/55/16 are 25.1 also, it depends on the tire brand. Since it is only adding .3 inches to the tread height I doubt it will be very noticeable if it affects the handling or will reduce acceleration that much. Those are all specs for the Hankooks tires that come on our cars. It may reduce the gear ratio by about 2% so it may increase my 1/4 mile time to 30 minutes.

 

[The Champ]

Hdmanny

I am perfectly aware of the fact that the OE 205/55/16 Hankook tires are 24.9" tall. That's how I knew that a 215/60/16" tire is .8" taller (24.9 + .8 = 25.7).

People go to wider/lower profile tires for better handling. That's why I'm looking at the 50 series 225's. A 60 series will rollover in the corner more than a 50 or 55 series tire.

Before going to a 60 series if you want a taller tire - why not look at 215/55/16? That's .4" (25.3") taller and has the benefit of being .4" wider also.

Just trying to help you.

 

[Machine]

Ordered, I'll post up some pix after I fit them.

 

[Hdmanny]

The 205/60/16 are V rated and the 205/55/16 are H rated, so they will have a stiffer sidewall. So they should handle about the same. I am more in to mileage and the wider tire will not be beneficial.

 

[The Champ]

The 205/60/16 are V rated and the 205/55/16 are H rated, so they will have a stiffer sidewall. So they should handle about the same. I am more in to mileage and the wider tire will not be beneficial.

If you want better gas mileage - what you want is a "low rolling resistance" tire. Something like the Bridgestone Ecopia 422, the Michelin Primacy MXV4 or the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max. I have the Ecopia's on my Pontiac Torrent and the Goodyear's on my Chevy Impala company car. Mileage did improve on both cars when the tires were changed from non "LRR" tires.

A V rated tire, even though it is taller, may not help fuel mileage at all. It very possibly will reduce mileage. And our cars have no need for a V rated tire - as they aren't capable of exceeding 130 MPH.

If simply putting a 205/60/16 tire on the car would produce any significant mileage advantage - that would be the size the car came with.

Manufacturer's do extensive testing to find ways to increase fuel mileage. I've got a strong feeling that 25" is the sweet spot for the best fuel mileage and acceptable performance.

 

[Hdmanny]

I did not mean that I was getting the tires for improving my gas mileage, just that it was what I preferred. I have researched LRR tires and thought about them but their benefits are not worth it IMO. I do not currently have LRRs and get very good gas mileage and thought about the Goodyears but the reviews mentioned some traction issues in light snow and rain.
I am actually thinking of getting the Goodyear ComfortTred tires and would have preferred an H rated tire but the size I want only comes in a V rating. I also like the overall specs on the tire over the Fuel Max tires.

 

[Machine]

Anyways... They are on. Fit and look great. I will post a pic when I can.

And to clarify some BS in here. The speed rating of the tire has ZERO effect on mileage. The treadwear rating might, a higher rating would indicate a harder material or structure, and as such a lower rolling resistance. Thinner tires and running a higher pressure will have the most positive effect.

 

[Machine]

I like the look, ride quality is decent and they are quite, but the performance is lacking. I need to play with the pressure, I got them at 45 and that's definitely going down a bit, and I think they need to wear in a bit given the odd fitment. Its a 600 tread-wear tire, so I wasn't expecting any amazing grip, but I hope I can improve it a bit. Overall I am extremely pleased with the finished product.

 

[Hdmanny]

I like the tread pattern on the tires, I had some on a car that looked similar but they did not have as wide groves. They should work really well in the rain and snow. I adjust my air pressure and make sure that my tires are wearing evenly across the tread.

 

[The Champ]

Anyways... They are on. Fit and look great. I will post a pic when I can.

And to clarify some BS in here. The speed rating of the tire has ZERO effect on mileage. The treadwear rating might, a higher rating would indicate a harder material or structure, and as such a lower rolling resistance. Thinner tires and running a higher pressure will have the most positive effect.

Glad you got them on! Would like to see a closer photo of how they fill the wheel well.

FWIW - I wasn't saying the speed rating would affect the mileage, but that a V rated taller tire might. I don't know if you misinterpreted what I intended, but it was not my intention to give you that impression that speed rating affected fuel mileage.

A V rated tire, even though it is taller, may not help fuel mileage at all. It very possibly will reduce mileage. And our cars have no need for a V rated tire - as they aren't capable of exceeding 130 MPH.

If simply putting a 205/60/16 tire on the car would produce any significant mileage advantage - that would be the size the car came with.

Manufacturer's do extensive testing to find ways to increase fuel mileage. I've got a strong feeling that 25" is the sweet spot for the best fuel mileage and acceptable performance.

With the CAFE requirements mandated by the ferderal government - which say that by 2025 the Corporate Average Fuel Economy will be 54.5 MPG - all manufacturers are looking for ways to increase fuel economy.

And treadwear ratings are not a good indicator of the tires rolling resistance or fuel mileage.

In a Tirerack test, the following all season Low Rolling Resistance tires produced the following mileage:

Bridgestone Ecopia 422 with a 400 rating - 27.9

Continental Eco Plus with a 700 rating - 27.3

Goodyear Fuel Max with a 580 rating - 27.6

Yokohama Avid TRZ with an 800 rating - 27.3

As you can see - the longest tread life rating (the Yoko's) produced the lowest fuel mileage on tires designed to produce higher fuel mileage. The shortest tread life rating (the Bridgestone's) produced the highest fuel mileage.