Hey guys. I have the stock 16in rims and my tires are starting to wear a little. I have the opportunity to pick up some good tires cheap. The only problem is, they're 215/55. The stock tires (205/55, but everyone knows that) has a diameter of 24.9 inches. I also know you can go up to the 225/50 cuz it also has a diameter of 24.9. The 215/55 has a diameter of 25.3. Is that too much of a difference? Will it rub or anything? I can pick up the almost new tires for next to nothing, so if it's close enough, I'll get them. Help me out guys. Thanks!

Originally posted by Silv Blt
Hey guys. I have the stock 16in rims and my tires are starting to wear a little. I have the opportunity to pick up some good tires cheap. The only problem is, they're 215/55. The stock tires (205/55, but everyone knows that) has a diameter of 24.9 inches. I also know you can go up to the 225/50 cuz it also has a diameter of 24.9. The 215/55 has a diameter of 25.3. Is that too much of a difference? Will it rub or anything? I can pick up the almost new tires for next to nothing, so if it's close enough, I'll get them. Help me out guys. Thanks!

What do you mean 205 have the same diameter as a 225? The diameter is the rim size. 205 is the width of the tire in mm's. The 55 is the length of the sidewall. It is 55% of the width.

To answer your question, 215's will fit fine.


edit: I see what you mean with the diameter of the entire tire. The difference is about 5.5 mm. That's hardly anything. I guess it depends on how lowered you are.

I mean that the 205/55 and the 225/50 both have the same overall diameter of 24.9, meaning that when the tire is mounted on a 16 inch rim and filled with air, the measurement from the bottom to the top is 24.9 inches. I realize that the 55 or 50 is a percentage, but if you look at the numbers, 55% of 205 is 112.75 and 50% of 225 is 112.5, so you see, they're both about the same height.

Also, in regards to your answer, have you personally had a set of 215/55s on? I'm pretty sure they'll fit, but I don't want to buy them and have them mounted, only to find out that the tires rub when I go over bumps. Thanks for your help!

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'm not lowered at all. In the future I may go with a Pro-Kit drop, so nothing extreme. Any one run with 215/55s before?

I have 215-55-16's on my car. Fit fine, barely noticeable. Will make turn-in and torque steer a TINY bit worse, but not nearly as bad as 17" wheels and 225-45 tires will.

Great! Thanks a lot man! I'll prolly pick up those tires then.

Jason

Originally posted by thedawg
I have 215-55-16's on my car. Fit fine, barely noticeable. Will make turn-in and torque steer a TINY bit worse, but not nearly as bad as 17" wheels and 225-45 tires will.

So i shouldn't run 225/45/17's on my 17x7's? and i am unclear on what turn-in is exactly...

Originally posted by CarbonFiberRST

Originally posted by thedawg I have 215-55-16's on my car. Fit fine, barely noticeable. Will make turn-in and torque steer a TINY bit worse, but not nearly as bad as 17" wheels and 225-45 tires will.

So i shouldn't run 225/45/17's on my 17x7's? and i am unclear on what turn-in is exactly...

That's about a 25 inch overall diameter, which is the about the same for a 225/40/18 combo, so you'll be fine.

You'll be fine. I run 225/40/18. The overall diameter is 637.2mm. The overall diameter of 215/55/16 is 642.9mm. That's only a 5.7mm difference. You'll be fine.

215/55's are fine.

I run 225/35's on a 19x8.5 rim lowered and I BARELY rub every now and then...you have no worries.

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

Go here for all your tire diameter/width comparison needs.