|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158
CEG\'er
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158 |
Up here in the frozen North, I need some decent tires. I have 'new' tires, but they are Hercules something or other (205/60x15) and I dont think that slicks could be any worse in the 'frost' - not enough yet to call it 'snow.' Being cash poor, but safety conscious I have some ideas. I did search, but didn't find anything specific.
I have standard 98SE 15" alloy wheels. Sorry, don't know too much about the make and size etc. What is the narrowest tire I could put on this wheel. For bad weather, narrower tires might be better, but we dont have so much snow that I could invest in real snows. So, if I get say 195 size decent quality AW's, this might be a reasonable compromise for year round driving. (I don't drive particularly quickly anyways, and I prefer the softer ride of a slightly higher profile tires.)
What is the narrowest tire that I could put on those rims?
Opinions and suggestions anyone?
Cheers,
T
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065 |
For 15s, put 195/60s. You could prolly get smaller/narrower, but you said you were low on cash, so go for these. Basically equal to 185/70/R14. In other words, you will get the most bang for your buck. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158 |
Originally posted by Matt R:
For 15s, put 195/60s. You could prolly get smaller/narrower, but you said you were low on cash, so go for these. Basically equal to 185/70/R14. In other words, you will get the most bang for your buck.
Thanks Matt.
According to the tire calculator, 205/60x15's (what I have now) are closest to 195/ 65 x15, which would keep my speedo most accurate. Plus, the extra profile would give me a softer ride, right? I have seen some good deals on this size in my local town right now, which is why I ask.
(Canadian Tire has some good deals on their Motomaster SE tires, at about $60 each.)
Any specific recommendation as to brand? I need a good All Season, with tire tread that can handle snow, but mainly the wet.
One more question- does the 10mm difference in width really make much of a difference, or am I just being optimistic here?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,807
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,807 |
Definately get the 196/65R15 size, brand is another story.
99 CSVT Green/Tan
# 84 of 2760
Built on Wednesday, September 30, 1998
15.376 @ 92.00 MPH Stock
75,000Km
96 Contour GL
2.5L V6 ATX 170,000Km
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158 |
Originally posted by SVTCANUK:
Definately get the 196/65R15 size, brand is another story.
Thanks SVTCANUK (is that 'Rob' by any chance?) Just curious, you really think the 195 is better than 205 I have now? Or rather, is it worth worth the change, and its not wishful thinking?
Secondly, as a fellow- and relatively local- Canuck, where's a good place to get a good deal, and what brand?
Are Motomaster really bad? They're pretty reasonable on my other car, but I use smaller rims and tires on that one, and snow performance is pretty good.
I'm not a fast driver, but I like to be safe. I kinda like that 'solid limo' feel of reserved power, rather than pure speed. Plus, much better for my gas. So driving style wise, it makes no sense to pay for performance I won't use. Just need to be safe.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,807
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,807 |
Yes, Rob it is. I said to go with the 195/65 because you were looking to go narrower and the 195/60 size would throw off the speedo too much. Now between 195/65 and 205/60 it is a personal preference. The narrower the tire the better it will be in snow. I would highly recommend checking out Tire Rack for the reviews of different tires in the size you want to get. The rating system is pretty reliable and it will break tire performance down into things like dry traction, snow traction and ride comfort. I always look for a tire that is comfortable, quite and has good wet/dry/snow traction, I suppose you could say a tire with the best of all worlds. As far as a local place to buy tires I use a place in Brampton called Bramalea Tire, they have always been good to me.
Cheers
99 CSVT Green/Tan
# 84 of 2760
Built on Wednesday, September 30, 1998
15.376 @ 92.00 MPH Stock
75,000Km
96 Contour GL
2.5L V6 ATX 170,000Km
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158 |
Hi Rob
Thanks for the input. You seem to have got exactly what I'm looking for. I'm gonna guess you run 16" rims (as most of the real enthusiasts do) but what tires are you using?
Cheers,
Tim
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065 |
As far as I know, 195/60R15 is stock, not 195/65R15. I have a LX that came w/ 14" wheels, and when I upgraded to 15" rims I put on 195/60R15, for moneys sake. This does not distort the speedo at all. 195/65R15 will distort the speedo by 3.2%, about 2.25 mph... not enough to make a difference. If you like the softer sidewall, and can get the same price as a 195/60R15, than go for the 195/65R15. I don't think it would be worth the extra money though. As far as brands go, I have Bridgestones, they are pretty good, and my mom has Michelen, those are pretty good too. The reviews seem to say that Goodyear Tripletreads works the best for all seasons, but they are also the most expensive. It all comes down to personal opinion. I like tires with w/ higher sidewalls, since I worry more about comfort than race track speed handeling. So either go cheap brand new, or good brand used. Take care, and good luck.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158 |
Originally posted by Matt R:
As far as I know, 195/60R15 is stock, not 195/65R15. I have a LX that came w/ 14" wheels, and when I upgraded to 15" rims I put on 195/60R15, for moneys sake. This does not distort the speedo at all. 195/65R15 will distort the speedo by 3.2%, about 2.25 mph... not enough to make a difference. If you like the softer sidewall, and can get the same price as a 195/60R15, than go for the 195/65R15. I don't think it would be worth the extra money though.
Hmmm. Mines a 98 SE, and the 'standard tire' for mine is a 205/60 on a 15" rim. So when I used the tire calculator that was my reference size. I thought that the 14" rim came with a 70 profile tire, which puts it at about the same kind of overall diameter. Mind you, if I'm running bigger tires than is 'standard', it might explain why the fuel/mileage calcs seem low... (ie I'd be doing more real kilometers but my odo would show less km, therefore it would look like worse fuel economy, I think...)
Originally posted by Matt R:
As far as brands go, I have Bridgestones, they are pretty good, and my mom has Michelen, those are pretty good too. The reviews seem to say that Goodyear Tripletreads works the best for all seasons, but they are also the most expensive. It all comes down to personal opinion. I like tires with w/ higher sidewalls, since I worry more about comfort than race track speed handeling. So either go cheap brand new, or good brand used. Take care, and good luck.
Thanks for the advice. I guess that your winters would be pretty similar to ours in Southern Ontario, and that most times the roads are cleared of snow early in the day, so most winter driving is on relatively dry roads, like ours. And you use an All season, correct (rather than two sets...)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065 |
My standard 14" rims take 185/70R14, and if you look on this site, you can see (at least it looks like) 195/60R15 is the appropriate size for plus sizing; 205s would just be wider, and therefor shorter sidewall to fit properly. And yes, you always replace snow tires --> all seasons or reverse in groups of 4, or you mess up your traction. Our winters here are pretty light snow wise, although it is the cold (and therfore the ice) that might get you. Although, this big storm coming through is suppsoed to dump 6-8 inches, so it all depeneds on what happens, lol.
BTW, I am about 15 min from the Southern Ontario border, so yes, it is prolly very similar.
|
|
|
|
|
