Some CSVT owners would like to walk away from the noisy but otherwise excellent BFG KDW 215/50/16 tires. There is however a confusion about using the wider 225/50/16 tires. Some owners claim that these will fit without rubbing. Others object to that.
Luke@Tirerack sums it this way: "I don't think the 225's will fit on most Contours. I have seen some minor variations on a few cars that does allow the 225's to work but, not on many cars. The proper width would be a 215."
Luke is probably (?) referring to the suspension mods which would create those variations. It also seems that rubbing occurs with the 225's installed on the 1998 E0 CSVT stock wheels.
Let us then ask the more specific question: Is there any rubbing with the 225/50/16 tires installed on the 1999 CSVT with STOCK WHEELS AND SUSPENSION?
Your input (and Luke's opinion of course) would be greatly appreciated since I am replacing my stock tires in a couple of days.
(Thanks to Mike Delange for his reply in the Wheels and Tires forum)