Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires 215/40-16 ?

On an unlowered (non-lowered...?) SVT, with original rims, is this going to look lame? I'd like the reduced weight, the sharper steering and the 79 dollar Kumho (over the noew 149 dollar KDW), but that's a pretty decent difference from the standard 215/50-16 tires. Is this going to suck an egg, or will it be alright? I'd like to go 215/45-16, but the options in that size are all more than 100 bucks for some reaso (no Kumho's, basically)

Chris

I have this size on my Cougar. It looked a little funny until I lowered the car with Eibachs. The car definitely benefited in the handling and acceleration departments, but the speedometer error is annoying when my passengers think I'm doing 10mph over the limit, but I'm really doing about 3 or 4.

Essentially if I don't lower I'm going to look goofy. I was hoping maybe the underspoiling on the SVT would compensate a bit, and maybe if someone knew what a stock SVT looked like they'd think "oh, that's wierd," oh well. 215/45-16 it such an expensive size for some reason, grrr!

Chris

If you get a 215/40-16" tire, it'll look like ass.

Way too damn small. WAY WAY WAY too small.

Not to mention your speedo will be off by 7%.

Disadvantages overcome the advantages by far on this one.

John

What about 215/45-16? On that Miata thing that doesn't look like THAT large of a stretch.

Chris

Still not good, but better than a 40 series tire.

If you really want a low-profile tire, go at least 225 in width to compensate.

John

Yeah, but 225 on the stock 6.5 inch rim... Isn't that going to, I don't know, fit strangly? Like too much width over the rim? My 225/50's bow out in a rather wierd way (even with 40psi). It looks neat, and works fine on the SP Sport 5000's because they are all season anyway and the rubber "let's go" before the maximum force of the sidewall is reached anyway, but won't I be loosing cornering force with that sort of "triangle" sidewall shape? (I may not be explaining this well)

Thanks for all this help, but the way, I really appreciate it.

Chris

Well, my main concern w/ a 40 or 45 series tire on a 16" rim would be sidewall height. It'll look funky if you put a 40 or 45 series tire on the stock rim in 215 width. 225s will bulge out a little more, but they'll still be good and the sidewall won't be as low.

Totally up to you, but I'd go 225 for sure.

John

I guess before looks I'm thinking performance. I definitely don't want to look like I randomly chose a size and it was the wrong one! However, I'm just worried about loosing cornering power. There are some decent options in the 225/45-16 size. (Kumho Ecsta 712 and Falken GR Beta FK-451 would be my top, not insanely expensive, choices).
I'm totally agreeing with you on the look, issue but I'm just worried about application.

Chris

I ran 225/50/15 on the stock 7 spoke aluminum wheels. IMO, 215/40/16 will look like ass! I'm running 225/50/16. To be hornest, I don't think you'll benefit from running a lower profile wheel like this. You might have worse handling, steering response actually. I've ran the Cartest program using different wheels, there's almost no difference as far as acceleration concern going from 15" wheels to 18" wheels.