Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires General wheel and tire advice please...

O.K. guys, I basically know **** about wheels and tires...I need some help. Of course, I have the 8 spoke wheels with stock 205/60/15 Firehawk GTA tires. At this point I am tired of both the wheels and the tires(clearcoat coming off of wheels from one of the many cleaners I tried to get brake dust off, tires need no explanation), but still would like to use them in the winter(snow and salt). I am more concerned with ride quality and all season performance for tires. Looks and speed rating do not matter to me. I would also like to get bigger wheels(16 or 17 inch). I'm also trying to stay around $1K. What "hidden" costs will I come across? Do I need new lug nuts? I have a Ford lock nut on each wheel, will they work? If I go through Discount Tire(they are very close) would you recommend getting the special process to make sure the tires/wheels are mounted correct(some kind of machine)? It's like $40 extra. Tire certificate? I just don't want to get taken to the cleaners. Any wheel/tire combo you could recommend? Maybe a certain size tire I should go with for a 15(maybe) 16 and 17 inch wheel? I know I am pathetic, but I need help. Thanks guys!

Edit: Stock suspension with no plans of going lower...

Check out Tirerack online and use their wheel selector to get an idea of what you like/dislike in a bunch of available wheels. Also check out SuperBuyTires for a good selection of 16 - 18 inch wheels.

If you want to get a feel for what looks good on our cars, search through the profiles on the CEG, and pan through this Wheels & Tires section for pictures of what folks have installed, there are a BUNCH of good pictures on this site for Contours with great wheel packages installed...good luck!

Technically speaking, you need to make sure the wheels in question support a 4 x 108 bolt pattern and have at least a 40mm positive offset. Just my .02!

For a 16 inch wheel you will want to go with 205/55/16 or 215/50/16(very limited options)
For a 17 wheel you will want to go with 215/45/17
As far as extra costs, there shouldn't be much. Depends on the wheel you get, you might need new lugs($20). If there is a discount store near you, buy them there, do not buy them online. If they don't balance the wheels correctly, then you would have to pay someone else to do it. From my experience, the wheels hardly ever come balanced correctly. Also, I wouln't pay the extra money to have that special thing done to the tires. I don't think it is nessecary for your needs. Just make sure they balance them correctly. So, buy them from the store if you can, and your extra costs should be minimal. If they don't balance them right the first time, have them keep doing it again and agian to they get them right. Also, tell them to take the .25oz margin of error off. You shouldn't have to pay for them to do it right. Good luck

And use this Miata.net calculator for figuring out what size to go with.

I got my wheel and tire package from Tire Rack and it was not correctly balanced. Gave Luke a call about it, he told me to take it and get it rebalanced and fax him the bill and Tire Rack would reimburse me. I went to the local Tire Rack installer here and had it done, faxed Luke the bill and got credit. That simple!

Go with the 215/50R16. I have the same car you do and the 205/55r16's rub on the front inside and the rear outer fender lip. And I rolled the rear Fenders already. The BFG VR4 are a good from tirerack at $108.

If you are concerned with a good ride quality then you might want to stay with a 15 incher.
Also, I would stick with a name brand tire like a Goodyear, Michelin, etc. for quality and warranty reasons.
I got the 205/60/15 Goodyear Eagle HPs and am quite pleased with them.

Hidden costs?

With Tirerack, there are none. Calculate shipping, and you are done, unless you also want locking lugs. Balance, "Road Force" analysis, standard mounting hardware, valve stems, are all included, and they stand behind their work.

With Discount Tire, be wary of so-called "free shipping." When they went to "free shipping," all of their prices went up. If you compare, say Kumho 712's from Tirerack, to the same tire at DTD, it's still cheaper to your door from Tirerack. Furthermore, they will charge you for the mounting hardware, whether you need it or not, and even for the valve stems, which I could have sworn were part of the hardware? And as you've already seen, the road force analysis is another $40. In that case, I would wait to see if you need it, and then have it done locally.

There are some really good prices now at TR for 16" wheels that are attractive, and not too heavy (like around the 19 lb range). 16's will look fine with your stock ride height, but 17's start to look lifted unless you lower it.

If you really don't like the wheel selection at TR, then go with DTD, Whalen Tire, or some other places recommended here. But I would seriously consider the vendor as a factor in your ultimate choice, with the chance to buy from TR a big plus, in my book. (and no, I don't work for them :p )

Use the 17" rims . . . greater range of tire choice and if you decide to upgrading the brakes you have the room to do it. If you would like an all season tire, I can highly recommend the Bridgestone RE950's in 215/45 size ($135 ea). These tires are nearly as good as a dedicated dry tire, but also has excellent wet traction and a snow rating. If you want something for warm weather only I can recommend the Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP. Very good dry and wet traction and decent tread life. If you want the ultimate in a dry traction tire, look at the Bridgestone S-03 Pole position. Michelin Pilot Sport is also a good tire, but is probably the most expensive of the group. Good luck!

Jeff Stevens

Oh, and another thing, sort of a hidden cost:

If you are changing widths and offsets, budget in for an alignment. Just had mine done today, all 4 wheels, for $95 with tax.