Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires Which is the better route to take?

That was a little pointed inuendo about Terry Haines...

Get too...verbal, and you might get banned...

No! No! No! My post will not be turned into a discussion about TH (and I don't mean throttle hang). I want tires and people are helping me. I like it that way.

Originally posted by pancho1181:

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It just seems to me they are a little too wide and the center of the tire may stick out a little enough to cause the center to wear down alot faster than the edges.

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Actually, the opposite is true for me. The inner edge is wearing faster than the center. It is probably due to poor toe-in/toe-out which I have corrected and hope to get even wear now. The only reason the center should wear faster is if you are running too much air pressure.

I was angry over BFg dropping the 215's...
But I just put on a set of FOUR BFG KDW 225-50-16's from TIRERACK (of course)
The tires ride feels softer than the 215's.
The size differece is noticable from worn out 215's to new 225's.
I like 'em.
I would NOt get the 205's... I had too much wheelspin with the 215's and 205 would be just that much worse.
As The Great "Pontiac" once said "WIDER IS BETTER"

here are some tire specs to consider

205/55-16 S-03 Pole Position
Rim Width Range...... 5.50 to 7.50
Measure Rim Width.... 6.50
Section Width........ 8.4
Tread Width.......... 7.6
Overall Diameter..... 24.9

225/50-16 KDW
Rim Width Range...... 6.00 to 8.00
Measure Rim Width.... 7.00
Section Width........ 9.2
Tread Width.......... 7.2
Overall Diameter..... 24.9

So, if Pontiac is correct, I would rather have the
205/55-16 Potenza S-03 Pole Position tire

Hey Luke, what about the Dunlop SP sport 5000's?

Sport 5k 225/50-16
Measure Rim Width.... 7.00
Section Width........ 9.1
Tread Width.......... 8.4
Overall Diameter..... 24.9
205/55-16
Measure Rim Width.... 6.50
Section Width........ 8.5
Tread Width.......... 7.5
Overall Diameter..... 24.8

I think he was asking for an opinion on how the tire performs.

Check this out. Very good All Season tire, and I think I read that Luke said it was the only one (all-season) he'd put on one of his own cars instead of dedicated summer/winter.

Actually, Luke was right on with what I was asking for, but thanks for the info anyways, APT...

Never never would I use Bridgestone/Firestone!!! ever again.
Loyal FORD FAN/atic.
And lots of tires have different widths for the measured sizes...But then if you look at THAT, then how about the total tread area in the contact patch, (different tires have different amounts of "space" in the tread pattern... But also we all know you would have a hard time using a pure slick on the street (besides illegal)
This makes selecting tires really difficult.
All the tradeoffs make my head spin
So I stuck with the closest to what came on the car (again trusting FORD ??? yeah, remember those Firstone tires???)
Anyway I bought the @%##! BFG KDW's (giving Luke the credit at Tirerack) 225-50-16
(Sometimes I see a subcompact with skinny tiny tires and bust out laughing) Anyway my new tires will continue to slide me around freeway curves at 85/90mph like I am GLUED to the pavement. And as for those little curvy country roads, pure heaven Going at LEAST twice the posted speed, if not triple!!