to those with 205/50/15 tires

[idrive]

im considering it simply because of how much cheaper it is on some tires over a 205/55/15 size...
to those who are running the 50 series... do you guys have any words of wisdom for me? any complaints? should i? shouldnt i?

[SF-SI-02]

Don't think twice, it IS better

[bobdobbs]

55s are too small. 50s are WAY too small.

[oldschoolimport]

my apprehension with 205/50/15 is you will be piling on additional mileage/wear that you are actually not seeing. albeit you won't double the accrued mileage, but any additional mileage on the car is residual value you are basically giving away. what you save on tire purchases you will more than lose when you get rid of the car.

also, with gas being so expensive, you will lose mileage per gallon. you won't see it on the odometer because the drivetrain will be spinning the same number of times, but you will not get the actual distance out of your tires because of the loss in circumference. basically you will have to fill up a day or so earlier than you do now. still worth it?:rolleyes:

[Peking]

Moved :)

[oldschoolimport]

Originally posted by Peking
Moved :) ASS!:D

[idrive]

hmmm i never thought of the extra mileage i would acumilate...
but as for losing fuel economy??? i dont see how bigger or smaller tires makes any significant difference?

BTW 205/55 vs 195/60 the difference between them is slim to none...

my main concern is how off the speedo will be and whether or not i would have to raise my car a bit - being that i am dropped pretty low right as it is...

[oldschoolimport]

Originally posted by idrive
hmmm i never thought of the extra mileage i would acumilate...
but as for losing fuel economy??? i dont see how bigger or smaller tires makes any significant difference?

BTW 205/55 vs 195/60 the difference between them is slim to none...

my main concern is how off the speedo will be and whether or not i would have to raise my car a bit - being that i am dropped pretty low right as it is... it is the speedo being off that is the key to the lost mileage. you don't lose mileage, per say. the car will still get 280 miles to the tank, ON THE ODOMETER. but if the gauge is off 3 mph at 60, when the odometer says you have gone 60 miles, you have only gone 57. average that loss over a tank and you will lose about a gallons worth of DISTANCE. the distance you "actually" travel, will vary from the distance that the odometer shows you have travelled. back in the 70s people would put bigger (circumference) tires on their car. the premise is that they would travel further than the odometer mileage showed and therefore get a few "free" miles out of their fuel. you are doing the opposite. make sense?

[BlairSpeed]

Originally posted by idrive
BTW 205/55 vs 195/60 the difference between them is slim to none...

Isnt the tire height related to the width of a tire? Like a 205/55 is the same overall diameter of a 195/60. So if i wanted a wider, better responding tire, a 205/50-55 would work while not messing with the speedo.

[Slip_Angle]

205/55/15's are 1.4% too fast. IE when your speedo says 60mph, you are actually going 59.2mph.

205/50/15's are 4.7% too fast. IE when your speedo says 60 mph, you are actually going 57.2mph.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Hope this helps you make you decision.

[idrive]

blahh
i went with 205/55/15's
dunlop fm901's
and wow it feels like a totally different car now...