Widest tire to fit a 15 inch rim?

[SilviaSR20DET]

I have the stock rim that is a 15 and 6.5inches wide thats currently running with 195/60. Is it any better to get a 205/50 or should i stay with the 195's? Im planning on getting more grip through cornering and launches. So from my own perspective, i think the 205/50 will look better than the stock tires because of the height of the sidewall and wider. Any help will be much appreciated.

[revat619]

if i were you, i'd go with 205/55/15 or 205/60/15.

the 205/50 has a fairly short side wall, so your fender gap may look bigger, unless your car is lowered. I used to have 205/50/15's on my stock alloys before i got the ssr's and the fender gap looked horrible....well to me atleast.

here's a pic of my car with the old rims and 205/50's

[boro240]

205/50/15 for me, 15x6.5 rims. next time i buy tires i might change though, i dunno what to, and i dunno if i will. in reality, i just like to post pics of my car. even in its near stock goodness. :)

[AKADriver]

A taller tire will be better than a short weeny little tire like a 205/50... in terms of grip.

I run 205/60's on my car. Very nice setup all around. Some people prefer 205/55... both will work fine. 205/60 was a factory size, it came on '89-'90 with sport suspension and '91-'93 with HICAS.

Tire selection kind of sucks in 205/60 though. I'm using AVS Intermediates, which rock but are discontinued... Tire Rack might still have a few sets left for dirt cheap. This tire was replaced by the AVS ES100 which is also a badass tire.

[Zemus]

I have 215/50/15 Kumhos on my 15x7 rims, and their alright, they just ware very fast, and dont like starts, they kind skip its odd

[SilviaSR20DET]

thanks for the replies guys, this is really helpful.

[SilviaSR20DET]

im really planning on getting the bridgestone potenzas SO3's so a 60 sidewall will allow better grip right? How is a taller sidewall more grip when some cars with 17s have like a 45 sidewall?
Can someone explain to me the diffrences. Thanks

[SilviaSR20DET]

By the way, im lowering my car 2inches so i hope the wheel gaps are less

[AKADriver]

It's not about the sidewall... it's about overall tire height.

A wider tire puts a wider contact patch on the road.. a taller tire has a longer contact patch.

A 205/50-17 has the same overall height and section width as a 205/60-15 and will have approx. the same traction limits.

I don't think the S-03 comes in 205/60-15, by the way.

[SilviaSR20DET]

The SO3's come 205/50zr 15 and thats what im looking forward too. But need some input on handling characteristics between the 60 sidewall and 50 sidwall.

[revat619]

like AKA said, with a 205/60 series tire the contact patch will be longer. (the tire will be in contact with the road surface for a longer period of time than the 205/50 series)

[AKADriver]

The 50-series sidewall will be a bit stiffer, though, which will make the car a bit more predictable.

Personally, I think a good performance tire even in a 55 or 60 series has a stiff enough sidewall for the stock suspension. I don't think you'd really notice the improved response from the short sidewalls given the weak stock bushings etc. But if you've made a few small improvements that could change. I don't doubt that once I've added my TC rods and subframe spacers that my 205/60s might start feeling a bit too vague.

[SilviaSR20DET]

What would look best when lowering a car between the 50, 55, 60 sidewall? I know that 50 on a 15 inch rim is a little too small unless im lowering it alot more than 2inches (correct me if im wrong) so 55 sounds like a good sidwall rating among the three since its in the middle.

[sykikchimp]

most all of the good performance tires only come in a 50 series sidewall in 15" fitments..

Plus the 50 series sidewall will basically give you a shorter final gear ratio, and should make the car fell like it has a bit more power..

also changing the sidewall height isn't going to affect the contact patch enough to make a difference.. you can adjust contact patch with tire pressure as needed.

[Kookaburraz]

The only thing that affects contact patch is tire pressure (and the weight on the tire).

[Kookaburraz]

Where do you guys get 15x6.5 wheels stock?:p

[240Degrees]

What would look best when lowering a car between the 50, 55, 60 sidewall? I know that 50 on a 15 inch rim is a little too small unless im lowering it alot more than 2inches (correct me if im wrong) so 55 sounds like a good sidwall rating among the three since its in the middle

i think a 60 sidewall is the best looking. check out my car. mine are 205/60/r15. i don't know how much of a drop my car is 'cus i just lowered it as much until it looked nice. i'm guessing it's less than 2 inches.
http://www.cardomain.com/id/240degrees

[91CRXsiR]

isnt it the smaller the side wall the better the tire handles?..

smaller = less sidewall flexing when you make hard turns?

sum1 told me this a while ago dont know if its true

[240Degrees]

yep thats right, but i doubt that most of us ACTUALLY drive that hard or do that many track events, that it would be that much more beneficial to have a shorter sidewall. I would rather have a larger sidewall on my car in order to reduce the amount of fender gap... mostly cosmetical reasons. Don't tires with bigger sidewalls GENERALLY last longer(given that they are the same brand, rating, composition, etc etc)?