Tires / tyres

[mknz]

If there’s a good balance somewhere between price and performance that’d be ideal. I don’t really think I need anything too up there, considering I’ve now been pretty much daily driving on mismatched cheap tyres for a year and a half with zero problems (read: I’m a grandma). I just want something at least halfway decent that can go on the 15s.

Would recommend the re003s then

[GDII]

Better than nothing. I ran 205/50 for a while. They were ok but the 55 will be better. I wouldn't got semi slick for you. Short of changing wheels those tyres are good.

[JKH]

Ok cool. Just to clarify, since there's only the two sizes available, would it be 195/50 on the front and 205/55 rear? Only asking because when I acquired the 15s they're fitted with tyres that are all 195/65, don't know if I'm missing something or not.

[GDII]

OEM 15" was 195/55 and 225/50. The rolling diameter is something to pay attention to and understand. So your tyre will be a bit smaller.

In the 15" situation we have almost no tyres that are UHP classed that are the right size. But I get budget can be an issue so the RE003 in 195/50 and 205/55 is still going to be a massive upgrade on what you have. OEM 14s are 195/60 and 205/60 so you are still staying with the OEM widths.

To compare what was 14" OEM vs what you are proposing here is the comparison. I have adjusted the offset to show the wheels seperate.

Front
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?w ... offset2=60

Rear
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?w ... offset2=60

Let me know if you want an explanation on each of the tyre parameters.

[JKH]

Ah right, that's actually super helpful. I had some vague idea regarding the changes in wheel/tyre size impacting different things, but don't know much about the specifics or how to tell what's best. But, if running the RE003s in 195/50 up front and 205/55 in the rear on factory 15s is going to work (and in my case the best of limited selection) then I will go with that

[GDII]

What is best is not available so what you are getting for you is fine. It's safe, affordable and still within allowable specs of tyre size. Not quite as big as the 14" tyre but nothing to worry about. The tyre compound will be far superior to what you have.

[Alsw20]

I’d much rather RE003s in a 195/205 combo than an unknown Chinese tyre in 195/225.

[JKH]

Hm. So I just called up Bridgestone to check what they had in stock locally, and was told that running the 195/50 up front paired with the 205/55 in rear would drop the front too much and mess with the handling etc. Merits? It sounded like the guy I spoke to said he has a SW20 himself, not sure.

[Alsw20]

It's a 19mm drop at the front over the correct size 195/55R15. Wether that is enough to notice in normal driving? I wouldn't think so.

I had a much worse drop with the set of wheels I sold to Jim. I had 195/45R16s on some 16x7s on the front and then 245/40R17 on some 17x8.5s on the rear. They were a quality set of Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres and I didn't have any adverse handling effects.

[GDII]

Hm. So I just called up Bridgestone to check what they had in stock locally, and was told that running the 195/50 up front paired with the 205/55 in rear would drop the front too much and mess with the handling etc. Merits? It sounded like the guy I spoke to said he has a SW20 himself, not sure.

I would not worry. I'd run these myself if I was in your situation and I'm very OCD about getting sizes right.

[GlanzaAtHeart]

Okay team,

I've been offered a set of 17x8 and 17x9 Enkeis NT03 with 35p offset. The rears have 245/45/17 and the fronts have 235/45/17.

I know the rears will clear. Will the fronts clear? I'm on factory strut housings now with Koni shocks and Eibach springs if that makes a difference.

Cheers team.

[Alsw20]

Not even close on the front. They will be in the spring perch and rub everywhere.

[GDII]

Fronts are far too big. 215/45 is even too big.
Wheel sizes are good though. Rear tyres are a bit big too. The 45 profile is just a bit large. 1 step down to 40 would be better.

[Alsw20]

Yeah I'd still grab the wheels though. Get the front tyres removed and sell them on. Someone will want them, they could even be used as a rear tyre for someone else's MR2 provided they aren't garbage.

When the rear tyres in the 45 profile wear out, just buy a better size. You will need to massage the guard lips upwards on the rear with a 45 profile 245 tyre. It's hit or miss literally with a 40 profile. My old car only caught occasionally since it was lowered, but it still bothered me so I took to them with a rubber mallet and heat gun.

[GDII]

Camber is a big factor in fitting wheels and tyres.