Odd tires size

[aleph1]

does anyone make 225/55-15 tires? If not, whats the point of 15x7.5 wheels?

[SmithSR]

BF Goodrich makes 275/50-15 295/65-15315/60-15325/50-15345/55-15Comp TA drag radial

Dunlop makes265/50-15295/50-15 GT Qualifier T

Firestone makes295/50-15275/60-15255/60-15 Firehawk Indy 500

Goodyear makes295/50-15 Eagle GT II215/50-15 Eagle GA

Kumho makes225/50-15225/45-15 ECSTA V700

Michelin makes225/55-15 Pilot HX MXM in W, V, and Z speed rating.225/50-15 Pilot Sport Cup

Pirelli makes 225/60-15 P4000 Super Touring225/60-15 P6000 Sport Veloce in H, V ratings225/50-15 PZero System Asimmetrico

Sumitomo makes225/50-15 HTR 200

Yokohama makes225/50-15 A022 A, A032R(H compound), A032R(S compound), Avid T4, AVS ES100

There are other tire makers with similar sizes available. These are just a few of the tire sizes available... Keep in mind there are a number of other vehicles that can utilize a 7.5" wide wheel with any number of tire sizes. That, IMO is the point of 15x7.5" wheels.

-Phil

[aleph1]

Most of those are drag radials... I was looking at some 15x7.5 SSR Meshes and the tire size I stated fit the stock ratio....

[Onizuka]

Michelin makes225/55-15 Pilot HX MXM in W, V, and Z speed rating.

[aleph1]

arent those like super expensive? So by going the wide 15" route, Id have like 1 maybe 2 tires to choose from...ugh, nevermind...I guess Ill have to go 16"

[Onizuka]

you get what you pay for.

[SmithSR]

:Werd performance isn't supposed to be cheap.

If you put *price* and *performance* on a graph, they would be in parallel. The only deviations would be with aftermarket crap that doesn't boost hp(or very minimal, hardly noticeable), but costs upwards of $250 *cough* CAI *cough*

[SmithSR]

arent those like super expensive? So by going the wide 15" route, Id have like 1 maybe 2 tires to choose from...ugh, nevermind...I guess Ill have to go 16"

Not only are they expensive, they are ultra-grippy. Meaning that over a shorter life than their less expensive alternatives, they will grip better, warm up faster. So, the only downside is that you have to replace quite often...even MORE money. If you can't afford to buy performance tires, this is the wrong game to be playing....everything from regular maintenance to performance upgrades takes serious dollars when you figure total expenses over the entire ownership period.

A tire's contact patch is the only thing that connects your car to the ground...the most important part of your car is the contact it keeps with the road. Is this really the area you want to go cheap in???

[Exar-Kun]

just a note, those 225-55-15 mxx3 you guys are talking about are discontinued, but a store of mine has 6 of them, make me an offer and I can get them for you, probaby pretty cheap.-chet

[aleph1]

Well it isnt an area I want to waste tons of money in for a daily driver. I wanted something on the level of the Falken Zeix 512, which is what I have now....they arent super grippy (especially with a 420 treadwear rating), but they arent bad at all for daily driving. Or something possibly just a bit better like mid 300 treadwear. I though the 225 size to be a good size, not too wide, but not too thin either. Apparently that size is rarer than I imagined, I bet its easier to get in japan =P Ill jst have to move to something like 225/50-16 or 45...i dont remember the right ratio.

You people make it seem like all or nothing. Even the Kumhos Ecsta Supras arent to bad for how much they are. You take what you can get in this world, as of now, Im not ready to spend ~$600 every 3 months for new tires.

[SmithSR]

You people make it seem like all or nothing.

Thankyou. In a perfect world, where people understood just how important maximum grip is in dangerous situations that present themselves in the course of daily driving, tires would be more important to people.

I don't concern myself with cost, but I am in the rare minority and buy my tires at wholesale from my store.

Sorry if my attitude comes across as blunt, but I've spent too many years listening to people complain about how expensive the tires are for their minivan or (insert family vehicle, daily driver here).... it confuses me to no end, how a vehicle carrying your whole family and some neighbor kids is supposed to have the bare minimum of traction, at the cheapest possible price. This to me is like asking for the cheapest and quickest brake job. hmm...

The most important and life-saving action your car is capable of making is the ability to stop. This requires two things: a properly maintained brake system(not just a cheap pad drop), and tires that are capable of maximum grip. How anybody could think of going cheap on either of these two things is beyond me...but like I said, cost isn't as much of a factor for me as it is for some, so I do understand the hesitation of people when they see the price of performance-oriented tires/parts.

Exar, Tirerack Wholesale is running a "special" on some remaining MXX3's in sizes still available. The MXM is a different tire, different tread design.

[F4ucc]

SSR mesh?nice wheel, just bit pricy......

I am running pair of Watanabe RS-8 15x7 +27 offset with BSS03 205/55/15, and a pair of Kurukawa mesh 15x6.5 with 205/55/15 Kumho Supra 712 for rear. I always wonder why people want big tires which's only good for look, with our "underpower KA24 motor" 215 is propably more than enough. Unless you have a KA-T or SR20DET, 215 is good enough, I also feel many people kind of scare of Oversteering, thus they tend to use "Huge tires" for rear, perhaps spending more time on track such as autocross or open track event would help, but definitely not drag track though.

Just my thought.

[Exar-Kun]

I know the mxm and mxx3 are different :POur northride store has 3 mxx3's in 225-55-15 sitting around gathering dust....allong with my store having a set of 245-50-15(yeah, weird huh?) sp8000's.

smith is very right, I also gaze in bewilderment at people who go "gimme the least expensive thing you've got"(kumho-style) for their cars...

think about it:THeres only ONE THING that every other peice of equipment on your car relies on, and its the tires, the only thing actually making contact with the road. dont skimp on them.-chet

[aleph1]

I see your point. But you guys do work at tire shops, and can get tires (even good ones) cheap. Are the Falken Zeix not good enough, are they considered "skimping"?? So you guys are saying that every tire except for the high end ones are a waste of money and you will die in them.

I think youll have a better chance dying in Azenis than Zeix. All those super expensive high end tires are pretty much made for dry weather contact. More often then not, you will not get this perfect weather for as long as you have those tires on. Once the odd rainstorm hits, those tires have become death traps. While the Zeix performs VERY adequately in dry weather and good in wet weather as well... Its called balance, for daily driven vehicles. Makes 0 cents to waste a crap load of money on tires that will only really benefit you on the track.

F4ucc:The SSR meshes are the only ones I can think of, I know of a few other meshes but they are very rare. I can get SSR meshes new. The RS-8s are cool, but I dont really like the way they look on S13s.

I plan on KA-T, hence why I was interested in 225s. I guess Ill check out 215s also, but prolly gonna move to 16". Im going for the same size tires all around, so I can rotate and make them last longer.

[Exar-Kun]

falken ziex 512 are a nice tire for the money. I'm not saying that you HAVE to get the best tire, otherwise you'll die or something. I'm just making a point. People spend lots of money for bigger brakes, better suspensions, etc and they dont do jack without good tires.

"All those super expensive high end tires are pretty much made for dry weather contact"

not necessarily. IT depends on the tire, and who made it, etc. THere are "summer" tires, such as the azenis and the pilot mxx3, among a few(a08 yokohamas also, comes to mind) that fit what you said, but certain tires for the street mostly but a blend very well. MY Pzero's handling incredibly, and only get better with heating, and work wonderfully in the rain. Same goes for a S-03 or pilot sport.

if you want a good tire, for a good price, go with a falken GR-beta, yokohama es-100 or AVS sport, thigns of that nature. Every tire manufacturere makes different tires for a different emphasis of driving.

it does make sense to buy excellent tires, brakes can only apply as much braking force as the grip of the tire allows, which benifits street use very much. Also, a car can only corner until the tire loses grip, or shift weight in an emergency...both benifits for street.

IF you want to discuss buying RACING TIRES, then its a different ball game, but both myself and smith were speaking of street tires...

I just thought I'd let ya know it did make sense to put good tires on, and why.-chet

[SmithSR]

Exar, ditto. Tire makers generally build a tire for every budget. From the hard compound, high mileage tires, to the ultra-soft, very grippy, quick wearing units. And just about everything in between. I'm a fan of Falken tires, as they provide good grip for the money, and generally run smooth and balance well. Of course there are better gripping tires that cost more and wear out quicker....and also tires that use harder compounds for high mileage that cost more and wear longer. So, as I've said before, since I work for a tire company, price isn't as much of a concern for me as it is for some. The problem I have is with the guys who blow their budget on phat madd tyte wheels, and then ask me....and I'm quoting here:

"what's the cheapest tire that'll fit on these rims?"

A compromise must always be found with tires: grip vs. wear

One's budget usually decides where in this compromise their tire choice lands.