Tires for stock or 7" wide wheels...

[Brad-Man]

Since Michelin in their infinite wisdom quit making 215/65/15 tires with a load rating high enough for our cars, and it seems no-one else has been either, I have been using Michelin 235/60/15's on my Rial and BBS rims. Now I understand that they don't make this size anymore.

What do the wise ones her recommend now for those of us who don't travel faster than 90 and still want to use 15" tires?

I am somewhat loathe to go to tires requiring 44 psi...

[Rex]

Since Michelin in their infinite wisdom quit making 215/65/15 tires with a load rating high enough for our cars, and it seems no-one else has been either, I have been using Michelin 235/60/15's on my Rial and BBS rims. Now I understand that they don't make this size anymore.

What do the wise ones her recommend now for those of us who don't travel faster than 90 and still want to use 15" tires?

I am somewhat loathe to go to tires requiring 44 psi...

Most have been forced to move up to 17's or 18's to have adequate tire offerings ... some of us for other reasons . szhosain has a spreadsheet of what tires are avaialble that maintain OEM OD and meet load requirements.

[Q45tech]

Michelin Pilot Exalto even though it is directional 225/60/15 96V just $110.

[elwesso]

If you need some new tires id make the move to 16s or 17s... 17s should be good for a while, you can get 245-45-17 with adequate load rating.

[Q45tech]

But a decent set of 17" will costs as much as 8 15" tires which should last 80,000 miles.

Almost every set of used wheels on ebay has at least one bent out of spec rim..........has been mine and others experience, so you have to add $150 to fix or $250+ to replace.

[maxnix]

225/60-15 and 245/45-17 are short tires. YOu will not like them after running the correct height 235/60-15. At least I don't.

Wheels are wear items. Buying used is a crapshoot unless you can measure runouts and imbalances before purchase.

One doesn't need to travel 150mph to benefit from the virtues of Z speed rated tires.

Hate to say it, but long term, budget for 18" wheels. All others are temporary stopgaps.

[Brad-Man]

I HATE short sidewalls for the city driving that my wife and I do in the car, and don't like having to increase unsprung mass, with its' consequences on ride. Not so much worried about handling - at the speeds we drive the Michelins have been ok, but not that great in the rain.

Are the Exalto's any better in that respect? And are they not 44PSI tires also.

I think you lose something when the sidewalls get so thin in the handling department on our heavy cars.....

And I have no intention of buying more wheels....
Modified by Brad-Man at 8:03 PM 1/26/2007

[maxnix]

I HATE short sidewalls for the city driving that my wife and I do in the car, and don't like having to increase unsprung mass, with its' consequences on ride. Not so much worried about handling - at the speeds we drive the Michelins have been ok, but not that great in the rain.

Well, extra mass can be eliminated or minimized with the correct choice of equipment. The PS2 gives a great ride and is very quiet and is phenomenal in the rain. I had the same concerns, and now I would not choose any thing else.

Unfortuantely, at anything under 18", you will be limited to a delclining pool of lower and lower performing tires. Just not where the action is in performance tier 1 tires.