225/45 v 205/50

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225/45 v 205/50; on an 8J wheel
Topic Started: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:45 pm (132 Views)
sportline_stu	Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:45 pm Post #1
Member Posts: 1,009 Group: Members Member #2,447 Joined: March 23, 2008	I think I might be buying a mates alloys for my 190 - they are 16x8 ET 35 so an ideal size for the 190. (design info and pics to follow in a later build thread! ) I need to consider which tyre choice to pick (My car is sitting on sportline springs and number 2 pads all round). I currently have a staggered set of 16" SLK alloys on the car which are 7J fronts and 8J rears. The fronts wear 205/50 and the rears wear 225/45. I really like the squat square look of 16's wrapped in the 225/45 tyres, but I am unsure about the driving experience of having 225/45 up front. I can only imagine this will increase any tramlining and also offer a slightly firmer ride? Has anyone got an pictures of 205/50 tyres on a 16" 8J wheel please? I wonder if the slightly slimmer tyre over an 8J wheel might look good with a small amount of stretch? Also, though the 225 tyre has a bigger footprint on the road, the 205 may offer superior grip with the increased pressure over the tread area touching the road? Opinions and pics please. Stu.



cmnyen	Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:59 pm Post #2
'86 190E 2,3-16 Posts: 29 Group: Members Member #4,750 Joined: October 14, 2009	Hi! My car had 205/50-15 when I bought it. The tires were really crappy, so I changed them all for some Toyo's in 225/45-16. My car is lowered on H&R springs (60mm front?) with nr2 pads. Here are some pics. My wheels are also 8x16 ET35 With 205/50: With 225/45:



chrismatheou	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:02 pm Post #3
Enthusiast Posts: 1,471 Group: Members Member #789 Joined: January 4, 2007	225/45/16



Johnboy Mac	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:11 pm Post #4
Member Posts: 1,612 Group: Members Member #2,771 Joined: June 12, 2008	Just changed my wheels & tyres from 225/45/16 to 205/55/15's for the winter this afternoon. Found a marked improvement in wet grip, steering feel & no tramlining. But I really like the 16's (EVO's) so I expect to be fitting back again in late spring (with Mich's or Conti's which hopefully won't affect the steering feel and reduce tramlining). So for the winter I recommend 205/55/15's.



kentronix	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:17 pm Post #5
Admin Posts: 16,349 Group: Admin Member #147 Joined: January 20, 2006	Personally I think 215's are the perfect all year road tyre. I had a few close calls aquaplaning with my 225's. Hasnt happened once since I switched down to 215. Of course brand and exact design makes a huge difference but I nearly killed my baby twice with those 225's on. This was on my 18s so I suppose its not 100% fair test but in terms of contact patch, you want a less wide one for very wet roads.



Ukmerctechie	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:18 pm Post #6
Member Posts: 2,168 Group: Members Member #454 Joined: August 12, 2006	kentronix Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:17 pm Personally I think 215's are the perfect all year road tyre. I had a few close calls aquaplaning with my 225's. Hasnt happened once since I switched down to 215. Of course brand and exact design makes a huge difference but I nearly killed my baby twice with those 225's on. This was on my 18s so I suppose its not 100% fair test but in terms of contact patch, you want a less wide one for very wet roads. Or big monster brakesd and a working ABS system Go for 225/45/16 Stu,its not all bad.205/50/16 will look stupid on 8j's Edited by Ukmerctechie, Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:19 pm.



kentronix	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:23 pm Post #7
Admin Posts: 16,349 Group: Admin Member #147 Joined: January 20, 2006	Abs wont help you if your not braking, my worst near miss was just rolling into a corner and the car went straight on. Phat tyres rode up onto the water and 'torvil and deaned' me towards oncoming traffic.



Ukmerctechie	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:24 pm Post #8
Member Posts: 2,168 Group: Members Member #454 Joined: August 12, 2006	kentronix Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:23 pm Abs wont help you if your not braking, my worst near miss was just rolling into a corner and the car went straight on. Phat tyres rode up onto the water and 'torvil and deaned' me towards oncoming traffic. An Anchor then?



kentronix	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:27 pm Post #9
Admin Posts: 16,349 Group: Admin Member #147 Joined: January 20, 2006	hehe, or a parachute out back



Ukmerctechie	Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:28 pm Post #10
Member Posts: 2,168 Group: Members Member #454 Joined: August 12, 2006	kentronix Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:27 pm hehe, or a parachute out back Drag car stylee



sportline_stu	Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:29 pm Post #11
Member Posts: 1,009 Group: Members Member #2,447 Joined: March 23, 2008	I wouldn't be changing the wheels and tyre size for the winter - I only plan on one set of year round wheels for the car. Saying that though, I do have a set of 15" 8-holes with a slight dish/rim that ukmerctechie has been trying to buy off me for ages. They are part-refurbed and maybe if I can resist the temptation to sell them I could consider a set of winter wheels It seems that 225/45 is the way to go unless theres lots of water on the road in which case I will simply pull over until the rain stops. It will certainly enhance the look of the car and we do live in a vain world after all



kentronix	Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:35 pm Post #12
Admin Posts: 16,349 Group: Admin Member #147 Joined: January 20, 2006	225s are probably fine if you spend the extra and get decent tyres, like those ones with a ridge down the middle.



Ukmerctechie	Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:36 pm Post #13
Member Posts: 2,168 Group: Members Member #454 Joined: August 12, 2006	sportline_stu Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:29 pm I wouldn't be changing the wheels and tyre size for the winter - I only plan on one set of year round wheels for the car. Saying that though, I do have a set of 15" 8-holes with a slight dish/rim that ukmerctechie has been trying to buy off me for ages. They are part-refurbed and maybe if I can resist the temptation to sell them I could consider a set of winter wheels It seems that 225/45 is the way to go unless theres lots of water on the road in which case I will simply pull over until the rain stops. It will certainly enhance the look of the car and we do live in a vain world after all You cant use the 8 holes as winter wheels,i am trying to sell my Aeros to pay you for them honest



NEIL	Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:37 pm Post #14
Fewer Posts than Kenny Posts: 16,160 Group: Members Member #63 Joined: November 18, 2005	225/45/16s look and feel great, on my Tolimans there wasn't really any tramlining - but being a 45-profile, road noise was increased. Thing is, road noise can vary quite drastically with Tyre brands, so tbh there will always be an element of 'suck it and see'. I agree with Andy, 205s look daft on 8Js.



gibpetrolhead	Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:02 pm Post #15
Racing line Posts: 813 Group: Members Member #4,482 Joined: August 2, 2009	205's I find to be the best, there is certain amount of feel lost in the larger tyre and extra unsprung weight of the rim does'nt help come winter the narrow trye will allways provide better grip. The track however is a different ball game.



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