Best tire size for 16inch rim

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96B-Mike
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Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 96B-Mike »

Im looking to buy these after-market rims that are 16's and the tire size is 205/55..i was wondering if that size profile is too skinny for a stock suspension (as in would there be alot of gap between the top of the tire to the fender-well?

My tires are pretty much going bald and and this guy selling these rims with brand new tires for $350..so help plz :D


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themixer
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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by themixer »

i like how a 205/55 looks some people go slighty larger. This is the OEM 16" size


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 3X00-Modified »

Factory beretta tires are 205/55 so depending on what suspension you have the gap would be the same as factory. I will strongly advise you to not lessen that gap by getting a larger tire since now you add in other problems of clearance in some other areas. Prime example is SGR had to run spacers for a 215/60/16 tire.

themixer - For those some who go larger they don't know how tire sizing works.

The only other suggested size for a 16" rim that I will make is a 225/50 its wider but near close to identical for overall diameter in comparison to the 205/55


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 96B-Mike »

aight cool thanks..im probably gonna get em then


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by Money pit Beretta »

On a base it's 185/60/15 right? That is what Mike's car is right?
For me I'm thinking 205/50/16. That would be 1.4% too slow, but close.
So was there a change in the VSS from car with 15's stock and cars that had 16's?
Very hard for me to get 205/55/16's without having to order them.

Mike check your sticker on your drivers door. That will tell you the size that came on the car.
Play around with this Mike:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 96B-Mike »

nah i have 195/70/14 and like i said up there the rims already have tires on em and they are 205/55/16 so..idk lol


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 96B-Mike »

3X00-Modified wrote:Factory beretta tires are 205/55 so depending on what suspension you have the gap would be the same as factory. I will strongly advise you to not lessen that gap by getting a larger tire since now you add in other problems of clearance in some other areas. Prime example is SGR had to run spacers for a 215/60/16 tire.

themixer - For those some who go larger they don't know how tire sizing works.

The only other suggested size for a 16" rim that I will make is a 225/50 its wider but near close to identical for overall diameter in comparison to the 205/55
and no of course i wont do that lol..i rather lower it :D


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by Cliff8928 »

Money pit Beretta wrote: Very hard for me to get 205/55/16's without having to order them.
Really? The 225/50R16 should at least be able to be had, seeing as it came on the 99+ N-bodies.


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 3X00-Modified »

Money pit Beretta wrote:On a base it's 185/60/15 right? That is what Mike's car is right?
For me I'm thinking 205/50/16. That would be 1.4% too slow, but close.
So was there a change in the VSS from car with 15's stock and cars that had 16's?
Very hard for me to get 205/55/16's without having to order them.

Mike check your sticker on your drivers door. That will tell you the size that came on the car.
Play around with this Mike:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
No there was no VSS change... the 195/75/14 and 205/60/15 and the 205/55/16 were all close enough for GM to have very close VSS numbers, I'm not sure if they were all exact but whichever you had if you swapped rim sizes you would be within 0.3%-0.8% on the speedo. They kept the tires between 24.7 and 25" in diameter. Honestly a 205/50/16 will look stupid on our cars especially if you don't have it lowered, you will add more space to the wheel gap which is already bad enough on stock suspension 1/2" extra max since a 205/50/16 is a 24.1" tire where some stock ones are 24.9". A 215/45/17 looked small on my car and just going to the 225/45/17 fixed the look and made it around the stock tire size.

Also whats wrong with ordering tires? Tire rack is cheap and they ship quickly. Typically cheaper than your local shop and they can offer you more tire brands. I went to get tires on my legacy and since they were a 215/45/17 they were a Luxury and performance sized tire so they said they would have to order them... I said never mind and got my own on tire rack. Too many places these days are trying to just stock the normal everyday crap that the average Joe will just slap on their car, anyone who gives a damn and knows what they want has to wait and order stuff.

For reference, here is my car when it had 215/45/17's on it in the front only 24.6". The rears are 225/45/17 so they are 24.9"
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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by Money pit Beretta »

96B-Mike wrote:nah i have 195/70/14 and like i said up there the rims already have tires on em and they are 205/55/16 so..idk lol
Ok, thought you were looking for new tires.

Cliff I can get the 225's, but the are a little big. The 195's would be very close, but foolish pride makes me want 205's.

Well 3X00 it's help for the FDR like we talked about. Also I need new springs and I had FE7 in mind. Or FE5, not sure. Just want a good ride with ability to turn. I'll let the Eibach's on the Cav bang me around.
The Z26 wheels I got need alot of cleaning and this is taking too long. So far I only have one wheel ready. There were many weights on them do to caked on grease and oxidation with dirt stuck to it(on the inside). Just trying to get this done. The steering wheel is off center and the drivers front has too much toe. I have had to live with this for too long and don't want to add more time.
I agree on what they stock, total BS. Pretty sure I can get some BF Goodrich tires in stock.


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 3X00-Modified »

To each his own... I would not use a 1" smaller tire for my daily driver.


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by Money pit Beretta »

I thought that the FE7 gave a 1/2 inch drop. It that wrong?


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 88gtz »

I love my 225/50/16 I will never go back to the 205/55 they just look too skinny once you see the 225 on you're car, my 0.2


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 3X00-Modified »

Money pit Beretta wrote:I thought that the FE7 gave a 1/2 inch drop. It that wrong?

Maybe compared to a base model... but remember my pic above is running on Eibach springs which is 1" drop compared to stock.


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Re: Best tire size for 16inch rim

Post by 96B-Mike »

88gtz wrote:I love my 225/50/16 I will never go back to the 205/55 they just look too skinny once you see the 225 on you're car, my 0.2
is your car lowered?


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