I'm going to be replacing the (crappy!) stock Dunlops on my 02 ES soon. Since I can't find anything worthwhile in the stock 195/50-16 size, I'm thinking about using 205/50-16. Any thoughts? The tire calculator someone posted said the larger size would give me a +1.6% difference in diameter. If I was reading 60 on my speedo, I'd actually be doing 61. Any other problems that would arise by doing this? Thanks!

 

If you want to stick with the stock size, the Kumho Ecsta ASX's have been getting great reviews, and you can get them online for about $70 each. Moving up to the 205/50 shouldn't be a problem, unless you plan on lowering the car. With my Eibachs, I'd be hesitant to move to a larger diameter.

 

no, there really is no problem with the 205's....you will find some shops that will tell you that you can't/shouldn't put 205's on the factory rims...that is because our factory rims are only 6" wide...and most all makers of a 205 say that the minimum that they RECOMMEND is a 6.5" or in some cases a 7" wheel/rim......its not that they won't fit or work....just don't expect any help from the tireshop or the tire maker if you have a problem of any kind with the tires.

 

i have 205s on both my 16s and my 17s

 

I would like to replace my cheap OEMs with new Kumho Ecsta ASX, but which size is preferred - 205/45 or 205/50?

BTW, anyone know which site selling the cheapest for these tires?

Thanks for you help,
Tony

 

Going from a 195/50/16 to a 205/45/16 would be the same overall diameter, and shouldn't effect the speedo. We usually recommend going to a wider when replacing all 4 tires on any car. The car will ride better and feel more stable. You are only adding 10 mm of tread area, but when multiplied by 4, that's 40 mm of extra tread hitting the pavement. The only drawback will be using a 45 series tire may ride a little harsher. We sell ALOT of Kumho's here, and for the money they are excellent tires. In the last 2 years we have never gotten a bad Kumho. The tire balancer we have is able to measure Roadforce and determine if there is rim damage, bad tire, excessive rim runout, etc.
Another point when dealing with tires is alignment. You should have a 4 wheel alignment done, not a front end alignment. New cars especially should be aligned after they are purchased. Manufacturer's will build the first car for the model year, do an alignment, and build every other car to those spec's. Something in the alignment will be off.
After installing larger wheels, the car should be aligned, and compensations can be made for the wider/larger tires. Make sure you ask for an alignment reading print out. That will show you before and after readings.
The best source for tires we have come across is Tire Rack.

 

I just wanted to say, i have a 2001 ES 2.0, and i have the stock wheels. I put a 215/40/16 on it without any kind of problem. I found that it seems to do nothing more than change the whole speedo by 1 mile per hour, plus it looks real nice

 

hate to tell you this but for everyone who is worried about their speedo, if you have the stock 16inchers your speedo is already jacked up, they must set it for the 15inch wheels because my car is pretty much stock and it when it says 80, my sister's focus says 85 and my dads suburban 84

 

go with the 205-45-16...just as much tread but sam overall diameter...so no change in speedo reading

 

I have a set of Toyo TPT's 195/50/16 on my P5. They have been great so far. Much better grip both wet and dry.