[venturaII]

I love 'em. Better ride quality, noticeably lighter weight, and still better grip. Plus I think the fat tire look of this combo looks good on the car, and the brakes fill the space inside the wheel better. The amount of sidewall a 215/45 offers is kind of ridiculous for a street driven car, especially up here in the northeast. Everyone moans and complains that going to a 50 series tire will 'compromise response' and 'dull handling', but the reality is that the tire make and model is 90% of what you're feeling regarding responsiveness - not the minuscule difference between a 45 and 50 series tire. The argument is additionally made by some that a 225 is too big for a 7" rim, but again, not the case with this combo...check out TireRack's sizing and you'll see a 7" rim is right down the middle for a 225/50, and is what they use as a base for all their measurements. And if you're still convinced you're giving up the nth degree of response, just add another few pounds of air to your tires. Never mind that there are dozens of rubber bushings in the chassis also contributing to this response 'problem'.