Snow Tires

[smbrm]

I have found the following regarding tire sizing.
http://www.ajdesigner.com/fl_tire/tire.php

215/45R-17(OD =24.62", circumference =77.34", tread /section width =8.4",side wall height= 3.81")

205/55R16 (OD 24.88, circumference 78.2", tread /section width 8.07", side wall height =4.44", 60.6mph compared to 60 mph for the 215/45R-17)

195/55R-16 (OD 24.4", circumference 76.8",tread /section width 7.68", side wall height 4.22", 59.6mph compared to 60 mph for the 215/45R-17))

15" wheels are too small

5x100 bolt pattern for wheels.

I thought I had copied that down incorrectly, so now corrected 24.88 diameter for the 205/55R-16! Circumference is correct.

[roddy]

You're off a bit on your O.D. for the 205/55/16... it should be ~24.9.

The 205/50/17 mentioned above will be ~25.1.

[Ti-REX]

Hey guys I have a quick question about winter wheels too, I'm still waiting for my car... should be here during the winter (unless my dealer lied again) so I want to have the wheels ready.

So if I went with the 205/55/16 tires which most people are recommending, what size bolt pattern and offset would the steelies need to be for the FR-S?

[DaJo]

I bought General Tire AltiMAX™ Arctic on 16 inch hub-centric steelies...

[captslow]

Originally Posted by Enemies

I was hoping to get my tires at Costco. I put my make/model into the tire finder at http://tires.costco.ca/ and only Summer tires came up. Was looking at maybe getting some Michelin X-Ice Xi3's or Xi2's but not sure if they come in the right size.

Costco online doesn't have the latest info. You'll have to visit their store. They have 205/55R16 X-Ice Xi3 for $200 each. I didn't ask about the 17" because I don't mind a narrower tire for winter. You will also get the $70 instant rebate.

They also have 16" hub-centric steelie for $37 each in their catalog (wheel# X40867). But since this is their first year with the new supplier, it's a bit of a mess. They told me they would have to write down my contact info and once they get enough interest then they will place all the orders.

[Enemies]

That's great info. Thanks.

Question for you though. Moving from 17" down to 16" do I need to get my speedometer and tachometer adjusted? I'm not really sure how it works.

[thorlius]

Originally Posted by Enemies

That's great info. Thanks.

Question for you though. Moving from 17" down to 16" do I need to get my speedometer and tachometer adjusted? I'm not really sure how it works.

Tach only measures engine speed independent of vehicle speed, so no. Speedometer, no, unless you change the size too drastically. You will actually be off by a little bit regardless, but if you do it properly it'll be around 1% speed difference, so negligible.

This site will show you the differences.

[Enemies]

Originally Posted by Rossman

Just got mine, will put em on next couple weeks.

205/55R-16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 on 16" steel rims, $850 all in at Tire Rack.

Does that count the TPS or did you not bother? Shipping looks like it's going to be harsh. I'm going to be in the States on Thursday for the day but I doubt there's any chance I could get them shipped to a place in the States by then.

[Enemies]

By the way, not sure why I said the tach. I meant the mileage gauge whatever that's called. :P But oh well, answered it well anyway. Thanks.

Edit: Odometer

[SPEEDGOD]

I'm planning to get the 205/55/16 Hankook W409 iPike for $813, do you guys know any place cheaper? PM me thanks!

[captslow]

Originally Posted by Enemies

Moving from 17" down to 16" do I need to get my speedometer and tachometer adjusted? I'm not really sure how it works.

Speedometer actually measures the angular velocity of the wheel and converts to your speed based some assumed diameter. So if you have a tire with diameter twice as big then if you speedo says 60 you are actually travelling at 120. 16" or 17" are rim diameters not tire. For the 16" you need to pick a tire with wider side profile so that the overall diameter stays roughly the same.

[RoryTate]

Originally Posted by captslow

For the 16" you need to pick a tire with wider side profile so that the overall diameter stays roughly the same.

Not quite true. In order not to throw off your speedometer, yes, you do need to keep the diameter the same. This can be done by changing the aspect ratio of the tire in relation to the tread width.


For example: stock size is 215/45R17, going to a 16 inch rim you could choose a
225/50R16, 245/45R16, 205/55R16, 195/55R16, etc. with minimal difference in reported speed (as the diameter of each of the four example are similar).

For winter use one would want to go with a narrower tire as opposed to a wider tire as the narrower tire will help with cutting through snow. Because the diameter of the new wheel/tire won't be exactly the same as stock (it is possible to come really close but very difficult to get 100% the same), you can expect some difference between what the speedometer says and what you are really doing.

If the spedometer shows 100km/h on the stock wheel, choosing a 205/55R16 tire will show 100km/h but actually be going 101.1km/h. The 195/55R16 would show 100km/h while actually going 99.3km/h.

[dcfr]

Originally Posted by RoryTate

Not quite true. In order not to throw off your speedometer, yes, you do need to keep the diameter the same. This can be done by changing the aspect ratio of the tire in relation to the tread width.


For example: stock size is 215/45R17, going to a 16 inch rim you could choose a
225/50R16, 245/45R16, 205/55R16, 195/55R16, etc. with minimal difference in reported speed (as the diameter of each of the four example are similar).

For winter use one would want to go with a narrower tire as opposed to a wider tire as the narrower tire will help with cutting through snow. Because the diameter of the new wheel/tire won't be exactly the same as stock (it is possible to come really close but very difficult to get 100% the same), you can expect some difference between what the speedometer says and what you are really doing.

If the spedometer shows 100km/h on the stock wheel, choosing a 205/55R16 tire will show 100km/h but actually be going 101.1km/h. The 195/55R16 would show 100km/h while actually going 99.3km/h.

That's true. From 215/45/17 to 205/55/16 is probably the best option for the winter because both the diameter & speedometer change with be only about 1% difference which is totally acceptable. Thanks for the share.

[OptionJDM]

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