ih8sndq

Hey everyone, I have a quick question and I didn't really answer it by a quick search on the forum. I am running GSR Fat Fives right now and it's time to get some new tires. I have some old ICW (I think) 15x7's and I want to put some RT615 205/50-15's on them and put them on my CRX. My question is, will I have a rub issue? The car is lowered on Tein SS coilover's, dont' know the exact drop, but not too aggresive. Sorry I don't know the offset on the wheels, I will have to look when I get home. I'm just wanting a quick idea of anyone's past experience.

nsxtasy

Get 195/50-15 tires and you won't have to worry about rubbing at all. 195/50-15 will also maintain the accuracy of your speedometer and odometer, and won't hurt your acceleration like the 205/50-15 will. The Bridgestone RE-11 and Toyo R1R are both very sticky tires available in 195/50-15. Either one in 195/50-15 will give you better grip than the Azenis in 205/50-15. Through May 2 there's a $100 rebate offer on the RE-11, bringing its price down to $91/tire at the Tire Rack. The R1R is $95/tire at tiredeals4less.com.

ih8sndq

Thanks a lot for the info. I'm sorry for being tire ignorant, but how much of a difference is if from 205 to 195? I really appreciate the help and the links for the tires as well.

nsxtasy

10.

The first number in the tire size is the width of the tread, in millimeters. So a 205/50-15 tire has tread that is 10 mm wider than a 195/50-15 tire (8.1" wide vs 7.7").

The outer diameter of the tire is also affected by the tread width, because the diameter is equal to the diameter of the wheel plus two times the sidewall height. The sidewall height of a 205/50-15 tire is 205 * .50 = 102.5 mm = 4.0". The sidewall height of a 195/50-15 tire is 195 * .50 = 97.5 mm = 3.8". Here is how the outer diameters compare:

175/70-13: 22.65" (stock size for base CRX)
185/60-14: 22.74" (stock size for CRX Si)
195/50-15: 22.68"
205/50-15: 23.07"

Since its tread width and outer diameter are both smaller, the 195/50-15 has a lower chance of rubbing than the 205/50-15. As well as the other benefits indicated above.

As a practical matter, the difference in performance between 195/50-15 and 205/50-15 is insignificant (with a tiny benefit in acceleration for the 195/50 and a tiny benefit in cornering for the 205/50, both probably too negligible to actually feel).

HTH

ih8sndq

Super good info, and nobody being a flamer. I really appreciate all the help and the information so quickly.