215/50/15
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 2
From: Right, Here, .
215/50/15
I just got a set of konig heliums (15x6.5") for my DC. Would it be better to run a 215/50/15 tires?
According to this overall tire diameter calculator,
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCal...?action=submit
a 215/50/15 tire is the closest over diameter to the stock DC 195/55/15 tire. Using a 205/50/15 throws the speedometer off by almost 1.61% whereas the 215/50/15 is only a 0.078% difference. Also, wouldn't the 215/50/15 tire give you better traction becuase of the wider section width? Help me out guys.
According to this overall tire diameter calculator,
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCal...?action=submit
a 215/50/15 tire is the closest over diameter to the stock DC 195/55/15 tire. Using a 205/50/15 throws the speedometer off by almost 1.61% whereas the 215/50/15 is only a 0.078% difference. Also, wouldn't the 215/50/15 tire give you better traction becuase of the wider section width? Help me out guys.
H-T Order of Merit
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 23,478
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Re: 215/50/15
No, for two reasons.
1. 215/50-15 will rub on an Integra. Even though the outer diameter is the same as the stock 195/55-15, the added width reduces clearances enough to rub.
2. The only tires available in that size are crap.
No. What's really important to performance is how sticky the tire is (the make and model of the tire, and its corresponding compound, tread pattern, and construction) - NOT the treadwidth. A stickier, slightly narrower tire will ALWAYS give you better traction than a less sticky, slightly wider tire. Someone in the road racing forum stated this principle very succinctly as follows:
Compound > Treadwidth
And, since you are comparing one the crappy tires available in 215/50-15 against some extremely sticky tires available in 205/50-15 and 195/55-15, the sticky tires give better traction.
You don't say how you will use these tires - street use or racetrack, daily driving or fun/brisk driving, moderate to warm temperatures vs snow and frigid cold. If your primary priority is traction rather than long treadlife or low purchase price, and you won't be using these tires in snow or frigid cold, the following tires will give you the best traction of any street tire for your Integra:
Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Spec 195/55-15
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 205/50-15
Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50-15
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/50-15
Toyo R1R 205/50-15
The Star Spec and XS are priced significantly less than the others ($90ish vs $120+). My top pick would be the Star Spec because of its lower price as well as its superior ability in rain, compared with the XS. And yes, the Star Spec will give you equivalent performance to the others, despite its slightly narrower width.
1. 215/50-15 will rub on an Integra. Even though the outer diameter is the same as the stock 195/55-15, the added width reduces clearances enough to rub.
2. The only tires available in that size are crap.
Compound > Treadwidth
And, since you are comparing one the crappy tires available in 215/50-15 against some extremely sticky tires available in 205/50-15 and 195/55-15, the sticky tires give better traction.
You don't say how you will use these tires - street use or racetrack, daily driving or fun/brisk driving, moderate to warm temperatures vs snow and frigid cold. If your primary priority is traction rather than long treadlife or low purchase price, and you won't be using these tires in snow or frigid cold, the following tires will give you the best traction of any street tire for your Integra:
Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Spec 195/55-15
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 205/50-15
Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50-15
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/50-15
Toyo R1R 205/50-15
The Star Spec and XS are priced significantly less than the others ($90ish vs $120+). My top pick would be the Star Spec because of its lower price as well as its superior ability in rain, compared with the XS. And yes, the Star Spec will give you equivalent performance to the others, despite its slightly narrower width.
Last edited by nsxtasy; Jul 10, 2009 at 08:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 2
From: Right, Here, .
Re: 215/50/15
No, for two reasons.
1. 215/50-15 will rub on an Integra. Even though the outer diameter is the same as the stock 195/55-15, the added width reduces clearances enough to rub.
2. The only tires available in that size are crap.
No. What's really important to performance is how sticky the tire is (the make and model of the tire, and its corresponding compound, tread pattern, and construction) - NOT the treadwidth. A stickier, slightly narrower tire will ALWAYS give you better traction than a less sticky, slightly wider tire. Someone in the road racing forum stated this principle very succinctly as follows:
Compound > Treadwidth
And, since you are comparing one the crappy tires available in 215/50-15 against some extremely sticky tires available in 205/50-15 and 195/55-15, the sticky tires give better traction.
You don't say how you will use these tires - street use or racetrack, daily driving or fun/brisk driving, moderate to warm temperatures vs snow and frigid cold. If your primary priority is traction rather than long treadlife or low purchase price, and you won't be using these tires in snow or frigid cold, the following tires will give you the best traction of any street tire for your Integra:
Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Spec 195/55-15
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 205/50-15
Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50-15
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/50-15
Toyo R1R 205/50-15
The Star Spec and XS are priced significantly less than the others ($90ish vs $120+). My top pick would be the Star Spec because of its lower price as well as its superior ability in rain, compared with the XS. And yes, the Star Spec will give you equivalent performance to the others, despite its slightly narrower width.
1. 215/50-15 will rub on an Integra. Even though the outer diameter is the same as the stock 195/55-15, the added width reduces clearances enough to rub.
2. The only tires available in that size are crap.
No. What's really important to performance is how sticky the tire is (the make and model of the tire, and its corresponding compound, tread pattern, and construction) - NOT the treadwidth. A stickier, slightly narrower tire will ALWAYS give you better traction than a less sticky, slightly wider tire. Someone in the road racing forum stated this principle very succinctly as follows:
Compound > Treadwidth
And, since you are comparing one the crappy tires available in 215/50-15 against some extremely sticky tires available in 205/50-15 and 195/55-15, the sticky tires give better traction.
You don't say how you will use these tires - street use or racetrack, daily driving or fun/brisk driving, moderate to warm temperatures vs snow and frigid cold. If your primary priority is traction rather than long treadlife or low purchase price, and you won't be using these tires in snow or frigid cold, the following tires will give you the best traction of any street tire for your Integra:
Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Spec 195/55-15
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 205/50-15
Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50-15
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/50-15
Toyo R1R 205/50-15
The Star Spec and XS are priced significantly less than the others ($90ish vs $120+). My top pick would be the Star Spec because of its lower price as well as its superior ability in rain, compared with the XS. And yes, the Star Spec will give you equivalent performance to the others, despite its slightly narrower width.
Damn brother, thanks for the knowledge! I will be using these rims on my daily driver for summer weather only. I got my stock blades for winter driving here in cali. in my area, it never snows, just rains during the winter. I got Kumho AST's on the blades. I think I'll go with those Star Specs, I've also been told by others they were great tires for the price and probably lighter than the XS' I would imagine. Is tirerack the best place to get the Star Specs?
H-T Order of Merit
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 23,478
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Re: 215/50/15
Dunlop Sport Z1 Star Spec 195/55-15
Tire Rack $83/tire plus shipping
Discount Tire Direct $91/tire with free shipping
Wherever you buy them, Dunlop has a $60 rebate on a set of four if they're bought from today (July 11) through August 8.
Tire Rack $83/tire plus shipping
Discount Tire Direct $91/tire with free shipping
Wherever you buy them, Dunlop has a $60 rebate on a set of four if they're bought from today (July 11) through August 8.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 2
From: Right, Here, .
Re: 215/50/15
Looks like I'm getting a set of of the specs pretty soon. Thanks alot for the reccomendation.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
