Wheel and Tire

Major differences for the tire sizes?

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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 10:47 PM
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Default Major differences for the tire sizes?

What are the major differences of the 195/55/R15 and the 205/50/R15? On EM1 si rims.
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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 11:08 PM
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Default Re: Major differences for the tire sizes?

help please
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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 11:32 PM
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Default Re: Major differences for the tire sizes?

Well, considering you're bumping a thread only after waiting 21 minutes... you shouldn't expect any results (especially not at this hour, since peak hours stopped about 4 hours ago).

As for your tire question, the contact patch change is only 10mm. Not something I would expect "major" anything out of.
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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 11:33 PM
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Default Re: Major differences for the tire sizes?

There are really only two major differences between 195/55-15 and 205/50-15:

1. Tire availability. Some tires are only available in one size or the other. For example, if you want a Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, you can only get it in 195/55-15; if you want a Bridgestone Potenza RE-11, you can only get it in 205/50-15. Winter tires are more common in 195/55-15; R compound track tires are more common in 205/50-15.

2. Tire cost. Some tires are available in both sizes, but are substantially more or less expensive in one size than the other. For example, the Yokohama S.drive is significantly less expensive in 195/55-15 than in 205/50-15; the Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is less expensive in 205/50-15 than in 195/55-15.

So your best bet is to decide on the tire you want, see which size(s) it's available in, and how much it costs in each size.

All the other differences are extremely minor, to the point of insignificance:

205/50-15 will give slightly better traction on dry pavement than 195/55-15. You'll probably never notice the difference.

195/55-15 will give slightly better traction in rain and in snow than 205/50-15. You'll probably never notice the difference.

The slightly larger outer diameter of the 195/55-15 will give you a slight improvement in fuel economy, whereas the slightly smaller outer diameter of the 205/50-15 will give you a slight improvement in acceleration. In both cases, you'll probably never notice the difference.

The difference between the calculated diameter of the two sizes is 1.6 percent, so one size or the other will add an error of up to that percentage in the readings of your odometer and speedometer.

Clearance in the wheel wells is typically about equal, with the 10 mm wider tread width of the 205/50-15 offsetting the slightly larger diameter of the 195/55-15.
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 12:53 AM
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Default Re: Major differences for the tire sizes?

Originally Posted by nsxtasy
There are really only two major differences between 195/55-15 and 205/50-15:

1. Tire availability. Some tires are only available in one size or the other. For example, if you want a Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, you can only get it in 195/55-15; if you want a Bridgestone Potenza RE-11, you can only get it in 205/50-15. Winter tires are more common in 195/55-15; R compound track tires are more common in 205/50-15.

2. Tire cost. Some tires are available in both sizes, but are substantially more or less expensive in one size than the other. For example, the Yokohama S.drive is significantly less expensive in 195/55-15 than in 205/50-15; the Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is less expensive in 205/50-15 than in 195/55-15.

So your best bet is to decide on the tire you want, see which size(s) it's available in, and how much it costs in each size.

All the other differences are extremely minor, to the point of insignificance:

205/50-15 will give slightly better traction on dry pavement than 195/55-15. You'll probably never notice the difference.

195/55-15 will give slightly better traction in rain and in snow than 205/50-15. You'll probably never notice the difference.

The slightly larger outer diameter of the 195/55-15 will give you a slight improvement in fuel economy, whereas the slightly smaller outer diameter of the 205/50-15 will give you a slight improvement in acceleration. In both cases, you'll probably never notice the difference.

The difference between the calculated diameter of the two sizes is 1.6 percent, so one size or the other will add an error of up to that percentage in the readings of your odometer and speedometer.

Clearance in the wheel wells is typically about equal, with the 10 mm wider tread width of the 205/50-15 offsetting the slightly larger diameter of the 195/55-15.
That's some good info, thanks. i think i might pick up the yokohama s drives on some 205/50/r15.
Though i live on california and it rains here sometimes, they will still be a good choice won't they?(especially during the summer) instead of all season tires.

p.s. i drive a 00 civic sedan with a front domani conversion
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 05:04 AM
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Default Re: Major differences for the tire sizes?

Originally Posted by SlowEJ8
That's some good info, thanks. i think i might pick up the yokohama s drives on some 205/50/r15.
Though i live on california and it rains here sometimes, they will still be a good choice won't they?(especially during the summer) instead of all season tires.
Yes, they will. Sometimes people mistakenly think that all-season tires are designed for rain as well as dry weather. In fact, the "all-season" in the name refers to the greater range of operating temperatures, specifically their ability to be used in temperatures well below freezing and in snow. In rain, at moderate to warm temperatures, summer tires - including the S.drive - give better traction than all-season tires.

The S.drive is a good choice, with very good dry traction and wet traction, and decent treadlife at an affordable price. If I were you, I would try to buy them in 195/55-15; as noted above, the price of the S.drive in that size is significantly less than in 205/50-15 ($65 vs $84). However, they're sometimes hard to find in 195/55-15; they're out of stock in that size at the Tire Rack and Discount Tire Direct, but they have 19 of them at tires-easy.com ($71.60/tire).
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 01:25 PM
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Default Re: Major differences for the tire sizes?

I get that all the time: folks living in hotter climates who ask for an 'all-weather' tires thinking those will perform better in the rain...
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