Car: 89 Civic Si
Wheel: Rota RB 15x7 30 Et

Trying to find an agressive, but good mileage tire for pleasure driving.

Does not have to be 'the best' or an 'autox' tire, just something I can drive aggressively on in dry and wet if needed (I'm in So Cal) so the wet is not much of an issue and I usually dont take the car out in the wet anyway.

I've had 195/50's and 195/55's and actually am pretty happy with either, the 55's seem to be more comfy for a long drive.

Car is not slammed and will not be - at least 2 finger gap all around.

Is there any real performance difference to go 50 over the 55's? Or are the 55's just fine if they work for my use?

 

195/50-15 is the correct size for your car. 195/55-15 is better for newer Civics and Integras. So, the 50 series would be better, since the taller 55 would reduce acceleration.

Aggressive summer tire, but not an "auto-x tire"? Kumho Ecsta SPT (not sure it comes in your size) or Fuzion ZRi.

 

Yes, stick with 195/50-15. It will keep your speedometer and odometer accurate, among other reasons.

If you're ONLY interested in grip on dry pavement, then the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec and Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 are good choices, but they're expensive and they don't last all that long, maybe 15-20K miles. Otherwise, I recommend the Yokohama S.drive or Fuzion ZRi, which are still very good in dry, excellent in wet, inexpensive (particularly the S.drive which has a rebate offer now), and last a decent time (25-40K miles).

 

Thank you for some great info guys.

nsxtasy, one more question - For a 89 civic Si as well, running a B20 with an integra LS tranny, not slammed (2 finger gap all around actually), no outrageous camber settings, taut suspension GC/Koni, and flares that give me some additional width options.

8x15 wheels - recommended tires size? 205/50/15 or 225/45/15? most likely an agressive tire, but not track - I have no idea how this car would class and is pretty much for fun so it'd see street more than anything.

 

I would still stick with 195/50-15.

With those wheels, you would have to get 225/45-15, which really limits your tire options. 205/50-15 should not be mounted on wheels wider than 15x7.5, and 195/50-15 no wider than 15x7. However, you're forcing yourself into problems by getting overwide wheels and limiting your tire options. This is why I strongly recommend FIRST deciding on the tire model and size you want to use, and THEN deciding on a wheel whose width is approved for the tire.

If this were my car and I already had the 15x7 wheels for it, I'd get the RE-11 or Star Spec in 195/50-15, and call it a day.

 

Well that's the thing - for this car I already have the 8's so I just wanted to use the proper size. Again, its for fun and an exercise that I have wanted to do for a while. Flares and wide fat tires.

I guess I have to look into the available brands in the 225/45/15.