Well...I have learned the importance of getting an alignment the hard way. Now I need to get new tires and its my first time buying. I have a 94 civic ex with a b18b swap and my Falken ziex ze-912s that came with my used wheels are in bad shape.

I live in the Memphis TN area and it snows mabey once a year and rarely gets bellow freezing. This is why I was thinking about getting summer tires; would it be ok to drive summer tires even in the winter? The Kumho Ecsta SPT is my main choice.

My current tire size is 205/50R16 and the Kumho Ecsta SPT size is 205/55ZR16...this means that the tire has a "higher profile" right? Is the aspect ratio number the only one you can change? Thanks everybody..I cant wait to see if a proper alignment and new tires will make my car quicker.

 

Both of those sizes are too large for a 94 Civic.

Refer to the FAQ for proper tire sizing. You know, the one that says in all caps "READ BEFORE POSTING":
https://honda-tech.com/forums/wheel-tire-56/9658-forum-rules-faq-read-before-posting-1188922/

 

I did read the FAQ, thats where I got the suggestion for the Kumho Ecsta SPT. I just thought that the aspect ratio was kind of a choice on how low of a profile you want..What about the season thing?

 

Yes, you definitely need 205/40-16 or 195/45-16 tires.

Memphis doesn't get a lot of snow, but it does snow there, averaging five inches of snow per year. In January, the normal high is 48F, the normal low 31F. Summer tires aren't going to grip well when there's snow on the pavement or when it's cold out (say, much below freezing). But summer tires will grip better than winter tires most of the time - even in winter, on days that are normal or better. Can you get by on summer tires? What will you do when it unexpectedly snows? Will you have alternate transportation or the ability to stay home? All of that is up to you to consider and decide.

If you want a summer tire that lasts a reasonably long time (typically 25-40K miles), get the Yokohama S.drive in 195/45-16. It offers very good performance on dry pavement and in rain, and it's not particularly expensive. If you want an even stickier tire on dry pavement and you're willing to live with shorter treadlife (10-15K miles), a higher price, and so-so grip in rain, then get the Falken Azenis RT-615K in 205/40-16.

If you decide you want to get all-season tires for their better grip in light snow, consider the Kumho Ecsta ASX in 205/40-16. In moderate to warm temperatures, it won't grip as well as summer tires, but it's a bit better than your current Falken Ziex.

 

What difference does the width of a tire really make and are you sure that those 195/45/16 tires would fit my wheels?

 

A difference of 10 mm does not make much difference. What really makes a difference is the outer diameter of the tire size. As a general rule, you want the outer diameter to be as close as possible to that of the stock tire, because that will maintain the accuracy of the speedometer and odometer, and will have room in the wheel wells for the tire, to avoid rubbing. It also won't make your car accelerate slower (larger tires are like putting taller gears on your car).

Here are the outer diameter of all those sizes, with percentage difference from your stock size, and you can see why these sizes are better and why your current size is too large:

175/65-14: 22.96" (stock)
205/50-16: 24.07" (+4.9 percent)
205/55-16: 24.88" (+8.4 percent)
205/40-16: 22.46" (-2.2 percent)
195/45-16: 22.91" (-0.2 percent)

Another size that would work is:

205/45-16: 23.26" (+1.3 percent)

(It's a bit big for the EF Civics which came with 13" tires but not so bad on those with 14" such as yours.)

195/45-16 and 205/45-16 are both approved for mounting on wheels 6.0-7.5 inches wide. Your wheels are probably 16x7. They may say on the back of the wheel; otherwise, you can measure the width with a tire off. Measure the width at the bead, where the inside edge of the tire sits, and not from the outer edge of one lip to the other, as shown here:

 

So 195/45-16 would be best, because its closest to the stock tire outer diameter. Correct? And my current tires, that are too large, are actually making my car accelerate slower?

 

Correct. And correct.

Also, your current tires are throwing off the accuracy of your speedometer and odometer. Your car is actually traveling 5 percent faster, and 5 percent more miles, than indicated on the gauges. Don't let those few mph be the difference that results in a speeding ticket!

 

Awesome man, thanks for the help. Im going to go with the Yokohama S. Drive...

Once I get these tires on, I'm going to get a good alignment job because the car has apparently been bad out of alignment...Do you think this will make the car faster too?

 

Not faster in a straight line, but it may help the handling by being more predictable and responsive, and it will help your tires last longer.

 

Cool, well thanks for all your help nsxtasy. You saved me from a big mistake!