I know tires get brought up all the time but it seems like even recommendations that are just a few years old no longer exist as modern cars get further and further from 14" and 15" rim sizes.

What are you folks running these days? I have 6.5" or 7" RSR 15" rims with a couple bent lips and am looking for a good performance street tire with excellent wet grip and hydroplaning resistance. The Michelin Premier A/S 195/55R15s looked perfect, but turns out they don't seem to exist anymore, I used to love my DZ102s but they dont exist. I am currently considering some Continental Extreme Contact Sport in 205/50R15s I guess as that seems to be one of the few options.

My dilemma here is do I want to fix my RSR bent lips and try to scrounge something out of the ever shrinking 15" options? Or should I say screw it and try to find some affordable 16-17" wheels that have more tire options both now and in the future? If so, what is a good inexpensive 17" with 4x100 bolt pattern? Not really that hugely concerned with looks here, and my car sits at or above stock height so clearance shouldn't be an issue.

 

They aren't high performance, sort of mid-level, but I've had a good experience with Toyo Extensa HP II, on my 15" wheels.

They have stiff enough sidewalls to be sporty but aren't rough or too sticky. Wet performance has been good too, no issues there. They were also cheap, I got mine at under $70 a piece.

 

BFG Sport Comp 2 and Sport Comp AS are great in the wet. Fairly sure they come in reasonable 15" sizes.

Conti Extreme Contact is DW and DWS variant are great. Though the DW in a 245 on a CR-Z doesn't deal with standing water so well. Wet is fine, standing water, not fine. That could also be the width contributing to the issue.