Which tire size to get?

[IceHammer]

Just bought a 2000 firebird last week with 51k on it! Great find as far as i'm concerned. Anyways, it needs tires, and on my previous F-cars I've put on the factory optional 235/55R16 Eagle GTs and loved them. However, it seems the world has stopped producing 235/55R16s save for a few not well-known brands I'm unfamiliar with.

So my options are:
1.) the other factory spec of 215/60R16 which I think is too little rubber
2.) continue with the 225/60R16 currently on it
3.) scare up some 245/50R16s. I'd go for this straight up but I'm concerned about the ability of tires that size to handle inclement weather.

What are your experiences with these sizes?

[enzia35]

Re: Which tire size to get?

16" is too small.:naughty:

Do wider tires actually perform worse under bad weather conditions?

[mrhobbz]

Re: Which tire size to get?

I went with a 245 yokohama yk520(edit). Its a discount tire special. I can't remember the other dimensions but I'm pretty sure they're 16's. The cars been collecting dust, I could tell you when I got home if you wanted. They're damn good tires if you're willing to spend $104 a piece for them. v rated though

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Which tire size to get?

@enzia35

Wider tires perform worse when hitting a layer of standing water (aka hydroplaning.) The large surface of a wide tire is generally better in all other conditions. However you have to consider the tread type, heat rating, compound, firmness and pressure of the tire. Most wide low profile tires bought are summer or all-season tires. These tires will not perform particularly well in very wet, icy, muddy or cold conditions. The width of the tire is not the problem, it's the market in question. People who buy these tires generally buy them for high amounts of grip on dry surfaces so this is what most of these tires are designed for. They have a very large tread pattern to ensure the highest amount of contact between tire and road. In wet conditions you want a finer better draining pattern like the pattern found on most tires designed for OEM applications.

If you are racing and it's slick out you will probably want a tire that is designed for use on wet roads. There are even winter tires in low profile and wide sizes. However you will find that summer and all season tires are by far the cheapest. Some wide winter tires are ridiculously expensive. If you're not racing in wet or icy conditions it's probably not worth it. If you live in the south just get some wide low pros and slow down in heavy rain to avoid hydroplaning (stay below 60mph). It's a lot cheaper to drive slow and race around in the dry instead.

[T-Mill]

Re: Which tire size to get?

I have kuhmo ecsta asx 245/50/16's they perform very well in the rain... oneeightseven is correct on everything...


Just do some research on what all of the ratings that are involved in tires before you start researching the actual brands...

From my experience, Michelin has the best product in just about every category of street-driven tires, but you will pay more... you could get a descent set of winter and a descent set of summer tires for the price of a set of Michelins...

When I worked at Sears we had specific pricing for people switching winter tires over to summer tires or vise versa that was a little cheaper than if you were simply getting new tires installed...

[bigbrian442]

Re: Which tire size to get?

The 245/50R16s were a factory size for non WS6/ 1LE V8 cars. They should work fine for you.

[timthescarred]

Re: Which tire size to get?

I have Goodyear Eagle 245/50/R16's and they do pretty well in bad weather, mine are pretty worn now so they're getting slippier but other than that have been good. My factory were 235/55/R16 though the cars has never had those since I've owned it.

[cam98aro]

Re: Which tire size to get?

i use 226/60/16, and they work fairly well for me

they are great because the sidewall is big enough to withstand potholes and also they fill up the wheel well. My friend has a much smaller sidewall on his stock 16" rims on his z28 and it looks really bad IMO

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Which tire size to get?

do you live in buffalo or a suburb of?

I'm over here in NT :excited:

[Rob Bell]

Re: Which tire size to get?

I have a brand called Mirada Sport GTX on mine. I think they are made by Yokohama. I really like them though, and they weren't too expensive. I was out of town and had a blowout and they were the available replacement. But boy, they are waaaay better than the stock Goodyears that were on there. Those things were awful. These Miradas grip great, ride smoother and are quieter than the Goodyears.

[jmbrooks]

Re: Which tire size to get?

Guess I got lucky for my 2000 RS Camaro. The Eagle GA's, 235-55-16 it came with were getting thin so I found a set of Hankook Optima, same size, for $340 (+60 for M&B).

I think they perform great. Much better than the GY's even.

JM

[IceHammer]

Re: Which tire size to get?

do you live in buffalo or a suburb of?

I'm over here in NT :excited:

I'm from lancaster, at school in rochester though.

Well I think realistically I need to decide between 225/60R16 and 245/50R16. I kind of like the fact that the 225's are nearly 1" larger in overall diameter but more rubber is always better I suppose. Anyone know of any good sales at a nationwide retailer? Reason being that I'll be making another trip to california in the car this summer so It would be nice to have an accessible repair place in case of anything.

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Which tire size to get?

Just shop around and see if u can get a better price... After I made that reply to your post yesterday, I got 2 nails, one in each of my rear tires. Not repairable.... Apparently houston contractors are spilling shiny new nails on roads these days. Funny in a sad way. What I did was called up all my usual retailers and saw who would do the best price, then called the one that had the tires I wanted and told him I want the better price. Got that plus a $20 discount billed as a reimbursement for them keeping my old tires.

Didn't get anything super fancy though. Just some Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs 275/40 R17.

[IceHammer]

Re: Which tire size to get?

both tires at once? that a rough day. punctured in the sidewall so you couldn't plug them?

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Which tire size to get?

Yep right at the edge of tread/sidewall. One on the outside of the wheel the other on the inside of the other wheel (under car). It's sad cuz I took that money out of my cam install fund.