Why does Tirerack reccomend 185/50R15s for seeminlgy ALL of their 15" rims?

[St_G]

EDIT: Woops, I meant 185/60R15

Even with a relatively wide 15X7, they still reccomend the 185..why? Why not a 195/55R15, which opens up a LOT more options?

[HTM Yaris]

Rolling diameter . You want to be within 3-5 % of the factory rolling diameter . If you change the rolling diameter , your speedometer will NOT be accurate . Learn to trust Tire Rack . I have been to their shop in Indiana . They are no joke .

[Black Yaris]

185/60R15=205/55R15=225/50R15
all with in a couple 10ths of an inch from each other just different widths
I have 15X7 wheels with a +38 offset and I am running 225/50's and fit nicely

[Black Yaris]

Rolling diameter . You want to be within 3-5 % of the factory rolling diameter . If you change the rolling diameter , your speedometer will NOT be accurate . Learn to trust Tire Rack . I have been to their shop in Indiana . They are no joke .

Don't always trust TireRack. If you were to put a 185/60R15 on a 15x7 it will be stretched and look like cartoon balloon tires, I know I did it when I first got my wheels. I rode them like that for 2 weeks before I relized how silly it looked, then I went to my 225/50's

[St_G]

Follow up question for people in the know: what's the reccomended size for a 15X6 or 15x6.5 wheel?

[HTM Yaris]

185/60R15=205/55R15=225/50R15

[St_G]

The sidewall heights (and thus the rolling diameters) would be the same, yes, but the widths are different and I don't know which widths will react in what way to a 6" or 6.5." Would, for instance, a 225mm wide tire be too wide to mount (or just too wide to work well) on a wheel that was only 6" wide?

Your responses, HTM, kinda confuse me. First you quote Tirerack as the Holy Scripture of Rubber, but when Black Yaris shoots you down with actual knowledge, you turn around and quote him.

It makes me wonder if the difference between me and you is that I KNOW that I don't know anything. Constant danger of the internet, I suppose...

185/60R15=205/55R15=225/50R15

[Black Yaris]

185mm=7.28inchs (from shoulder to shoulder, the footprint of the tire is usualy an inch less
205mm=8.07inches
225mm=8.86inches

so roughly a:
185 = 5.0-6.0 inch wheels
205 = 6.0-7.0
255 = 7.0-8.0

these are all rough estimates and all depends upon what you are going to do with your wheel/tire combo, but the above setup is for average applications

[Black Yaris]

Follow up question for people in the know: what's the reccomended size for a 15X6 or 15x6.5 wheel?

I would go with a 205/55R15, this tire size will fit nicely on that width and many good tires come in that size, like BFG g-force sports.. hint hint

[Russelt3hPirate]

the reason tire rack reccomends that size is that size wont rub.

they are just covering their ass that's all.

[HTM Yaris]

First of all , my previous statement is correct in its entirety . Second , Black Yaris just presented alternatives . If you would have actually called tire rack and actually talked to a real person ( ext #289 ask for Bruce) , you would have gotten the same info . Also if you would have clicked on the specs of the tire you desire while at the tire rack website , you would have seen all the rim width fitment recomendations .

Toyota only recomends a 215 width as the widest for a reason(s) . One reason is that if you use a tire larger than 215 you will increase rolling resistance . Which in turn will decrease gas mileage . Then toyota can't meet gas mileage claims . Another reason is that if you use a wider tire you will increase your chance of hydrplaning in the rain and sliding in the snow . Light car , wide tires , rain/snow , not good . Technically speaking , a 225 tire voids the Toyota warranty . Even though I doubt they will enforce it . But they could if they want .

I reiterate , TIRE RACK is ALWAYS correct . I've been buying wheels and tires from tire rack since 1999 . They have never been wrong . Tire Rack has been doing tire/wheel fitments longer than most of you (and probably me , I'm 40 ) have been on this wonderful planet . Tire Rack has an onsite test facility where they actually test the products they sell . Not many vendors from this site can actually say that .

Go to "Off topic" page on this website . Click on "post pics of other cars" . Scroll down until you see "My girls" . Every one of those tires came from Tire Rack . I've probably bought more tires in 1 year , than most people bought in their lifes . I went through 32 tires in 1 year when I had the EVO :)

I usually buy 9 wheels / tires for every car I get . 1 set with rain tires , 1 set with hoosiers , and a spare . So I have a ton of experience with Tire Rack . Tire Rack will never steer you wrong . (pun intended)

What kind of driver are you ? Do you relish the curves or you just pimpin ? If you relish the curves , the stock Bridgestones are a way better choice than the BFG's . B/C they have more grip . If you want to have your tires last , get the BFG's . ( I prefer ADVANS or Bridgestones myself for street tires) Just remember , the treadwear # is directly proportional to tire life . I.E. A tire with a treadwear # of 360 will last longer than a tire with a 160 # I personally prefer grip over longetivity .Also keep in mind that a tire with a low # will suck in the snow .( tire doesn't heat up as designed) But I understand that everybody has got to stay within their budget .

This site is for peeps to SHARE info . NOBODY has given you misinformation . You just got information that you didn't want to hear , or didn't comprehend ....................

What is going on my car you ask ? 1 set of Konig Feathers in 15x6.5 with a 205 tire for the streets . 1 set of SSR's Competitions 16x7 with a 205 tire for the track .

Check out my vids . There is no doubt what I'm about . :) And yes , they (Saluda Police Dept ) closed the entire mountain for HTM (High Tach Motorsports) in "super kool car vid" . You will even see a vid of our driving school (Seat Time) . http://www.myspace.com/91526183


We(HTM) have Mountain Cruises every July . EVERYBODY is invited(as you see in the vids) . So if you want I can show you first hand , practical applications of grip :cool:

Ultimately the choice is yours . Just keep it between the ditches . :headbang:

Notice how I didn't bash anybody .

[Black Yaris]

I reiterate , TIRE RACK is ALWAYS correct .

the stock Bridgestones are a way better choice than the BFG's . B/C they have more grip . If you want to have your tires last , get the BFG's . ( I prefer ADVANS or Bridgestones myself for street tires) Just remember , the treadwear # is directly proportional to tire life . I.E. A tire with a treadwear # of 360 will last longer than a tire with a 160 # I personally prefer grip over longetivity .Also keep in mind that a tire with a low # will suck in the snow .( tire doesn't heat up as designed) But I understand that everybody has got to stay within their budget .


I do not agree with these 2 statements:
(1)No one can always be correct 100% of the time, and I am sure I have purchased more wheels from Tirerack than you. I have worked with 2 different tire companies that delt directly with tirerack for a total of 7 years, I've bought 60-70 sets of wheels a year from them, so that is atleast 420 sets of wheels and god knows how many of those I have had to send back because they were not the proper fitment tire/wheel.
(2)this is taken off of the respective manifactures web sites to prove you wrong
http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tireselector/dpp/sizespecs.asp?passproductid=8
Potenza RE92
P185/60R15 84T UTQG160

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/benefits/g-force-sport/2964.html
g-force sport
p225/50VR15 91V UTQG340

if you would like me to post the rest of the information I found I will, but basicly our stock Bridgestones suck, and I have found plenty of information to back that up. I am not saying my BFG's are kick ass in the snow, because they are not, great in the rain and dry, but no snow, basicly because it is a V rated tire. I could go on and on, but I will wait for your rebuttle to continue.

[boris13]

The 195/55/15 size shows only a 1.2 percent difference in rolling diameter from the 185/60/15. The speedometer would still be pretty close. I see no reason why a 195/55/15 tire couldn't be used.

[St_G]

My apologies if I mistook your inability to communicate your ideas for lack of knowledge. I still don't quite see how your first two responses were anwers to the questions they purported to answer, as the first response ignored the fact that there are other tire sizes with very similar rolling diameters and your second ignored the fact that my question at that point was on the width of the tires. But I appreciate you trying. Thank you.

. NOBODY has given you misinformation . You just got information that you didn't want to hear , or didn't comprehend .

[bB2NER]

Tire rack is weird sometimes. I remember trying to order some 215/45/17s one time for my box. They wouldn't sell them to me because they said they were the wrong size.
I knew what I wanted and had to order from another place. Their loss of the sale, no biggie to me.
OH, and a 185/60/15 fits and works just fine on a 15X7 wheel. But 7" wide is the most you can go with that size. I've seen some people stretch out 185/60s onto 8" wheels. That looks stupid and should not be done.

[bB2NER]

The 195/55/15 size shows only a 1.2 percent difference in rolling diameter from the 185/60/15. The speedometer would still be pretty close. I see no reason why a 195/55/15 tire couldn't be used.It could be used just fine. That is a weird size tho and prolly costs more plus you won't have many tires to choose from in that size.