wrx tire size

[-rick-]

Any reason not to go to 225/50 R16 instead of 205/55 R16 on an '02 wrx wagon
with stock rims?

I'm leaning towards Pirelli PZero Nero M&S for winter rains. Any comments?

thanks
-rick-

 

[CompUser]

Any reason not to go to 225/50 R16 instead of 205/55 R16 on an '02 wrx wagon
with stock rims?

I'm leaning towards Pirelli PZero Nero M&S for winter rains. Any comments?

If you get *too* wide, you end up with "excess"
sidewall, and that gets squirmy...I don't recall
if guys were complaining about the results with
225 or 245, tho.

 

[Ragnar]

Any reason not to go to 225/50 R16 instead of 205/55 R16 on an '02 wrx wagon
with stock rims?

I'm leaning towards Pirelli PZero Nero M&S for winter rains. Any comments?

thanks
-rick-

Yeah, I'd be wondering why you'd go up two tire widths (205 to 225) but
only go down one profile size (55 to 50). I think you'd be better off
going with the 225/45. It'll keep your speedo closer to stock. Even
better would be going to a 225/45/R17 for the better handling.

 

[WrxWagon06]

Hi for winter driving it's better 205-55-16 or you could fit 195-65-15 and
those are a great deal if you like fast drive in winter

 

[mulder]

Yeah, I'd be wondering why you'd go up two tire widths (205 to 225) but
only go down one profile size (55 to 50). I think you'd be better off
going with the 225/45. It'll keep your speedo closer to stock. Even
better would be going to a 225/45/R17 for the better handling.

Actually 225/50-16 is the proper "plus zero" size and has a nearly
identical diameter and rolling circumference to the stock 205/55 size.
225/45 would not be the same and would affect gearing and speedo.

 

[mulder]

Any reason not to go to 225/50 R16 instead of 205/55 R16 on an '02 wrx wagon
with stock rims?

I'm leaning towards Pirelli PZero Nero M&S for winter rains. Any comments?

thanks
-rick-

This is a fairly common upgrade on the sedan, which has no clearance
problems. I think you'd be ok on the wagon with 225's on stock wheels.
As for the Pirellis I'm on my second winter with mine which are
225/50-16 (on 7" wide Rotas) and I've been very happy with them.

 

[S]

Hi Rick!

Any reason not to go to 225/50 R16 instead of 205/55 R16 on an '02 wrx wagon
with stock rims?

I've run that size on mine with OEM wheels; Kumho Ecsta V700s for
autocross duties. These are so different from a "regular" tire that I
can't really comment on effects on handling; the type R tire sticks
like glue, but is miserable for general driving. But they do fit just
fine.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[-rick-]

Hi for winter driving it's better 205-55-16 or you could fit 195-65-15 and
those are a great deal if you like fast drive in winter

Sorry I wasn't clear. These will be year round tires for the Portland OR. area
where snow is rare but rain is not in the winter and summers are nice and sunny.

thanks,
-rick-

 

[k. ote]

Sorry I wasn't clear. These will be year round tires for the Portland OR.
area where snow is rare but rain is not in the winter and summers are nice
and sunny.

I have PZero Nero M+S for my STi. *Great* tires for the rain, although my
comparison is the stock WRX Potenzas and the stock STi RE070's which
hydroplane like mad when driving at speed through puddles.

The PZeros take the rain and wet like you wouldn't *believe.* I've driven
through big puddles, inches deep, at speed and I didn't get more than a
nudge on the steering wheel. They keep traction very well in even a new
rain, and have predictable give at their limits. I.e. it's not all at once,
and there's definite squealing to let you know what's going on (and to ease
up a little.)

In terms of gravel, they're equally impressive, and I've driven them up over
mountain passes with lots of snow and nasty cold weather. Ice everywhere.
They did admirably, and cut through the snow very easily.

The only thing I have a problem with is they feel mushy at high speeds, and
especially cornering at high speeds. Approaching 130mph gives me an
unsettling floating feeling that I didn't have with the RE070's, but I
suppose that's normal considering one has stiff sidewalls and is a
performance summer tire, and the other is an all-season good for mud, snow,
and rain. It's not supposed to have stiff sidewalls.

Anyway, for your climate, it's a superior tire, and well worth the money.

 

[-rick-]

I have PZero Nero M+S for my STi. *Great* tires for the rain, although my
comparison is the stock WRX Potenzas and the stock STi RE070's which
hydroplane like mad when driving at speed through puddles.

The PZeros take the rain and wet like you wouldn't *believe.* I've driven
through big puddles, inches deep, at speed and I didn't get more than a
nudge on the steering wheel. They keep traction very well in even a new
rain, and have predictable give at their limits. I.e. it's not all at once,
and there's definite squealing to let you know what's going on (and to ease
up a little.)

In terms of gravel, they're equally impressive, and I've driven them up over
mountain passes with lots of snow and nasty cold weather. Ice everywhere.
They did admirably, and cut through the snow very easily.

The only thing I have a problem with is they feel mushy at high speeds, and
especially cornering at high speeds. Approaching 130mph gives me an
unsettling floating feeling that I didn't have with the RE070's, but I
suppose that's normal considering one has stiff sidewalls and is a
performance summer tire, and the other is an all-season good for mud, snow,
and rain. It's not supposed to have stiff sidewalls.

Anyway, for your climate, it's a superior tire, and well worth the money.

Thanks for the reply. Sounds good to me as I rarely and barely exceed 80mph. I
have an appointment to get them installed tomorrow.

-rick-

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Any reason not to go to 225/50 R16 instead of 205/55 R16 on an '02 wrx wagon
with stock rims?

I'm leaning towards Pirelli PZero Nero M&S for winter rains. Any comments?

thanks
-rick-

It looks like it is the best match for your current size.

Ejelta.com: Tire Size Calculator
http://tinyurl.com/7qrr6

Yousuf Khan

 

[-rick-]

It looks like it is the best match for your current size.

Ejelta.com: Tire Size Calculator
http://tinyurl.com/7qrr6

I had them installed today and so far so good. I pushed it a bit on the way home
and they felt really good. We'll see what happens when the rains hit.

-rick-

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I had them installed today and so far so good. I pushed it a bit on the way home
and they felt really good. We'll see what happens when the rains hit.

They typically say it's better to have narrower tires in wet conditions,
because it can cut through the water better. But I don't really believe
it, I think it has more to do with tread patterns and tread depths.

Yousuf Khan