tonerockyhorror

After reading a bunch of posts recommending non-oem tire sizes of 245/45/16 for the rear wheels I had a couple questions. Would getting this trie size affect wear differently than getting the recommended 225/50/16? Would this size have any effect on oversteer as compared with the recommended size? Any other differences between the two?

xviper

Read this thread and you'll understand why you get a different sizing when going non-OEM:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=48572
Wear and handling characteristics will depend upon the make and model of the tire you are getting. The whole premise of getting a 245 size is so that you can more closely approximate the actual footprint of the tire on the ground. Since the OEM SO2s grip, wear and handling is unique to itself, you cannot precisely compare these characteristics with any other tire even if you have the same footprint. Getting OEM sizing in non-OEM tires (ie, 225) will not give you the same footprint.

tonerockyhorror

Yeah I read through that whole thread and understand why I would get the 245 sized tire. I was just curious if the differences between that size and the recommended size for non-oem would create any differnces in tire wear or handling characteristics.

xviper

As I indicated, the sizing shouldn't affect handling as it tries to approximate the footprint (ie, same contact patch). But like I also said, different brands of tires will affect wear and handling.

tonerockyhorror

Ah ok thanks. I misread part of your response, hence the confusion. Appreciate the response though.

Would other sizes work as well. Namely a 245/50/16 tire? There seems to be a lot more choices within that size.

TR-S2K

The diameter of 245/50-16 is 0.8" larger than stock size (about 3%). It may negatively effect your handling and may effect your ABS negatively too. You want to keep the new tire diameter within 1% of the stock.

tonerockyhorror

Tire Rack says the OEM tires are 225/50/16. So by your explanation 245 would fit fine without issues because it is simply wider, not thicker in diameter. Am I understanding this wrong because it seems to me that tire diameter should be unaffected by tire width changes.

FO2K

Go to the Tire Rack website and look at the specs for the tires you are interested in. The diameters for all the sizes are listeded there.

Yes, as the tire gets wider, the diameter increases.

xviper

Yes, you are understanding this "wrong". Tire diameter IS affected by tire width IF aspect ratio is kept the same. This is why when you go from a 225/50/16 to a 245 width, you must also finish the equation with ............. 45/16.
"Height" (or ultimately diameter) of a tire sidewall is aspect ratio (in %) times the width.

tonerockyhorror

Okay thanks guys. This isn't intuitive if you don't know tires....width would not increase diameter in general terms. I didn't know tires worked that way in their size calculations.