max tires for 13" wheels?
#1
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max tires for 13" wheels?
Sorry if this has been covered before. All the threads I could find were for the 15" wheels. (Must be a lot of SE owners with non-original wheels out there!).
I just purchased this 85 GS and the prior owner had endowed the 13" wheels with lovely all-season 185-70-13 tires. I think they're T-rated
Anyway, can I go up to 205 on the original 13" wheels or is 195 the width limit? No guesses, please!
...or somebody let me know where I can pick up my 15" meshies. A set comes with club registration, right?
I just purchased this 85 GS and the prior owner had endowed the 13" wheels with lovely all-season 185-70-13 tires. I think they're T-rated
Anyway, can I go up to 205 on the original 13" wheels or is 195 the width limit? No guesses, please!
...or somebody let me know where I can pick up my 15" meshies. A set comes with club registration, right?
#3
No distributor? No thanks
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I couldn't think of a good answer, so I spent 20 seconds at tirerack.com and got this.
235/45VR13
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....um=345VR3EV700
235/45VR13
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....um=345VR3EV700
#4
Resurrecting Gus
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Tom, I know quite a few people that have successfully put 205's on the 5.5" wide stock aluminum 13's. In some instances people have even gone up to a 215, but I think in some cases that the handling actually suffers after doing this because you get more sidewall flex in the tires. People usually think that the widest tire possible is the optimum choice, but that's not always the case. Your best bet is probably a 195 or a 205.
#5
Lives on the Forum
I have run Sumitomo 205/60/13 and 215/50/13 both without any issues. I'm currently running the 215s and they do fine for daily driving and autocrosses (of course not as good as real race rubber though)... This is using the stock "plus" wheels on my '85 GS...
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Going by the aspect ratio, the stock 185/70 tires have a sidewall height of 129.5mm. that would put the 215/50 tires at 107.5 mm sidewall height. That's a pretty big difference, no? If our speedos are calibrated for the rolling diameter of a 185/70 tire, then we probably think we're going faster than we are when we're wearing 215/50 tires on the rears. Lower gas mileage and lower top speed in each gear too. Better cornering (shorter sidewall height, less flex) and grip though, for sure. Am I all wet on this one?
#9
Waffles - hmmm good
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No, I think you have it right. The 195/60 come closest to the stock tire diameter but the 205 offer a bit more width and only sacrifice a small difference. I agree the 215 are way out of the spec and will have very noticable speedo errors.
I run 205/60 on the stock waffles and have for at least 15 years. Its the best size but now its very hard to find. I may go to 195 so I can get a better choice of tires. Sumitomo is it for 205/60 at the moment.
I run 205/60 on the stock waffles and have for at least 15 years. Its the best size but now its very hard to find. I may go to 195 so I can get a better choice of tires. Sumitomo is it for 205/60 at the moment.