I am looking at replacing my tires on my '91 'vert. It is stock, with 78,000 miles. I only drive on the street, but I do drive very aggressively. I want something with good dry grip and at least average wet performance that will last ~35,000 miles. The wheels are stock 15" BBS 'vert wheels. How wide can I go without having to bend any fenders?

Thank you for all of your input,
Kris

 

using the stock BBS wheels a 225/50-15 fits fine. I use the Falkens 502s in that size on my vert with the BBS wheels.

Very good wet traction, good dry traction, very very low noise (you would be surprised how important noise is on a 'vert)

 

I'm fairly partial to Pirellis myself Im running a set of P6000s on my FC (also with BBS 'vert wheels) and I really like them. The price is great, dry traction is awesome, wet traction is "ok". Normal driving in the rain is fine, but once you start getting a little aggressive the tires dont like it too much. Lateral grip seems ok still, but acceleration-wise, I can spin 1st, 2nd,3rd, and part of 4th when wet.

Icemark: Would 225/50r15 have the same sidewall diameter of 205/60r15? As to not mess with the gearing, or have more wheelgap?

 

No, the 225/50-15 is about 3% smaller, so your speedo will be off by about 1.5 MPH at 60MPH (it will be reading 61.5-62 MPH when you are really driving 60 MPH).

But something that small is worth the extra traction and shorter sidewall for me. If it really is an issue then you can swap the speedo gear with one from a Miata or 929 (19 teeth instead of 20 teeth as I recall) and it will read almost perfect.

 

heres just a low cost option, khumo esctas are good tires that wont kill your wallet

 

What size tire could be fit without rolling fenders or using spacers so that fender gap is minimized?

 

about a 225 is as large as you can go using stock sized wheels and offsets without rubbing (and some people have even complained of rubbing with some really wide side wall 225s).

 

I've been running Goodyear Eagle F-1s (225/50-15) on stock rims. I'm running an 88 vert.

They hold great on corners.

 

Any opinions on the Yoko AVS ES100s? I was recommended these at only $88 a piece.

Icemark, how much were the Falkens 502s?

Rxmfn7, how much were your Pirelli P6000s?

Did you guys order them online, then take them somewhere to have them installed, or did you order them locally?


Thanks,
Kris

 

Falken 502 is a discontinued tires and replaced by 512.

Oh yeah, you can get it somewhere, but, 512 has better rim guard (not planning on bump into anything) and nicer tread design. Improved for wet traction than 502. I personally didn't like 502's wet traction performance at all.

So far, I'm pleased with 512. And less road noise.

Tread wear on VR is about 360 and grips well. Prices range is about $100.00.

 

If I remember I think the total bill was around $320 including shipping for all 4 from www.tirerack.com The treadwear rating on the P6000s is 180.

 

225's on a vert rim can be tricky - the 'vert only has 6.5" wide wheels. Some tires that are naturally fat (like the SP8000) would have trouble fitting on there.

On my wife's 'vert, I have Sumitomo HTR200's - they do great for an all-round tire. Good life and quiet, great in the wet, and predictable at the limit. They're not SUPER sticky tires, but they do pretty darn good.

$46 each at Tire Rack right now - hard to argue with that . I just ordered another set for my '86 daily driver.

Dale

 

What size are you running on your wife's 'vert?

Also, do you know if the Yokohamas AVS ES100s are 'naturally fat', or if they will fit on my 'vert?

 

I think the yoko avses100's are good, but only on the front. get some pirelli's for the back, but make sure if you get different tires that there the same speed rating, and it'll be good to go