ok, so a little back story...

I've been playing around with reducing the weight of my FC. When it came to wheels, I settled on some vert rims because they're widely available and super light at around 11 lbs. each (they look cool too). I also found some tires for them that only weigh 16 lbs. a piece. Overall the new 27 lb. rim/tire combo saved over 40 lbs. of unsprung weight over the stock 38 lb. rim/tire combo. The difference was huge, acceleration drastically improved, but it was ultimately a mistake - the tires are only 195/55/15's, so they look funny and handling was drastically reduced. Fun experiment, but this is an n/a and needs to shine in the handling dept.


Recently I installed some Suspension Techniques springs which dropped the car about 1-1.5 in. all the way around. I'm looking for a new set of rubber and will keep weight in mind, but good looks and performance are more important to me now.

The way she sits now, the fronts don't look too bad, but there is still quite a bit of gap in the rear. I thought about getting 205/50/15's all the way around - nice choice of cheap performance tires but it will still look funny in the rear. The stock 205/60/15 should perform fine as well but it might look too tucked in the front. Same goes for 225/50/15's - they might not even clear the fronts.

So... what about running a staggered setup? I was thinking a 205/50/15 up front with a 205/60/15 OR a 225/50/15 in the rear. I think that would look just about right, but will having 2 different tire diameters be a problem? What about handling?

 

I too am curious about 205/50/15s, I know that the diameter is much smaller and therefore more revs per mile, but Id still like to see some pictures of how it looks.

 

go with 225/45/15s; 205s are too small for cars this heavy...

John V was running 225/45/15s on 15x7.5s on his STS class autocross GTUs:
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...thread-871641/

smaller diameter tires also lower the whole car about an inch for free with zero suspension geometry down sides. I don't understand why more people don't run 23" tires.

 

Agreed, if you have a wide enough wheel run the tire size he said. At autocross I used to run 225/50/15 tires on some 15x7 Mustand wheels I got for $50. It makes a huge difference.

 

I wish I would have gone with my GTUs/ T2 wheels, ugh, lol...

I ended up using a set of vert wheels that I had laying around since they are 15 and hence the tire is a bit cheaper. Picked up some 205/60/15s and I forgot the sidewall is HUGE on these things, now Im stuck with brand new tires, bouncing around everywhere. I guess its comfortable at least, but then again the car is just on lowering springs with stock dampers.

I was also initially worried that since Ive got a GTUs and it has the 4.3 rear end, if I went with a 23 inch tire the revs were going to be insanely high, but I think I would have preferred to live with higher revs.

 

my last FC got some 205/50/15's to replace the stock 205/60/15's and it was nearly the best thing i did to the car

 

What modifications did you have done to that car?

 

not much, but the 205/50/15's made more difference than the following all put together.

SAFC (s4 car, on an S5 car it makes a big difference)
advanced timing (on an S4 car this helps, S5 i find on 87 that stock timing is fine.)

i measured backpressure and got it down from 4.5psi to 3.5psi.

i aligned it as aggressively as i could, max negative camber, zero toe.

the car was actually pretty quick, and was actually still 99% stock. next step would have been to play with the airbox/intake

 

problem with stock vert wheels is the fact that they are very narrow...

205/50/15's would be my choice . they are a very common tire . and you can find alot of Summer tires in this size that are quite cheap

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...50&diameter=15 Look for extreme / ultra performance summer tires .

you will get more grip out of a 205 summer tire than a 225 allseason tire.

Remmember , Tires are the 4 contact patches that do everything from braking , to latteral G , to acceleration . EVERYTHING happens through these 4 contact patches .. so think carefully about yoru tires if there is 1 thing you can compromise weight/price or ANYTHING on its tires.

 

225/45/15s are getting more common.

BFG Rivals
Toyo R1Rs
Hankook RS3

all available in a 225/45/15 and are all amazing tires.

I run 225/45/15 RS3s on the front of my corolla with 15x9s.