The Tire Quandry!

Now that i have the 944 running and driving.  I need to get it to pass the safety check.  Although this should be easy, just a quick wire job for the headlights to function properly, I am running into a tire problem.

Currently the tires on the car a dry rotted, but hold air.  I have a set of R888 r comps but I can't use those for a safety, so I am looking for something performance oriented, that will fit the original 15" rims.  Being somewhat picky, I want wider than the 205 series tires on my 924, and was hoping to get a 225/50-15.  I can't afford to go up to a 16 inch rim at this time.  

What does the hive suggest.  

It doesn't seem like there are very many options at all for 225/50R15

I did come up with the following though that are close through PMCtire in Quebec (205 and 225)

https://pmctire.com/en/tires/usage/summer/stock-status/in-stock/pneu-dimension-jante/15/pneu-dimension-largeur/205-225/pneu-dimension-aspect/45-50-55/sort-by/eval_qual_summer/sort-direction/desc.tire

Adam

Hankook rs4 come in a 245 40 15.  Also, I think there are a few good options in 225 45 15.

Depends on if you are okay with a summer only tire.

Whatever you do don't go with the Kumho Ecsta AST even though they are available in 225/50-15..

   The MSM Miata I bought used had these on it. 

Noisy.  Harsh ride. And slippery on damp pavement. 

You have pretty much no options for a larger 15 that is a street performance tire.  Cooper Cobra, or race tires are pretty much it.  I was looking for 245/50 16s for my Camaro, and the only thing in the range of good quality non race tires were BFG super sports.

Mike924 said:I have a set of R888 r comps but I can't use those for a safety,

R888R's are DOT approved tires, so why can't you use them for a safety check?  What state are you in that wouldn't allow a DOT approved tire in a DOT safety check?

In reply to stukndapast :

I'm in Ontario Canada.  In my mind, because the R888r's were an R-Compound I didn't think they would be allowed.  Plus, I need tires for this car anyway.  

I thought about going to a 45 series tire as well.  I guess if I am already going from a 60 series to a 50 series, why not just go down 5 more to the 45 series.  

Thanks everyone for all the good info.  It is much appreciated.

In reply to Mike924 :

I lost internet last night so I did not get to post my minor confession about wanting to box flare and roller scate my Rabbit with the 345/35-15 version of this tire, despite a laundry list of reasons not to, but 205/50 and 225/50 are th other sizes.  Tire rack has no 2016 production on clearance left for the U.S., but they may for you.

https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=Cinturato+P7&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=25YR5P7N4&tab=Sizes

Matthew

Wider is not faster on the 944. I ran both 225 and 205 and the only difference was the 225s gave up grip with less warning. I was with in a 10th of a second a lap either way so to me that is driver margin of error. 
 

I will say though the 225s look better on the car. 

If you have R888s as your performance tires, why do you want more performance tires to just run around on?

Heck I race on a set of, ready for this, Uniroyal Tiger Paw NTs.  While the maximum limit is modest, they have excellent manners, last a long time and a CHEAP.  Like $220 for a set of 4 in your size.  

There's a big hole in the 15" tire range. Lots of wide ~23" diameter options and then nothing wide and taller than that until you get up into the 25+" diameter range that isn't really suited to small cars. Sucks for all of us. 

Anyway, I'd give up the dreams of wide and go with 205/55/15s.

I'm an advocate for the smallest/narrowest tire possible on low power cars; the narrow tires will weigh less (2-3 pounds per tire), they also have less rolling resistance. Additionally the wider tires, while possibly affording more corner speed may not work well with the current springs and dampers. If your putting either tire on the same wheel the wider one may lose some steering feedback (dependent on rim width). 

Go with the 205s and be done with it. 

 Mike....  use the www.walltowalltires.com website to see what’s available in the various sizes you're interested in.  They’re located in Greely. (I use them to get an idea of $$ costs before I buy). 

I run 215/60/15 Michelins on my Datsun ZX turbo,  and 225/50/15 Toyo Proxy 4s on my 280Z (bought ~3 years ago).  

Good luck

Gordon

Thanks everyone for the input.  For tooling around I was hoping to fill out the wheel wells.  Hence the wider tire.  The R888's are a 45 series and when they are toast after this season will be getting another set.  Note I have never driven on an R-comp rated tire so this will be fun. 

After all the input, Gordon, I will look at Wall to Wall Tires, and see what I can get. 

This forum Rocks.  

Mike924 said:

Now that i have the 944 running and driving.  I need to get it to pass the safety check.  Although this should be easy, just a quick wire job for the headlights to function properly, I am running into a tire problem.

Currently the tires on the car a dry rotted, but hold air.  I have a set of R888 r comps but I can't use those for a safety, so I am looking for something performance oriented, that will fit the original 15" rims.  Being somewhat picky, I want wider than the 205 series tires on my 924, and was hoping to get a 225/50-15.  I can't afford to go up to a 16 inch rim at this time.  

What does the hive suggest.  

If I had an '80s sports car, I'd put period tires on it:

https://www.nengun.com/yokohama/advan-hf-type-d

They even come in your 225-50-15 size.

Only $300+/pc! 

I'll throw in another vote for don't be temped by Kumho ASTs. I even own a set of them in 225/50/15 ( although they're like 10 years old at this point and are just holding a broken car off the dirt) and they are both narrow for 225s and very mediocre as tires. The only thing you get in those vs a 205/55/15 is the 225 marking. They aren't functionally very good tires. It's an ancient design that wasn't really a sporty tire to begin with.