tire size: will 205/55/R16s fit? good/bad idea?

[PlasticCarsRock]

I have a '95 SL2 automatic. I am looking to replace my 205/50/R16 tires, and I know someone who has an almost new set of Goodyear Assurance Tripletread tires (~$500 new) who will sell them to me for $100. (Seems like a really good deal...) Unfortunately, they're 205/55/R16, not 205/50/R16. First of all--will they even fit without clearance issues?

Given that they do fit, is it a good idea to increase the tire size like this? How much of an impact will it have in performance?

I don't race or anything, and obviously at higher rpms it won't matter much, but my SL2 has always been really sluggish accelerating from a stop (often making it difficult to merge into moderate traffic from a stop). I'm not at all an aggressive driver, but because of where I live and drive, I often have to be able to accelerate to around 30mph, from a stop, going up a pretty steep hill, with very little gap in traffic. Will the taller gearing from these tires make much of a difference in off-the-line performance? I assume on the highway, the taller gearing would give me better mileage, assuming it's not slowing the engine down too much...?

Technical stuff: the circumference of the OE tires is 76.1", meaning 833 revs/mile (4.6" sidewall). My current tires are 75.6", meaning 838 revs/mile (4.0" sidewall). The 205/55/R16s would be 78.2" in circumference, meaning 811 revs/mile (a difference of 2.7% vs stock) with 4.4" sidewall.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[fetchitfido]

Tire Size Comparison

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
195/60-15 4.6in 12.1in 24.2in 76.1in 833 0.0%
205/50-16 4.0in 12.0in 24.1in 75.6in 838 -0.6%
205/55-16 4.4in 12.4in 24.9in 78.2in 811 2.7%
195/75-14 5.8in 12.8in 25.5in 80.2in 790 5.4%


I put studded 195/75R14s on a ~1.3" lowered '93 SL2. Long as I didn't do 70+ 'round corners in 50 (or less) zones it was fine, and it'd tap the wheel wells on the larger bumps at 40+ (rear only).

[PlasticCarsRock]

Originally Posted by fetchitfido

Tire Size Comparison

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
195/60-15 4.6in 12.1in 24.2in 76.1in 833 0.0%
205/50-16 4.0in 12.0in 24.1in 75.6in 838 -0.6%
205/55-16 4.4in 12.4in 24.9in 78.2in 811 2.7%
195/75-14 5.8in 12.8in 25.5in 80.2in 790 5.4%


I put studded 195/75R14s on a ~1.3" lowered '93 SL2. Long as I didn't do 70+ 'round corners in 50 (or less) zones it was fine, and it'd tap the wheel wells on the larger bumps at 40+ (rear only).

Thanks. They should definitely fit, height wise; however, they're also significantly wider than stock. I'm worried about clearance between the edge of the tire and the inner wheel well, when the tires are turned.

Also, how much of a difference in performance did the larger tires make?

[moresaturn]

I have 195/65R15 on my front tires and have had no rubbing whatsoever. I cant imagine another centimeter will affect it.

[eRic 02sc2]

205/55-16 fit but you'll lose some clearance between the tire and the spring perches. also they make the car look like a monster trunk. I was running 16-inch wheels on my 96 SC2 and ordered a set of 205/50-16 tires. Well someone else's 205/55-16 tires arrived and Discount Tire mounted them on my wheels by mistake. I walked out to my car and took one look and my jaw dropped. So I had them removed and they found my 205/50-16 tires that were stacked next to were the other tires were stacked.

[HStockSolo]

Originally Posted by PlasticCarsRock

Thanks. They should definitely fit, height wise; however, they're also significantly wider than stock. I'm worried about clearance between the edge of the tire and the inner wheel well, when the tires are turned.

A 205 is not significantly wider than stock. What offset are the rims? 205/50R16s on +25mm offset 16x7s rubbed a little on the inner fenders/liners on the back on my Eibach lowered SW2. 225/45R16s on the same rims didn't rub at all on my SC2. Most aftermarket rims are +35 to 42mm offset, so I doubt you'll have much trouble. Even fender rubbing isn't too much of an issue--the tires will happily grind themselves clearance in the soft pastic parts.