Anyone else want the look of a firmer tire sidewall? Help?

[g3ride69]

2007 saturn aura xe 3.5
225/50-17

Currently have pirelli p4 tires on it and at 30psi they all look like they are 25psi too low. The pirelli's are an 80k mile tire and are in great shape. (Although 1 has a plug).

Im not saying i need a LT tire... But is there a {P}assenger tire that doesn't look flat in the 225/50-17 on an 07 Aura??

Ride feels a little bit squishy.
I normally drive for mpg.

Is there a go to swap? A rim/tire from a Malibu or g6?

I wouldn't mind going down to a 16" or possibly a 15" rim/tire combo. I like having 2 sets of rims for my vehicles. Never know in Michigan winters when a swap will be needed.

I have a couple tire size converter sites i use to make sure i wouldnt change the overall dimensions by too much (+/-3%).

I saw an aura that had 225/60-17 tires on it. Extra width looked ok but still appeared low on air. (My converter said not to put that size on mine. Aura's with other stock sizes may be appropriate for the 225/60-17.... Im not sure.)

All comments are appreciated.

Thanks!

[g3ride69]

Couple things.... 1. I actually do know how tire sizes work. I was "tired", the tire on the other aura wasn't wider (225), they were the same tread width.

2. I am stooopid in that i couldn't find the darn "edit" button for my post. It is beyond ridiculous.

Thanks for looking.

[fdryer]

Being unfamiliar with tire pressures for Auras, my L300 (similar sedan and weight) call for 30 psi all around. My (euro spec) suspension was always very firm whether at 28, 30, 32 or 35). All radial tires are designed for sidewall belts running from bead to bead with tread belts in a cross hatch pattern. Radial tires are known for the soft bulging on the tire footprint but designed for maximizing tire footprint whether in straight line driving or cornering at higher than normal speed. Older bias ply tires had stiff sidewalls but gave away tire traction and the reason all tire manufacturers adopted radial ply technology for passenger cars, suvs and pickup trucks. I think tractor trailer tires still use bias ply tires.

Check your tire sidewall for maximum pressure rating and experiment with higher pressures, perhaps 2 psi at a time. In general, maximum pressures reduces sidewall flex that translates to heat and wasted energy while a stiff tire that doesn't flex provides an increase in fuel mileage at the cost of ride quality. If hypermiler forums are still around, check out what they do to eke out maximum fue economy. One of them is inflating tires to maximum and using narrower tread (less friction to decrease rolling resistance).

[g3ride69]

Thank you.
I'll try going up a couple.
I appreciate your reply.

Originally Posted by fdryer

Being unfamiliar with tire pressures for Auras, my L300 (similar sedan and weight) call for 30 psi all around. My (euro spec) suspension was always very firm whether at 28, 30, 32 or 35). All radial tires are designed for sidewall belts running from bead to bead with tread belts in a cross hatch pattern. Radial tires are known for the soft bulging on the tire footprint but designed for maximizing tire footprint whether in straight line driving or cornering at higher than normal speed. Older bias ply tires had stiff sidewalls but gave away tire traction and the reason all tire manufacturers adopted radial ply technology for passenger cars, suvs and pickup trucks. I think tractor trailer tires still use bias ply tires.

Check your tire sidewall for maximum pressure rating and experiment with higher pressures, perhaps 2 psi at a time. In general, maximum pressures reduces sidewall flex that translates to heat and wasted energy while a stiff tire that doesn't flex provides an increase in fuel mileage at the cost of ride quality. If hypermiler forums are still around, check out what they do to eke out maximum fue economy. One of them is inflating tires to maximum and using narrower tread (less friction to decrease rolling resistance).