Inexpensive three season tires

[shortlid]

I am looking for the most inexpensive, longest wearing three season tire for '99 EX sedan in 195/55R15? This is for a set of lightweight rims I got for my wifes car. It is used to commute every day, just got the alloy wheels to improve handling in the moutain roads around here. the stock steelies have snows on them now. Since we live in Northern New England. Town Fair Tire said that they can do four Yoko's three seasons installed for $400? But I got some close out from Pep Boys for $350 in 205/55R16 last year for a Accord?

Also in looking at Tirerack I can get a better deal on 195/"60"R15 three season tires! The lower rpm at highway speep would be cool, better MPG, but would that make it handle much better than the stock 185/65R14's?

[EyesofFreedom]

Tires are all about timing...the best time to get a good price on a 3 season is in the summer months...

Originally Posted by shortlid

Also in looking at Tirerack I can get a better deal on 195/"60"R15 three season tires! The lower rpm at highway speep would be cool, better MPG, but would that make it handle much better than the stock 185/65R14's?

Your contact patch is going to be about the same...

You see a tire measurments is actually a formula...

195-60-15 is a 195 mm core with a 60% of the core as a sidewall height for a 15 inch rim...so your contact patch is 195 mm

185-65-14 is a 185 mm core with a 65% of the core as a sidewall height for a 14 inch rim...so your contact patch is 185 mm

So there is only a difference of 10mm or about...the width of very little, and height wise there is only a difference of 3.25mm...or about the thickness of a no2 pencil!

Now if the 14's are alloy rims and the 15's are steel you will reduce weight which is easier on the tranny so there is less wsted hp in turning the wheels, but it is doubtful that you will see much mpg change.

The most important thing you can do with your tires to improve mpg is to make sure they are inflated to the correct pressure and match...you can actually gain about 2 to 3 mpg's just by proper monitoring of the tires psi!


And yes when can try to get you to 300k...with regular maintenance HMC engineers have the first 150k to 200k covered already...we just have to extend you a little!

[shortlid]

Originally Posted by EyesofFreedom

Tires are all about timing...the best time to get a good price on a 3 season is in the summer months...



Your contact patch is going to be about the same...

You see a tire measurments is actually a formula...

195-60-15 is a 195 mm core with a 60% of the core as a sidewall height for a 15 inch rim...so your contact patch is 195 mm

185-65-14 is a 185 mm core with a 65% of the core as a sidewall height for a 14 inch rim...so your contact patch is 185 mm

So there is only a difference of 10mm or about...the width of very little, and height wise there is only a difference of 3.25mm...or about the thickness of a no2 pencil!

Now if the 14's are alloy rims and the 15's are steel you will reduce weight which is easier on the tranny so there is less wsted hp in turning the wheels, but it is doubtful that you will see much mpg change.

The most important thing you can do with your tires to improve mpg is to make sure they are inflated to the correct pressure and match...you can actually gain about 2 to 3 mpg's just by proper monitoring of the tires psi!


And yes when can try to get you to 300k...with regular maintenance HMC engineers have the first 150k to 200k covered already...we just have to extend you a little!

Thanks for all the great info. The stock 14" wheels are the steelies, I got some ultra light weight 15" alloy wheels for the three season tires.

From what you said if I wanted less size wall 195/55R15's would be a better choice for less side wall flex.

[EyesofFreedom]

Yes...but if you go with a 55 series tire you should try to find a 205-55-15...when the percentage goes down one size the radial needs to go up one size...that way you dont throw off your speedo!

[shortlid]

Originally Posted by EyesofFreedom

Yes...but if you go with a 55 series tire you should try to find a 205-55-15...when the percentage goes down one size the radial needs to go up one size...that way you dont throw off your speedo!

I had 205 width on a 3,900 lb. full size SAAB 9000. And even that got squirly with NEW aqua treads in heavy rain. The Civic does not have enough weight to keep from Hydro planing with that wide a tire. Also that wide a tire will hurt gas mileage and increase rolling resistance.