why are 205/55R16s more expensive than 205/60R16s??

[mem]

Hello-I'm hoping some of you can help me out... I'm wondering why the stock 205/55/16 tires on my Matrix are more expensive than related sizes. My stock Contis are junk (as reported) and need to be swapped out for something new (the fronts are down to the wear bars@ about 25,000 under very non-aggressive driving conditions). I've narrowed down my choices to a few brands, but I'm tempted to fore-go the 3% difference in the speedometer and save an extra $20 per tire with the 205/60s (plus I gain a bit of clearance for those snowy days). I realize that there's a performance trade-off, but I wouldn't mind softening the ride a bit either (it's a Matrix XR Auto.. no racing going on here!).Any suggestions or advice??

[Raven]

You actually lose clearance because the 205/60/16 is a higher profile tire. It is 60% as tall as it is wide as opposed to 55% as tall. The width stays the same at 205mm. The 3% issue is not just for speedometer error, it also is an issue for the brakes. They have to work harder to stop a larger diameter tire. I would not recommend going to a 60 series tire just to save $20.00, there is a lot more to lose than there is to gain. I went the other way. I put on 225/50/16 for more grip and stiffer sidewalls.

[mem]

Thanks Sunny,But now I'm confused... why would there be less clearance with a 205/60? I also understand the brake wear concern, but would a 225/50 tire put more strain on the steering components (having to move that much more rubber)? I looked into the 225/50 as well, but I've heard that that size tire on my 16x6.5 wheels might make the steering feel mushier than it is and may cause excessive tire wear.

[jonathonbarton]

205-55R16 = 112.75mm sidewall205-60R16 = 123.00mm sidewallThe 60's sidewalls *are* taller than the 55s...by approximately the width of your pinky finger. I don't know that you'd really be able to eyeball the difference.Brakes? OK, the brakes will work a little harder (more pad wear) to get the car stopped. Your brakes will *NOT* fail as a result.When you change your pads next time, you *could* do some research and buy some upgraded (Street+Race combined use, such as EBC Green or similar) pads and change out your brake fluid for something designed for harder use. (MOTUL is, I believe, a brand recommended by friends in another car club I belong to.)In the end, running a taller tire, you might be saving $80 on tires, but wind up spending it on replacing brake pads "somewhat" sooner than you would if you ran a 55 height tire. What does 'Somewhat" mean? Couldn't tell ya...so many *other* variables involved (driving style, what kind of commute do you face each day, etc.) that I don't know that you'd even know the difference.The mileage error would be in your favor, however. With the tire's increase circumference carrying you 3% further on each revolution than the stock wheel would, your odometer will count off 3% too few miles for the distance you've actually driven. Bully for your resale value! In the end, tires are a consumable, and you sound like an average driver, with average driving habits, and I find it *extremely* hard to believe that any consumer-related choice you make will be *that* harmful. (By that, I mean, it's not like you're racing SCCA Autocross, or putting your Corvette Wheels on your |/|atrix!)Buy what fits reasonably well, and if you don't like it, replace it with something different it wears out.

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by jonathonbarton »(By that, I mean, it's not like you're racing SCCA Autocross, or putting your Corvette Wheels on your |/|atrix!) Actually Madbill already put Corvette wheels on his Vibe and it works great. Not for the uninitiated though. As for 225/50/16's feeling mushy, the opposite is true. Because they have a lower profile and therefore a stiffer sidewall, they actually feel crisper and handle much better. I upgraded considerably from the Crapinentals to Falken FK 451's which also had a huge influence on the handling. 225/50/16 is about the limit for the stock rims.

[kostby]

Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Vibe! Why not just select a less expensive brand of the 'correct' 205/55-16 tire (usually = lower tread-wear number) than try to economize with a tire that's not quite the correct spec? If money is a problem now, even the worst tires (Even OEM Conti's will get you a year and 15-20,000 miles or more (I have 31,000 on mine, 9000 miles are mine, 22,000 previous owner)Kumho ECSTA 716 is rated pretty highly in the Genvibe community and starts at around US$80.00 per tire, vs BF Goodrich T/A Traction are over US$100+ per tire. Of course, neither price includes balancing, add-on road-hazard protection, valve stems, and so on.

[jonathonbarton]

Quote, originally posted by Sunny » Actually Madbill already put Corvette wheels on his Vibe and it works great. Not for the uninitiated though.Yup, that's why I put that there... I'm the one autocrossing the vibe. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=14565

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by jonathonbarton »Yup, that's why I put that there... I'm the one autocrossing the vibe. ZZZing!

[mem]

Thanks to everyone for the info.I suppose I will end up trying to find cheaper 205/55s. As for the "mushy" feeling I refereed to, I should have made it clear that I was referring to the 225s on my 6.5 rims, causing for a bit of roll-over on the sidewall. With the right rims, I'm sure a lower profile tire would give a better feel. Yes, I am cheap and want to get as good a deal as I can (I'm poor too, so that helps narrow the selection!). I can get the Traction T/As for $64 in the 205/60, while they're $80+ for the 205/55... that's what's frustrating! Looks like I'll need to find some good sales!Thanks for the help...

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by Sunny »You actually lose clearance because the 205/60/16 is a higher profile tire. It is 60% as tall as it is wide as opposed to 55% as tall. The width stays the same at 205mm. The 3% issue is not just for speedometer error, it also is an issue for the brakes. They have to work harder to stop a larger diameter tire. I would not recommend going to a 60 series tire just to save $20.00, there is a lot more to lose than there is to gain. I went the other way. I put on 225/50/16 for more grip and stiffer sidewalls.I am not an "expert" but the brake wear issue seems off base. The wear on the brakes relates to stopping x,xxx lbs. of momentum at yy mph to zero. Doubt that the tire size difference would amount to anything more than the miniscule added weight of the tires. You'll get more brake wear from the same braking situation depending on the weight of additional passengers and cargo. O rmore brake wear when I drive alone (200 lbs) vs. when my wife drives alone (130 lb).

[Raven]

Try stopping a really big wheel from spinning with your hand, say a mountain bike wheel. Now stop a small, we'll say wheel barrow wheel with your hand. Which one is easier?

[Mr. Poopypants]

Quote, originally posted by Sunny » Actually Madbill already put Corvette wheels on his Vibe and it works great. Not for the uninitiated though.Not to hijack but are there pics of this?

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »Not to hijack but are there pics of this? Here's a linkhttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4132 There's a bunch of pictures on it.

[jonathonbarton]

Now try stopping a 26" mountain bike rim with a 2" tire mounted on it with your hand, followed by a 26" mountain bike rim with a 1.75" tire mounted on it...I mean, if you're gonna compare, at least compare Granny Smith apples and Golden Delicious apples, not a Monster Truck tire with a Vibe Tire.

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by jonathonbarton »Now try stopping a 26" mountain bike rim with a 2" tire mounted on it with your hand, followed by a 26" mountain bike rim with a 1.75" tire mounted on it...I mean, if you're gonna compare, at least compare Granny Smith apples and Golden Delicious apples, not a Monster Truck tire with a Vibe Tire. It is not the width in question, it is the larger diameter. A larger diameter tire has more rotational inertia. I was using 2 exaggerated examples to emphasis this point. Tires which are more than 3% larger in diameter have potential to cause brake failure according to the "Tire People". OK Uncle!

[gpk99]

Skimping on tires to save a few bucks in the long run can cost you more than you bargained for.Case in point... I spent 24 yrs in the taxi business spending half that time as an owneroperator.A set of tires should last you a year.SHould.....smile. IN the taxi business here I worked for a company setup as a co-operative,which basically means that the way the company was setup to be meant that the company itself didnt and doesnt own a single cab....all the drivers or owners of the cars do. SO some of these owners can own as many as 20 taxis which they in turn rent out to drivers.MOst of these owners own and run thier own garage doing the maintenance themselves.You can imagine with 20 cabs that the maintenance on this mini-fleet can keep an owner always busy and with a good record of reliability also attract other business to it. Down time in the cab business makes an owner no cash. So when it comes time to replace tires most owners of mini-fleets such as I speak of buy thier tires in bulk to...save money.Usually this means they buy a lower brand thus saving themselves more cash. So they think.One example..........Sears make a reputable "lower brand" of tire.Buying tires for 20 cars at one time usually will cost ,per tire,around the neighbourhood of or can anywhere from $60 to $75 a tire buying in bulk.Thats if you find them ON SALE.If you dont......usually you can get a set of tires like this for on average $80 a tire.Sometimes these cab owners buy more than they need and sell them to other single cab owners...such as I at that time. To make a long story short ,the set of tires I bought from one of these owners only lasted 40,000 miles on my taxi one year.Not good if you are looking for bang for your buck value now. The next set of tires I decided to go with after that was a set of BF Goodrich T/A's.Pretty expensive set of tires if you want to run them on a commercial vehicle.Each tire at that time was around $110 a tire.But in the time I ran them on my taxi I got over 60,000 miles of use on them before having to replace them.NOw do the math.....say...after 4 seasons. Cheapy tires or brand name tires?In the long run you are saving alot more cash running name brand tires than you ever would running "value tires".Quite alot actually if you extend it over a long period of time. Never skimp on tires.......you save nothing,not to mention what you are gaining in performance.

[Carbman]

They are a lower profile sidewall lo-pro's are always more expensive.

[Carbman]

Sorry got the two sizes backwards.