replacing tires for sofetr ride=

[jamesmetairie]

2003 base model. it has the 17 inch alloys. if i stick to the oem size is there any certain tire that gives a better ride and is safer on wet roads? if you put a 15 inch steelies on it does that throw the speedometer off?

[star_deceiver]

Depends on what size tire you put on that 15" steelie.

[jamesmetairie]

thinking about 195/65/15 . and i guess the alloy wheel lug nuts wouldn,t work with steel wheels. our main concern is safety. i see the oem 17 inch tires are listed as "summer" tires. it rains alot here and the car slips around way too much .

[10vibe]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...hid=7205/55-16 is standard tire. I do not know what size your 17's are.205/55-16: 205mm x .55 (55%) = 112.75mm sidewall height.195/65-15: 195mm x .65 (65%) = 126.75mm sidewall height.126.75mm - 112.75mm = 14mm difference in sidewall height, but adjusting for rim size difference of 16 to 15, ratio is almost the same. 14mm - 12.7mm = 1.3mm 0.5 inch = 12.7mm1 inch = 25.4mm15 inch = 381.0 millimeter16 inch = 406.4 millimeter17 inch = 431.8 millimeterRadius change from 16inch to 15 inch tire is 0.5 inch or 12.7mm.Radius change from 17inch to 15 inch tire is 1.0 inch or 25.4mm.16 inch rim (205/55-16): (112.75 x 2) 225.5 + 406.4 = 631.9: (631.9 divided by 2 = 315.95, going from diameter to radius)15 inch rim (195/65-15): (126.75 x 2) 253.5 + 381.0 = 634.5: (634.5 divided by 2 = 317.25, going from diameter to radius)317.25 - 315.95 = 1.3mm634.50 - 631.90 = 2.6mm634.50 - 631.90 = 2.6mm divided by 2 (1/2 or 50% because of radius) = 1.3mmThere is a difference of 1.3mm. Tire wear would make more of a difference in speed/odometer readings than these tire size changes.17 inch rim: 225/45-17:225mm x 45% = 101.25 sidewall height.126.75 - 101.25 = 25.5mm difference in sidewall height from 225/45-17 to 195/65-15. 25.4mm is the radius change going from a 17 inch rim to a 15 inch rim. It is essentially equal.Going down rim size, add 12.7mm for each inch of rim size change to the larger tire sidewall height, then compare to smaller tire sidewall height.Going up rim size, subtract 12.7mm for each inch of rim size change to smaller tire sidewall height, then compare to larger tire sidewall height.There is probably an easier way, but too tired to think tonight.

[Kincaid]

This is an easy to use tire calculator so that you can keep the overall diameter about the same.http://www.1010tires.com/TireS...ubmitYou could even increase the overall diameter on the 17's some but it may not really get much softer.What kind of tires do you have on there? They aren't by chance Goodyear RS-As? I had Kumho SPTs and Hankook high performance summer tires and they stuck like glue in the rain. The only thing they didn't like was freezing temps - and then they were slick as snot.

[jamesmetairie]

we bought the car used and it had pep boys, hankook. so i keep buying them , for around $125. last time ,plus a million add-on,s .==$$the front tires were wearing out on the outter edge quickly. we just had a inner tie rod replaced and fresh alignment at a trusted front-end shop . on my other cars i run sam,s club" b f goodrich touring tires" . they have lots of rubber on the foot of the tire and handle fairly good on wet roads. and only cost about $75. if we go with the 15 inch idea we,ll need 4 oem type hubcaps and lugs.question = will the center of the wheel fit??

[10vibe]

Safest deal is to source 15 inch 5x100 corolla rims. Offsets, backspace, center of wheel, center bore, will have the perfect proper clearance, support and fitment. Whatever you do, get the right lug nuts for the particular rim. On the other hand, go to http://www.tirerack.com and similar sites, put in your car and look for winter wheel and tire combos to get them to spec 15 inch rims and look at the alloys for pretty cheap and see what kind of additional hardware (like center hub ring for non-hubcentric wheels) and specs there are. The 15 inch steelies are sold out for the season on tirerack. Might even be able to check junk yard too, although making sure rims are true can be a pain. New steelies are cheap, but there are also really cheap alloys, probably all from China, that would take care of need to get hubcaps.http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...76726h ... ls...id=91

[jamesmetairie]

thanks guys.

[jamesmetairie]

we replaced the tires with b f goodrich touring t/a,s.
later the car was totaled in the rain on a interstate.
luckily no one was injured .

[vibrologist]

oh, man that sux big time. This shapes up to be a bad summer for Vibes.

I hope the insurance takes care of you in the proper way and you can find another Vibe.

[crashbandit]

I also would like to improve my ride on my "07 Vibe. I currently have the stock tires. They are brand new tires so I really don't want to go with new tires and rims right now. someone on here mentioned Monroe OEspectrum shocks. Has anyone mounted these on their Vibe to improve the ride? Looks like I could pick up a pair for the rear for about $200?