Tyre Profiles etc.

[malcster]

Hi guys,

I just purchased some Falken FK452's after reading good reviews on here. They're are for my 16" super advans.

So I went for 225/45/16 for the rear - And now looking for fronts to match - but alas they do not make the same tyre with a 205 or a 215 width in a 45 profile - just a 50.

So - I could go for the same in a 50 profile on the front, (as opposed to my 45's on the rear)

Or, I could go for a 205/45/16 for the front in a different brand/type - maybe the falken ziex's or the toyo R1's etc etc.

Any thoughts? Does the profile of 5% front to rear really make a difference?

Cheers,

Malc

[raptor95GTS]

std sizes are 15's 195x55 front and 225x50 so there is a difference in profile size anyway so 205x50 16's will be fine for the fronts. I certianly wouldn't advise changing brands between axles

[Baker]

I wouldnt do it to be honest. i currently have that setup with 50 on front, and the fronts look noticeable bigger, bit odd. think there's a pic in my garage.

im gonna swap for 45's when i can.

best best is to find a tyre with similar grip, maybe a T1R or similar.

And i hate to disagree again, but its fine to swap between axle, just not to swap tyres on the same axle. many people find grippier tyres on the back than the front an advantage, and vice versa.

[malcster]

Yeah, I guess it depends on what the car is set up for as to whether you want more grip front to rear - I want the car to handle well - and as nutral as possible.

I guess if out the box the come with differing profiles front to rear then there is no problem.

Is there any reason for this? Does it give a more prograssive feel to the rear when it begins to break away with a higher profile on the front perhaps?

[malcster]

Ahhhh just done some reading it's a ratio of the width, so that will be the reason!

So if I went with these sizes...
rears = 225 / 45 / 16
front = 205 / 50 / 16

45% of 225 = 101.25
50% of 205 = 102.5 ...so fairly similar in "height" - difference of 1.25mm.


BUT if I went for the same profiles...
rears = 225 / 45 / 16
front = 205 / 45 / 16

45% of 225 = 101.25
45% of 205 = 92.25 ...so big difference in "height" - 9mm.

So to keep the "height" the same over front and rear, because the widths are different - the profile has to also be different.

[Baker]

i have measured my front and rear, and for some reason the fronts are 2cm higher than the rears, both with similar wear rates.
i can only put it down to different brand of tyres.
Which is where your problem lies, you cant get falken for the front.

if you go for 50's on the front you may well be disappointed.

[malcster]

I think I can get Falken FK502's in a 205/50/16 for the front, which will match the FK502's in 225/45/16 I have on the rear (give or take 1.25mm!). It was the 205/45/16 they didn't do, and I thought I would need to get matching profiles all round...

[Baker]

is that was at typo, and you mean 512's for the front, i'd be wary, theyre not great.

[Rahzel]

I hate having to buy tyres for 16" wheels.

I currently have a set of buddy clubs in 16" and a set of staggered 17r/16f AVS-5's and i am trying to decide what 16" tyre to buy. Its a nightmare.

If i was you i would deffo get the 50 for match your 45 at the rear. My friend had this stagger and it looked ok on the car.

I was looking at getting a 245/45 for the rear and 205/50 for the front for my buddy clubs.

[Baker]

if you can see post the dirt, look closely at the front and rear tyres, big difference

[malcster]

is that was at typo, and you mean 512's for the front, i'd be wary, theyre not great.

Ah sorry yeah, its the Falken FK-452's - thats quite crazy looking at your pic there, quite a difference.

[Race Idiot]

Btw if you are running normal struts 225/50/16 fits just fine on a +35 offset wheel. Also same goes for 205/50/16. Looks a bit different but it fills up the arches a bit more, also is more comfy than having less sidewall. Check out my garage to see what I mean.

My last set of tyres on my current wheels were FK452's in those sizes and I never had any problems with rubbing even lowered on ohlins with some kg/mm springs, pretty good tyres too lasted a fair while also!

Also yeah looking for good tyres in 16 inch sizes is pretty crap, im thinking next year of getting some nice jap 17's and using the 16s as winter wheels. I was gonna get 245/45/16s but they are pretty hard to find in anything that isnt garbage or a T1R (which I didnt realy want as have not been impressed by them)

[Phill P]

Just changed my 195/50-16 front and 205/50-16 rears for different 16's with 205/45-16,590mm front and 225/45-16 608mm rears.

Car now decks on the floor when I go into my garage .

However this site is v good for checking tyre height width etc.

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/info_specs.jsp

Tempted to go for 205/50-16, 612mm front and 245/45-16, 626mm rear and this will keep the front rear difference,fill the wheel arch and stop me grounding out.

Not sure how it will handle though......and I think I can only use T1r's

[Race Idiot]

iirc 245/45/16 is oe fitment for some porsches, I think 993 911

Elite direct have potenza s02's listed but then on the phone they say they dont have any. Also I think you can get Hankook RS2s in the same size which are meant to be pretty good also.

Also damn how low is your car? On coilovers I presume?

[Grajey]

There are a few places that list SO2's but when you call they are out of stock. Apparently, Bridgestone still do limited production runs of SO2's but you have to be lucky and be in contact with tyre suppliers at the time they are available.
I have a set of 16 wheels, sitting in the garage, awaiting a 245/45/ SO2. I got fed up and bought a set of 17" wheel. Much more choice for tyres.

[Phill P]

iirc 245/45/16 is oe fitment for some porsches, I think 993 911

Elite direct have potenza s02's listed but then on the phone they say they dont have any. Also I think you can get Hankook RS2s in the same size which are meant to be pretty good also.

Also damn how low is your car? On coilovers I presume?

Beached whale springs to mind,lol,and sits on Tein HR's


P

[jpsh120]

Ahhhh just done some reading it's a ratio of the width, so that will be the reason!

So if I went with these sizes...
rears = 225 / 45 / 16
front = 205 / 50 / 16

45% of 225 = 101.25
50% of 205 = 102.5 ...so fairly similar in "height" - difference of 1.25mm.


BUT if I went for the same profiles...
rears = 225 / 45 / 16
front = 205 / 45 / 16

45% of 225 = 101.25
45% of 205 = 92.25 ...so big difference in "height" - 9mm.

So to keep the "height" the same over front and rear, because the widths are different - the profile has to also be different.

Don't forget you need to allow for 2 sidewall measurements, you have only allowed for 1 in your calcs.

If you look at the original tyre sizes then you get an overall tyre/wheel diameter as follows;

F - 595.5mm
R - 606mm

Whatever wheel/tyre combo you have, these figures should ideally be as close to original as possible to ensure speedo is accurate etc. With 16" wheels the closest match to original sizes is;

F - 215/45 giving diameter of 599.9
R - 225/45 giving diameter of 608.9

205/45 for the front would be OK, gives total diameter of 590.9 but 205/50 is miles out (611.4).

And to echo previous view, it is OK to have different tyres on front & rear but don't mix tyres on the same axle.

If you've managed to stay awake through all that I hope it was useful!

[JeffD]

Use this website here and oput your originals on the left and what you want to fit on the right - youll soon find what is the best combo :-)

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/info_specs.jsp

[Rahzel]

iirc 245/45/16 is oe fitment for some porsches, I think 993 911

Elite direct have potenza s02's listed but then on the phone they say they dont have any. Also I think you can get Hankook RS2s in the same size which are meant to be pretty good also.

Also damn how low is your car? On coilovers I presume?

You got the Buddy Club P1's same as me i see I was thinking of ditching the 16" Rear and buying a Set of Ultralite D1's (Moulded off the P1 mould) in 17" 9J as there is a hell of a lot more tyre size than the 16's!

[luke t]

ive got 205/45/16 on the front and ive just ordered 225/50/16 for the rears.they are goodyear eagle f1 zr. will the rears be a problem to fit, as i have 45 on the back at the min?