New Wheels, New Tires. Load Rating?

[Kuba]

HI Guys,

 

I'm just now looking for a set of new wheels and tires as tires I've bought the car with are of legal age

 

Scoured through forums and found superlites 15x7 with 195-205/60 should work just right, unfortunately tires in this size are definitely lacking and only good performance oriented ones I could find were 195/55 which should still be good. It's all good, but my original tires 215/60R14 have load rating 91, and the ones I've found are 85?

 

https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/bridgestone/potenza_adrenalin_re003/195-55r15/138120

https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/dunlop/direzza_dz102/195-55r15/144049

 

Should I just change my wheel size to 16x7, as the same tires in this size have same load rating, and there's much more choice?

 

https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/bridgestone/potenza_adrenalin_re003/205-55r16/138129

https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/dunlop/direzza_dz102/205-55r16/149070

https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/michelin/pilot_sport_4/205-55r16/129705

 

Size is almost the same so they should fit all the same, no?

[GTI-Z]

Kuba,

 

The load rating of 85 equates to a max carrying weight per tyre of 515 kg, with 91 equating to 615 kg per tyre.  So unless your car weighs over 2000 kg, the tyres ore OK with regards to load rating.

 

The below link shows a load index table showing the relevant numbers:

 

https://www.bobjane.com.au/info/load-index-speed-symbol/

[Kuba]

I've found the original tire rating for 260z was 1280lbs/580kg so 89 minimum.

 

It does seem high, but those are factory specs.

[Cozza]

Yeah the options are limited with 205/60/15

But Bridgestone offer the re11s’s

https://www.bridgestonetyres.com.au/potenza-motorsport-re11s

Also re003’s in Various sizes

https://www.bridgestonetyres.com.au/potenza-adrenalin-re003#available-sizes

 

There are quite a few performance options in the 205/50/15 size.

 

I had 16” wheels but have gone down to 15” to maintain a bit of sidewall for the same diameter tyre.

[Kuba]

RE11's seem too much track oriented for my liking at this stage, but re003 do look like an option. 

 

Is there a big difference between 15 and 16 inch? Based on https://tiresize.com/calculator/ difference between 205/55R16 and 205/60/R15 is very small but I don't know how does that translate to driving.

 

Size 1 Size 2

Diameter      632     627     -0.8%

Width           205     205     0%

Sidewall       112     122     +9.1%

Circum.       1984  1969     -0.8%

[Cozza]

I wouldn’t think you’d notice too much in those sizes.

I had Toyo ra1’s in that size and liked them a lot. Unfortunately they are no longer available.

 

Have you found many performance tyres in 205/55/16? From memory there aren’t many available.

 

Just noticed Toyo do them in the R888R’s which have come down a lot in price in the last few months.

[WA240Z]

If you are after quality 205/60 15 performance tyres I can highly recommend Dunlop Direzza star spec Z1. I have been running these for the past 4-5 years. The 60 series side wall height makes a much better ride quality than 50 series, especially if you have any sort of stiffer suspension. Unfortunatly Dunlop have stopped production of these, August 2017, but Dunlop motorsport distributors have current stock.

[Kuba]

I wouldn’t think you’d notice too much in those sizes.

I had Toyo ra1’s in that size and liked them a lot. Unfortunately they are no longer available.

 

Have you found many performance tyres in 205/55/16? From memory there aren’t many available.

 

Just noticed Toyo do them in the R888R’s which have come down a lot in price in the last few months.

 

I think we have different "performance tires" definition, and seeing from your profile that you like to track your car it makes sense. I'm looking more into best performing street tire than a race one made legal for the street. So looking preferably for Michelin Pilot Sport as they have very good reviews or Dunlop DZ102, or Bridgestone RE003 which all three are available in 205/55R16.

 

Regardless, for 16" the rims are not available anywhere 

[Cozza]

Right, yep we have re003’s on the wife’s focus.

They are quite a good tyre. Probably a little OTT and noisy for the focus though.

 

I have a set of 16x7 +20 offset if you’re interested.

 

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-3123-144023710919.jpg

[Kuba]

I'm looking for superlites/panasports look, but if I could borrow yours to make sure they fit, it would be great.

[Cozza]

No problem at all.

If I make it to PB bbq, ? I’ll bring them along.

[260DET]

Anyone tired of these wheels, they should be tired by now.