Neal@tirerack

iTrader: (25)

Nothing wrong with using a lower profile tire as long as you use the correct size. You cant just drop down in profile w/out increasing the width. The profile represents a percentage of the tires width.
For example, a 195/60-15 will be taller than a 195/50-15. To keep the tires diameter the same as the OEM, you need to add some width while dropping the profile. So, 215/55-15 would have the same overall diameter as the OEM size.

redozrally

that didn't really answer my question... whats wrong of just dropping the profile..
since 205-55 or 205-50... will be roughly the same height as a 195-60 so ur not really changing the distance between the ground and the rim...(height) so whats the negative effect of just dropping the profile? with out changing the width?

Neal@tirerack

iTrader: (25)

Speedo will be off, ABS might not function properly, load carrying capacity of the tire decreases making the car too heavy for the size.

psy-q

iTrader: (1)

its roughly the same, but not close enough. a <3% different in overall diameter can do some crazy things. 205-55 and 195-60 is a 1.4% difference. Your speedo will be off and the odometer will start taking mileage down wrong.

215-55R15 would work better (0.4% difference), but I doubt you can get that width on the stock rims.

Use this to help you:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Edit: Its not the distance between the ground and the rim thats the issue. Its the diameter from the ground to the top of the tire.

EditEdit: ^^ Neils knows his stuff. Listen to him

njvtec

iTrader: (1)

Your aspect ratio (second Number) aka side wall height, aka profile is not a straight forward measurement number like the width. Like Neil said "The profile represents a percentage of the tires width", so the side wall on a 255/60/16 would be much larger than a 195/60/16. Although they are both a 60 profile that just represents a ratio. If you alter the width without changing the profile or visa versa then you are going to change the rolling diameter of your tire. This will affect your gearing in a sense; your rolling diameter is factored into your gearing. This will alter your speedometer readings and your ride comfort and handling. Neil knows his **** just tell him exactly what you plan to do with the car and how you drive it and he will give you all of the feasible wheel and tire combos. Tire Rack kicks @ss; I usually get my wheel and tire within 24 hours of ordering.

HobieKopek

iTrader: (8)

Just to quell all fears, we don't have ABS. Only the LS has it at least in the '02's and '03's. I didn't pay attention going into '04.

And yeah, I agree that Tire Rack has been VERY good to me (and I've ordered more than just a full set of tires from them in the past year and a half or so).

redozrally

?!? I thought OZ comes standard with ABS???

03RallyLancer

iTrader: (6)

i think it was an option...

clckwrkorang777

I have an 03 OZ no ABS. It was an option...

Anyways, I thought the correct wheel diameter ratio for us was like

195/60/15 to 205/55/15 to 215/50/15

Is that right? Keeping the same wheel diameter?

Daniel

neilschelly

iTrader: (2)

ABS was an option on the OZs sold in Canada I think, but not in the US. Definitely not in the US. Anyway, I'm running 205/55/15s on my car and don't notice any problems.

And small enough percentages probably don't screw with things enough to be noticeable. I remember reading somewhere that the tachs in ES/LS/OZ Lancers are all calibrated for the ES tires, which means that 205/55R15 is actually more accurate than 195/60R15, but it's been awhile...

Anyway, when you get to such small numbers, the accuracy isn't that close anyway, the difference isn't much different than between a tire with no tread and a tire with new tread. Something like the 195/45/15 suggested above is probably pushing it though. Perhaps 205/55R15 or 215/50R15 are more to your liking. You'll benefit from the wider contact patch (at least in the summer) and maybe slightly lower profile height.
-N

03RallyLancer

iTrader: (6)

i thought on the 03 you could get abs, sun roof, and get it in red... dont know about 04

HobieKopek

iTrader: (8)

No, it definitely did not.

neilschelly

iTrader: (2)

My biggest qualm with getting an OZ was that I wanted to get ABS. There was no "best" Lancer for '02-'03 because the LS had ABS as an option, but no stickshift, and the OZ had a stickshift, but no ABS option. I hated the ES/LS interior and really wanted a sunroof (and needed a stickshift) so I went with the OZ, but I considered the LS a bit first, just for that. And the OZs came in Yellow and Red as I recall that the ES/LS weren't available in.

Regardless, that's off-topic here.
-N

03RallyLancer

iTrader: (6)

and thats what the smart ppl are for to correct me

EvoVIII_MR2005

iTrader: (2)

So will 215/50/15 cause any trouble with weight load? What about 205/50/15? For the 205 width, would you need to go up to 55 percentile?