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Tire & Wheel Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
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12-15-2004, 10:49 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 72378
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: up, UP AND AWAY.....
Vehicle:3125 Impreza Trying not to b0rk my car |
Low Profiles = Wrecked Tranny?
I was talking to the people at Tiretrends.com about getting some Kumhos KW19s. Since they didn't have it in the recommended sizes of 185/65/15 or 195/60/15(for a '01 Impreza TS) I asked about the 185/55/15. The guy proceeded to preach to me about doom and gloom and how my tranny would go to hell in a hand basket if I put anything on my car but those two sizes . I have a fairly good idea about the recommended offsets on rims and such and by going outside those offset numbers you can and will do damage but for the life of me I cannot figure out how getting a lower profile tire would do any harm. I also do understand that it would be a smaller diameter tire too, but could that be the problem there? Anyways if anyone has the knowledge to answer this I would like to know. Plus if anyone is running a different size tire then is officially recommended then I would like to know too.
For anyone who wants to know I went with the Pirelli Winter Carvings at the recommended size of 185/65/15, but I want to get some good all seasons in the spring and really REALLY want some low pros.
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12-15-2004, 11:06 PM | #2 |
*** Banned ***
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:OK buy Nates beans westcoastroasting.com |
....as long as all 4 tires are the same size....go for it......hell....a 205/55 might even fit if the rim is wide enough
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12-15-2004, 11:58 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 56676
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: wv-usa
Vehicle:1996 Impreza "Brighton" Hunter Green |
I've got 205/50/16's on my car, stock size was 185/70/14. Of course I am using 16" wheels, from a 2002 OBS. The only difference is the car handles tons better!!!
Ideally, I should have gotten 205/45/16 tokeep the stock tire diameter. It does throw the speedometer off a little, and the taller tire sucks up a little torque to get it rolling. I have a ej18 so it is noticeable, but the improvement in handeling and breaking is worth it, I have no regrets! |
12-16-2004, 06:30 AM | #4 |
Hoodbridge!
Moderator Member#: 560
Join Date: Nov 1999
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Woodbridge, VA
Vehicle:2006 STi, 16 Outback Crystal Gray, Silver |
So I assume you were getting all 4 tires? IF you were getting just 2, I could understand the guy's point, but if all 4 are the same size, he doesn't know what he's talking about.
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12-16-2004, 08:36 AM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 72378
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: up, UP AND AWAY.....
Vehicle:3125 Impreza Trying not to b0rk my car |
Now I'm mildly piss off .... I'm sure the Pirelli's will do just fine but I would have like to have gotten something that doesn't look like big, thin tractor tires. But anyways in a few months when I start looking for all seasons for the summer some low pro 50's is what i'll be looking at....
BTW it was Morty at Tiretrends that ran me off of the tires I really wanted. Some people talk highly of him and others think he doesn't have a clue... I'm starting to lean to the latter...even though he is a nice guy and was very helpful. Last edited by don_xtc; 12-16-2004 at 06:26 PM. |
12-16-2004, 08:58 AM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 19057
Join Date: May 2002
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: The Lost Valley, Detroit, MI
Vehicle:2002 WRX & Blue Ford & '72 CB350 |
Depending how much snow you see you may have made a good pick for all seasons (or snows, I dont know about the tire you mention.) The thinner profile produces a higher pressure squishing the snow out from under your tire.
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12-16-2004, 11:14 AM | #7 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 1594
Join Date: Jun 2000
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Carson, IA
Vehicle:1999 2.5 RS 2002 Legacy |
185/70-15 or 195/65-15 should be stock. You could go with a 205/60-15 no problem.
Your tranny will be fine with a smaller diameter, but you shouldn't need to settle on a smaller tire. http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html - is your friend |
12-16-2004, 11:32 AM | #8 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 30342
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: #blp
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As was said, if you're replacing all four tires there are only two things you need to worry about when switching to smaller tires.
1. Your speedo/odo will be incorrect. No big deal, just know by how much 2. Load Rating. You need to make sure the smaller tires have a sufficient load rating to avoid overheating when you're carrying a full load. |
12-16-2004, 02:15 PM | #9 | ||
Tire Rack Moderator
Member#: 1215
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: The Tire Rack
Vehicle:800 -428-8355 ext. 4362 |
Quote:
Quote:
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12-16-2004, 06:25 PM | #10 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 72378
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: up, UP AND AWAY.....
Vehicle:3125 Impreza Trying not to b0rk my car |
Quote:
you mean wheels as in rims right? So go with 16" instead of 15"s? And yes, I did buy 4 tires that are the same size. |
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12-17-2004, 08:39 AM | #11 |
Tire Rack Moderator
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: The Tire Rack
Vehicle:800 -428-8355 ext. 4362 |
technically a rim is a part of a wheel
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12-17-2004, 02:40 PM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 72378
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: up, UP AND AWAY.....
Vehicle:3125 Impreza Trying not to b0rk my car |
yeah you're right Luke....
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12-17-2004, 04:42 PM | #13 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 21811
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
International
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A 205/60-15 would have worked too. Back on the pre '02 model L and OBS wagons Subaru used the same 15 inch steelie for the 195/60 on the L and 205/60 on the OBS. Your gear ratio is the same as the current OBS which runs a 205/55-16 so It can easily handle the larger diameter tire.
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