I'm struggling to find tires...

"Rainbow" (rainbeaux) 11/26/2015 at 13:49 • Filed to: None

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I recently went from 185/65-14s to 185/60-14s. Not a significant difference, so I’ll be using them until they’re done, but in getting them I also increased my rim width from 5.0” to 5.5” and I want to take advantage of that. Apparently, 195/55-14 is very nearly identical in diameter to my old stock tires, but this seems to be the only tire in that size that anyone carries:

(Kumho Ecsta V710)

As fun as it would be to have street-legal racing tires on my Escort, there’s no way in hell I’m paying $800 for a set of tires that will only kill me in the rain. Can you find any normal street tire in this size for me? Or am I just doomed to use 185s forever?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 13:59

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http://montreal.craigslist.ca/wto/5282956621…

get some 15” wheels, 205/50-15 will clear all the important places in Escort suspension and wheel wells, they're only 1.5% off on diameter. Opens up a HUGE world of options. 4x100 15" should be cheap and easy to find.

dogisbadob > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 14:02

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What’s wrong wuith 185/65-14? Still a decent tire selection. The new size 185/60-14 you’re using might have a lower load index (how much weight the tire can support) and could be unsafe; I’m surprised someone actually installed them on your car.

There’s also 195/60-14.

Good tires in 185/65-14:
General Altimax RT43
Cooper CS3
Dunlop Signature II
Goodyear Fuel Max

Tires in 195/60-14:
General Altimax RT43
Cooper CS3
Goodyear G-Force Super Sport*
Falken Azenis RT615K (summer-only tire)

*The G-force Super Sport is a directional tire, which sucks for rotations because the tire has to be flipped and remounted. Walmart is the only place I know of that will flip the tires as part of their free rotations.

Rainbow > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/26/2015 at 14:05

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I would, but I literally installed my new ones yesterday, so that’s not happening for a long time.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 14:12

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15” 4x100 (43mm offset?) practically grow on trees... escorts, proteges, civics, those wheels are EVERYWHERE. And cheap.

Edit: The interwebs says 37 mm offset.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > dogisbadob 11/26/2015 at 14:23

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I just only rotate from front to rear. Unless your alignment is aggressively off (or aggressively track focused) a front to back rotation is just fine for directional tires, no need to swap sides.

Rainbow > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/26/2015 at 14:27

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Still, you can’t say these don’t look amazing.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 14:28

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true, those are quite attractive...

daender > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 14:32

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185s are your best bet, that said the Dunlop Z2 Star Spec comes in a 185/60R14. Harlan has a set of those mounted on his NA and you saw how well he kept up with Desu and Polar Bear!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 14:40

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these would look pretty decent with a coat of paint...

http://nh.craigslist.org/wto/5281896615…

Rainbow > daender 11/26/2015 at 14:42

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Very true! I do want to get something a bit bigger, though. These are +3.2% on the speedometer/odometer and that’s a bit of a big difference. I’d prefer to keep it within 1.5 at most. (195/55R14 is just 0.1% off, so that’s why it would be ideal)

Rainbow > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/26/2015 at 14:44

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Not bad at all. I’ll definitely look into something like that when it’s time for new tires. I’m sure I can get most of my money back on these ones even on bad tires. (Paid $140, I’d ask 150 and probably take 100)

Rainbow > dogisbadob 11/26/2015 at 14:48

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Nothing is wrong with them. I just think it’d be fun to go wider, even if the difference will be mostly a placebo effect.

Also, good to know about Walmart on the rotations. My current front tires are directional.

daender > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 14:51

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Is the speedo accurate? I noticed that my Miata’s speed is actually 5 or 6 mph off rather than jut 2.5 mph. I was bored on the interstate with the Garmin and I checked my gps-tracked speed just for shits and giggles before finding out the truth.

Moves-Like-Senna > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 14:54

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Wait you’re in Montreal?

daender > Rainbow 11/26/2015 at 15:01

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The Miata guys have debated the whole “195 or 205” on a 6/6.5/7-wide rim for practical and performance situations. The general consensus is this:

Wider if you’re going to need to use every millimeter of it for lateral grip for autocrossing.

Narrow for street and/or mountain usage. The tires respond faster because there’s less of that “squish” or hesitation between input and response. Also better for rain usage due to more weight over less area.

To be honest, the 185 sits nicely on a 5.5 rim, 195 might be a bit too much poke for that to yield any performance benefits.

Rainbow > Moves-Like-Senna 11/27/2015 at 08:29

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Not me, no.

Rainbow > daender 11/27/2015 at 08:30

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Not sure. I’ll ask someone to pace me sometime.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Rainbow 11/30/2015 at 10:01

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They don’t look amazing... THEY LOOK SPECTAAAAACCCULAAAARRR!!!!

:-)

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Rainbow 11/30/2015 at 10:07

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Well the Nokian WRG3 is theoretically availailable in the 185/65R14 90 H XL size:

https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-tires/n…

Though you may have to get the dealer near you to order them in.

These are not cheap tires, but they’re good 4 season tires.

Tohru > Rainbow 11/30/2015 at 10:24

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I have a set of 4 Scion xB 15” steelies I used to run on my Escort. The tires it came with were 185/60/15’s. Tire Rack shows 35 tires available in that size, starting at $51.54 per tire.

Rainbow > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 11/30/2015 at 10:39

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Not bad! I’d prefer to get summer tires, though. It snows here maybe once every three years, and I have no obligation to drive when it does.

Slant6 > Rainbow 11/30/2015 at 21:34

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I approve of all of your stickers.