Ok, i tried to search for this but didn't even know what to look for, so here I am.

Currently I'm running the stock 225/40/19 on the front and 245/40/19 on the rear and i need to replace them.
They're mad expensive.
I noticed that i could save about 100 per tire if i switched to 35% sidewalls.

What will this do to my car so far as handling, ride, speedo accuracy, and so on?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Don't do that, you will reduce the OD of each wheel by 1", with the change you propose. This would result in a harder ride, less tire wear, more fender gap. The speedo would be off too. Since you would be maintaining the stagger, I don't know if VDC would be affected.

If I were you, and had the stock 19s, I would put 245/35/19s in the front and 265/35/19s in the back. The front wheels are 8" wide and the rears are 8.5" wide. The fronts will carry the 245s, and the rears should be OK with the 265s. Your handling will be improved, and your understeer will be reduced by a small amount. Your driving a $40K automobile, don't be worried by a few pennies for tires. Get the best you can, at least one's that fit properly. Right now, I like Dunlop Sport Maxx.

Lou

 

i know i know.
I never thought about going wider, sounds interesting.
Anyone else done this?

Thanks for the help.

 

im currently in the same dilema, i can get general exclaims 235/35 front and 245/35 rear mounted and balenced for $575

Two Rear OEM Bridgestones tires before shipping, mounting ect ect is $572 from tire rack.

Call me crazy but the bridgestone has a tread rating of 140 the tires feather and the ride is terrible. The generals have a tread rating of 380. It seems to be a no brainer in my book, but im no expert so please correct me if im wrong.

Going from a 225/40 to a 235/35 I lose .3 of an inch on the sidewall, and .6 on the overall diameter.

Going from a 245/40 to a 245/35 I lose .5 of an inch on the sidewall and 1.0 on the overall diameter.

I understand that my spedometer will be off (slower) but i dont think im sacrificing too much. Please tell me if im wrong, this is my first time buying tires for this car and im not expert, i did some research but please feel free to voice your opinions.

Consider the fact that i can get two full sets of the generals, mounted and balenced for the SAME price of the OEM tires shipped. Then shell out another $100 for mount and balence. Not only will the generals have twice the tread life, i can buy twice as many of them.

 

You'll have more gap between the tire and fenders as well... that'll make the car look like its a truck

 

I guess I have a slight advantage, my car is black, its harder to see where the tire ends and the car sits with its the same color, i know in this pic you can, but i hope you understand what im saying.

 

You've got a $40K sport automobile, and trying to skimp on tires is a poor choice. Your choice is not a good idea.

1. Your stagger would only be .3" - Not enough to keep the VDC happy.

2. Your right, you would lose .9" in OD in the rear - 26.7" vs. 25.8". You would increase the fender gap, and it would look funny.

3. You're right again you would lose .6" in OD in the front - 26.1" vs. 25.5". Same issues as the front.

As far as wear goes. The UTOG numbers are not a standard throughout the industry, but assigned by each manufacturer. So not a good measurement for wear. Also the lower the number, the softer the rubber compound, the sticker the tire.

Any way, pay the money and get the right size tires. You deserve it!

Lou

BTW, not that it means anything, but my Truck came with Generals. One Blowout and one unexplained flat later, I am now on Goodyears.

 

ahh... so much for an easy out.... so definitly dont do this? Think it will be that noicable?

 

Try working the numbers for speedo:

http://www.cvscc.org/TireSizeCalculator.zip

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp


Handling & ride is subjective so it varies by person, conditions, locations, etc. Obviously a lower profile will result in stiffer sidewall so cornering is better, but ride is rougher.