Tire profile: 50 or 55

[Larry C Leung]

Go 50, other than a minor increase in true fuel consumption (and a bit
more proportional emissions) not much else bad, other than a few more
revs and the associated wear and noise on the drivetrain. BTW, why can't
you get RE-71's anymore? TireRack probably has them in your size, or, try
the Kumho 712's. Not bad for the $$ (kinda the same price as RE-71s
actually), last longer and drive about the same, better in the rain (not
like you get any, do you?).

LL - NY

On Tue, 27 Nov 2001 08:47:15 -0800 (PST) Tessie McMillan
<tessmc at drizzle.com> writes:
>Ugh, I go through tires like they're candy. Just a couple weeks ago I
>discovered I'd picked up at least three nails and some staples in
>three of
>my tires. These are Dunlop SP Sport 8000 (which I bought this summer
>because I can no longer obtain my good-old favorite, love-em, love to
>be
>old-fashioned Bridgestone RE71s). Had to swap the wheels out for my
>track
>wheels & tires ... this was just before our "big" two week rain
>storm...
>With the oceans on the highway, that has made for some reeeeeeeally
>exciting driving. &:-)
>
>Anyway, I noticed on the Tire Rack website there are 2 different
>profiles
>available for the 205 15" size: 50 and 55. Right now my street tires
>are
>55, but since my track tires are 50 I was thinking of dropping down
>to
>this profile. Working with my track wheels/tires I can jack the car to
>one
>height, but when I have to work with the street wheels/tires, I need
>to
>jack just a bit higher to have enough clearance and I'm kind of tired
>of
>doing this. Plus the lower profile is cheaper.
>
>Would there be any negatives -- aside from appearance -- associated
>with
>running a 205 x 50 x 15 tire instead of the 55? I do drive my street
>tires on the track on occasion....
>
>Hope everyone is staying healthy now that winter is upon us (well, at
>least in N. America)! Take care and thanks as usual for the advice!
>
>Tess
>in Seattle, WA USA
>
>
>