When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Bridgestone and Michelin don't carry the stock 225/55R16 anymore. I've spent the last 8 hours reading forums and the internet and have 205/60R16 and 215/60R16 as options. The attached picture shows why I'm leaning towards 205/60R16 as it's closer to stock than the 215/60R16 or even the 225/60R16. Who among you that have used these sizes can weigh in with there use? Thank you!
Acura00RL, Thanks for taking the time to reply. For over 20 years I've been using P225/55R16 in accordance with page 313 of the 2002 RL Owners Manual (page copy attached).
On page 299 of the 2000 RL Owners Manual it lists the P215/60R16.
Has anyone put the 205/60R16 on their stock RL wheels? I've read that peeps put the TL wheels on their RL and my 2003 TL stock wheels have 205/60R16 tires.
For some reason the RL offered multiple wheel options and tire size varied in this area, the 6.5" x 16" rim came with 215/60/16 tires, the 7" x 16" rim also came with 215/60/16 tires (my 2000 RL came with 215/60/16 tires on a 7" x 16" rim) but there was also an option for a 225/55/16 tire which I switched to . There was also an option for 7.5" x 17" rim with a 235/55/17 tire.
Is there a reason you'll want to go to a narrower thread tire ( 225 to 205 ) ? You'll lose some road contact ( handling ) with the narrower tire and if your driving is in mostly non-winter climes, 215s are better if/when 225s are not available. Believe a narrower tire do a bit better 'cutting' thro' snow in winter months. My winter tires are 215s and all seasons are also 215s.
It's not that I want to go narrow, I want quiet. I've tried different brands but none as quiet as the Bridgestone. Bridgestone and Michelin no longer make the 225/55R16 but they do make the other sizes like 205/60R16 which is as close dimension wise to the 225/55R16. Currently, I have BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S Tires and they are loud. If I could stay stock at 225/55R16 with quiet tires I would, but after trying three non Bridgestone's I don't want another noisy set of tires to go through. I moved to Pennsylvania from Arizona a while back and had to go to an All Season tire.
Went up top the local Tire Shop and they called Tire Rack Wholesale who said NO to the 205/60R16 on the 7x16 wheel. To top it off, since it was technically smaller than the stock size, it would Fail Pennsylvania Auto Inspection if the inspector caught it.
I really don't want to do the 215/60R16, so I'm back to looking for Super Quiet All Season 225/55R16...
Had Michelins ( MX4 ? ) as originals ( quiet ) than replaced with Bridgestone G019 Grid all seasons directionals (from Costco ). A mistake on my part. Noise wise they were OK when new. About half way worn, they were so loud, had to turn up radio to help drown the noise and to make out whats being said on the radio. On the flip side, my winter tires are General Tire Artic 12 ( they are directionals ) and they are quiet. I cannot wait to switch the winters in, in 2 weeks time.
You can go to Continental DWS06+ for stock size. I had the originals and they were quiet. Mom's 05' has the pluses and they are quiet as well. They also handle very well. They actually exceed the natural capabilities of the car for snow. (They grip until the car is lifted by the snow.) If you want a more OE tire (similar to Michelin Pilot HX MXM4s), then the Toyo Extensa AS-IIs work. Nice to hear about another RL owner in PA. If you want to downsize, can't imagine why they would fail you unless you got tires that have a worse load rating than OE. Actually, 225 is the max safe tire size for a 7" inch rim. Ideal is 205/215.
Also, Ebay has grey market Michelin Primacy 4's in 225/55r16 available from Italy. I don't think they are DOT approved though, so good luck getting them inspected.
