(MODS: Please wait until I get a good answer before moving, thanks!!)

I asked this in the tire/rim forum, but haven't gotten an answer yet and need one tonight.

I am about to purchase a set of tires from tirerack.com for my CL-P rims. Stock size is 205/60/R16. What size should I get if I wanted to safely get a lower profile tire? 215/55/R16?? 225/55 ??

I was going to get 205/55/R16's but I remember reading somewhere that you should also get a wider tire (the first number I assume) when lowering the profile?

Someone please help this noob

 

If you go with a lower profile tire, 55 vs the stock 60, you have to go wider, 215 vs. the stock 205, that way there is the same amount of rubber in contact with the ground pretty much. You should be fine with 215/55/16s. I haven't done it on the CL, but on my dads old BMW we did the exact same thing, same size tires except his are 14 inch tires. Handles a little better cause there is less sidewall to flex, but doesn't feel any rougher over bumps cause there is still plenty of sidewall there.

 

Awesome thanks for the response!

 

How is changing the profile from a 60 to a 55 going to change the amount of rubber on the ground?

 

Agreed with Zippee, the reason you have more rubber on the road is going from a 205 to a 225 and the reason the profile gets lower is so that you keep the same overall diameter as the original height was. If you have a smaller or larger diameter than what the original wheel/tire was, it will throw off your speedometer and odometer. So the height will technically be the same although it will look like your tire is "low profile" since you have more rubber on the road. This is really more for when you switching sizes of your wheels ie. going from a 16 to a 19" rim.