Im in dire need of a new set of tires on my 02 TL-S, and i (think) i want the biggest (tallest) tire possible. I don't know anything about tires so forgive my ignorance, but i tell myself i want big tires because a smoooooth ride and tread life is very important to me.

I called my local tire shop and they told me that 215/50/17 is a low profile tire and treadlife is virtually non-existent. My searching told me that 235/50/17 and245/50/17 ( i believe ), are both possible.

I guess what i'm asking is for someone to recommend me a good size tire best for tread life and smooth ride. Thanks.

 

You are stuck with the profile you have. If you go with a wider tire without reducing the profile you will be throwing off your speedometer, vsa, and abs. Also with the stock wheel about the widest you can go is 225, some have done 235 but didnt like the feeling of it.

Tire size wont increase tread life. Look for a tire with a higher tread ware rating. Visit tirerack.com and search for tires and reviews. Also search our forum for what members have been recommending.

 

[QUOTE=NC-Grayson]I called my local tire shop and they told me that 215/50/17 is a low profile tire and treadlife is virtually non-existent. My searching told me that 235/50/17 and245/50/17 ( i believe ), are both possible.
[QUOTE]

Your local tire shop guys are jerking you. Don't believe anything they said to you. Fsttyms1 is absolutely correct. Since your car is using 17" wheels, you are stuck with 215/50/17 (OEM size) and possibly 225/50/17, unless you want to buy new wheels or screwing up the speedometer readings.

Tread life depends on the tire compound of a tire, and NOT on the profile of a tire. As a rule of thrumb, the higher the tire performance, the rougher the ride as well as the shorter the tread life.

 

225/50 on stock wheels will work just fine.

 

What Lawaia said, but don't go higher than 225.

 

so this sounds extremely backwards, but a lower performance tire will yield longer treadlife and comfortability?

I don't have any mods to my car, nothing, no plans, don't want to. Just need a comfortable tire that i won't have to replace next year.

 

Not backwards at all. Increasing your tire size will have absolutley NO effect on how they wear. High performance tires don't last long, and if you have no plans to do anything with the car, you have no need to get high performance tires. So you don't need to change anything, other than maybe your tire compund. Stick with the stock size.

 

Higher performance tires generally have a softer rubber compound to increase grip. But the softer compound also makes them wear faster. A good Touring level tire with a high treadwear rating will be fine for you.

 

Look for treadwear 400 or higher number for good touring=basic driving tires
they will likely say Traction A Temp A Treadwear 480 something like that

 

get yokohama avid trz tires.

 

Higher performance tires are so due to more rigid construction and stiffer sidewalls. Unfortunately this also translates to rough and bumpy ride, but good handling performance.

 

Who said performance tires don't last long? Yeah, true for those that want 8.5" widths with 245 rubber running some negative camber to make em fit...not such a great idea after all huh. I've had my tires (220 treadwear) for over 2 years and 15k miles and they still have quite a bit of rubber left.
Treadwear 400+ works great for longevitiy, but I surely would hate to be the one rolling on these stones when you all of a sudden need to STOP.

Are high performance tires for everyone...absolutely not. But I think we can make better choices than selecting that 400 treadwear out of the Sears catalog.

 

i currently have 235/50/17 on mines......rides dam good........

 

And having tires that are larger dia causing your speedo to be off, no thanks.

25.5 dia (stock) compared to a 26.6 dia

 

It would be just like hitting the brakes on stock tires.

I typically get 30k+ out of my 280 treadwear tires.

 

Very nice!

 

thanks guys for the help. i ended up gettting Michelin Pilot Exalto All Seasons. 21550/17.

 

i just picked up my 03 TL-S last week and the tires are nearly bald. luckily i was able to use this toward an awesome deal on the car, and now i get to pick new tires for myself!

I had goodyear eagle f1 all seasons shipped out to me in 225/50/17. I was going to stick with 215/50/17, but no one has them, so the 225 was barely any larger and still met OEM for load rating. but when i tried to have them put on today, the guy at goodyear tells me that they're too big and was sure that i'd have issues with rubbing, etc.... he claims he tried looking up info and nowhere said that 225/50/17's would fit.

has anyone had experience good or bad trying to fit 225/50/17's? and do you think they'd look too chunky?

 

I had used 225/50/17 Pirelli snow tires before. It is slightly taller, and the speedometer will give slightly lower speed than actual. It will probably give more cornering speed with the larger footprint. Otherwise, it will fit ok, without any rubbing issues.

 

would any of these work??....sorry dont mean to thread jack....
**mod edit - no links to ebay**

 

I got a 2002 Type S TL, was wondering if I can put the 235/45/17 tires on the stock rims? would that be an issue?

 

I think a 6.5" wide rim is too small for 235, the 3G TLs have 235/45/17 on an 8" wide rim.

 

would 235/45/17 on stock rims for 2002 TL Type S be ok?

 

what about fitting the 3G TL Rims on the 2002 Type S? is that a possibility?

 

They will fit but they will stick out a little bit (the offset is too low)

 

thanks, I am assuming that ppl who want to lower their cars would go with 45 sidewall height, for those like me who don;t want to lower the car should get 509 height or else there will be a bit empty space visible between the tire and the fender?

I am trying to decide between 215/45/17 or 215/50/17 for the OEM rims on the 02 TL-S

other than how they will look is 45 or 50 height better for snow in winter or better handeling in summer etc?

 

any rubbing?

 

i have 235 45 17 on type s wheels. i would not recommend it. Yes you can get them to fit, and they look pretty badass. but i would suggest you get 225 45 17 if you want performance and not a chunky look. 235 seems like its floating on the rim, and i regret getting it. its only decent at over 40psi.

 

Don't listen to these guys. I have 235/45/17 PirelliP6 Four Seasons radial on my car and I have had no problem. fits fine, no driving issues, and does not miss up your speedo, abs, or vsa.

 

is ur rim 6.5" wide like the type s? i know you have an aspec, i dont know if its different. 235 on 6.5 is not worth it, i still stand by that

 

According to the manufacturer's tire spec information posted on Tirerack, Pirelli recommends a minimum of 7.5" rim width for it's 235/45/17 P6 4-seasons tires. See below link :

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...irePageLocQty=