I had to replace the tires on my car when i got it.. I was looking through and decides to get these:

Bridgestone Potenza RE950 for your 1999 Acura 3.2TL - Size 225/55HR16

No rubbing, no noise, feels great, and even better at high speeds.
Look good too!

 

Stock Mich's SUCK hairy horse balls!!

Glad you like you new tires.

 

MXV4 BLOWS

 

I had those on my Stealth, they are great tires. They stick like any z-rated tires. Good choice.

 

Why not 225/50 HR16?
Overall height is 24.9" on 50, 25.7" on 55.
OEM - 25" (Michelins).

 

It looks like 225/55's are the closest to the original 205/60's to me. The tire height would be 223.75 mm as opposed to 223 mm for the oem tires if the numbers are accurate. A .75 mm difference in height is negligable. On the other hand, 225/50's would be a full centimeter shorter than stock.
Am I missing something?

J. Pape

 

To J. Pape

You just calculated wall height (by the way, it will be 123.75, not 223.75)
You have to take a look specs from the manufacturer:
Tirerack has it. For Bridgestone 950
Overall diam of the tire: 205/60-16 is 25" (OEM Michelins)
225/55-16 is 25.7"
225/50-16 is 24.9"
Best,

 

Here's the Michelin spec sheet:

Spec sheet for Energy MXV4 Plus

The correct answer is 25.6". My other car is a Honda S2000 which has 225/50s on the rear. They are definitely shorter than the TL stock tires. The corresponding 55 series tire that is the same height as the 225/50 is the 205/55 which coincidently is what is found at the front of the S2000.

Likewise, I am now using the RE950s in 225/55 and am very pleased with them. They are far stickier than the stock Michelins and comparable to the Goodyear Eagle RS-A that I just replaced.

rw

 

Speck from tire rack:

Michelin MXV4:

205/60VR16 91V SL 400 A A
1356lbs.
44psi
10/32nds
5.5-7.5"
6.5"
8.3"
7"
25"
813

 

So, lessee. I love the Tire Rack folks (my last four sets of tires came from them), but do you really think that they know more than Michelin?

Look closer and you will see that Tire Rack has OBVIOUSLY made a mistake. Note entries for the same tire that differ primarily in speed rating. In particular, note the two numbers for diameter and revolutions per mile. The revolutions per mile is DIRECTLY related to diameter. The two diferent figures cannot both be correct.

205/60HR16 91H SL 400 A A
1356lbs.
44psi
10/32nds
5.5-7.5"
6"
8.3"
NA
25.6"
813

205/60VR16 91V SL 400 A A
1356lbs.
44psi
10/32nds
5.5-7.5"
6.5"
8.3"
7"
25"
813

Finally, let me ask some dumb questions. Have you ever owned a TL with those Michelins? I've owned mine for four years. Have you ever looked at one side by side with a car with 225/50s? I do every day.

Sheesh

rw

 

Sparky57:

OK, you win, I loose. i did not check Michelin's site for the size.
I just odered 950's 225/50 HR16 from TireRack, based on the wrong assumption.

Should I send them back to exchange for 225/55 or they will be OK? What's will be your opinion?
Another thing,
What tire pressure shoul I keep?

 

No, I wouldn't bother sending them back. 225/50s will work and there are others here who use that size. The net suspension drop of about half an inch shouldn't cause any problems.

My point was that the 225/55 is simply the IDEAL upgrade size for the stock wheels. As for tire pressure, I would start with the factory 32 psi figure. The load ranges for the Bridgestone 225/50 and the Michelin 205/60 are essentially the same.

My first replacement set was some Goodyear 215/55s. I chose that size because I was concerned that the 225s would look too wide for the rim. I later discovered that the section width between the two was very close. The biggest difference is visual. The 215s looked a bit funny because they were noticeably smaller and made the car look more "SUV-ish" as another poster observed. The 225/55s look better to me in that they fill the fenderwells better and maintain the stock speedometer calibration.

Go for the 225/55s next time!

rw

 

does anyone have a pic of there car w/ the 225/55s on, I am seriously thinking about ordering them, like tomorrow!!!
thanks in adavnce

 

Just so you know, 225/50 makes your car look like a 4X4 if you dont lower your car.

 

ok ,ordering the Bridgestone Potenza RE950, size 225/55HR16 today or tomorrow. might sound like a stupid question, but I never ordered tires off the internet before. wondering how much you paid to have them put on AcAttach?

 

~$20/tire (~10 mount+~10 Ball)

 

rw

 

I'm thinking of upgrading my tires, 225/55HR16 , as well. Anyone have these tires with their car dropped, pics? Any chance of rubbing with these wider tires and larger overall diameter? Thanks!

-Matt

 

Lay a quarter flat on top of your existing tires. That's the difference in height!

rw

 

Hey.. Sorry about not gettting to this post for so long.. i was away.

I payed close to $60 for all tires (inclusing mount,ball) and I also did alignment for $60 more..

And sparky's pics show exactly how the tires look.. Except mine aren't as clean.. I didn't get a chance to wash my car since I got the tires because it's been so nasty here lately.

 

I have 18' rims on my 99 TL and it does not rub at all, the tires are 225/45/r18. Even with a full car no rubing. Also it dose not affect my turn radius.

 

Guys,

I have a feeling that my tank is good for 350 miles only on 225/55-16 (RE950), used to be ~400 miles.

Any observations on that matter?

 

AcAttack You say you paid $60 for 4 Potenza's total? Where did you get this price? Also, how is the noise on these tires after they where a bit? How many miles have you put on them so far?

Does anyone have any opinion on the performance of P205/60R-16 91V Proxes TPT for stock wheels? Our local tire shop is recommending them.

 

In general, wider tires will indeed have more rolling resistance and reduce mileage. I have not, however, noticed any significant drop in mileage since getting my RE950s. I would suggest checking to make sure your tire pressure isn't too low. While I use the recommended 32 psi, you can get better results by going higher. The tradeoff is a harsher ride.

rw

 

I see that you leave in NJ, I live in southern CT. I was thinking that I might need snow tires to put on the car, inside of just the Potenza's. How did they handle in the snow storm recently?

 

Well, just put on the Potenza's, and the handle great. Concerned about two things though:

1) When I was braking lastnight, hard b/c of my speed, I heard a noise....like the ABS was coming on. The ground was not wet or anything, has this happened to anyone else before?
2) Also, the car does like higher than before, I am definitely lowering it now, does anyone else feel this way with these tires?

 

This is my question too. I live in Chicago and things can get nasty around here too. How are are the Potenza's in the snow? Cmon AcAttack, we need your info! Thanks!

 

AcAttack, where did u buy the tires from. i need tires bad on my car, i thought about getting the potenza SO3 pole position but they dont make 215/50/17, the next size is 225/45/17, they would be a lil smaller in dia. so making my speedo off.

 

Motion Effects, I believe he ordered them from Tirerack, this was his orginal link:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....um=255HR6RE950

 

thanx Yitbos, i think im either going to order the potenza or the kuhmos ecsta. I need something to get me through the winter, so in spring i can get rims.