Approaching 40K on my 2004 TL and it is time to replace the tires. A friend of mine had 4 new Goodyear Eagle RS-As that he is willing to give me.

The question I have is will they fit and if so are they decent? They are 215 50 R17
where the original EL 42s are 235 45 R17. I know nothing about tires so I am not sure if these would be compatible or not. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

That size is the opposite of what most people are doing, but they overall rolling diameter is only 0.5% different from your stock tire. I'm just not sure if that tire is too thin for the wheel, and you're not likely to find many answers because most people want a wider lower profile tire and you're going the opposite in both ways.

You'll get a smoother ride on those tires, but sacrifice performance. If you're cool with that, and want to save some bread then go for it.

 

billk86, Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking! I truly believe of all the performance things you can do to a car all the safety systems, all the handling, it still comes down to the tires. Without traction, no "Go", no "Whoa" in other words, no "Control".

So I suggest you contact any knowledgeable tire dealer in your area for advice! You can also contact "The Tirerack" at 888-353-5082. They've been helpful in the past for me and my friends .

This will insure the tires your friend is offering are "load" rated for the TL and that they will fit your rims safety. The original 235 size tires that came on the TL factored this in. If you do a little research, you'll find the TL came with wider standard tires than any of its competitors.

HiTEC is correct, the 215s larger sidewall ratio will contribute slightly to a softer ride at the same time possibly causing a reduction in handling capability including reduced braking as well.

Any reputable tire dealer can work with you and your budget to insure you get the best tire for the buck based on your needs and driving style.

Happy hunting and good luck!

 

Thanks guys...I do appreciate the input!

 

I ended up with the Pirelli P Zero Nero M & S. 235/45/17. The guy who put them on didn't think I would necessarily need an allignment right away; do you guys agree?

 

You don't need alignment when changing tires. Only if you change your suspension components.

BTW, excellent tire choice!!

 

There is no reason to do alighment unless you modify suspension

 

billk86, I know many consider it un-necessary to get an alignment when just changing tires, but I would consider the mileage on your TL and I assume its been sometime since its last alignment.

I have a considerable amount of miles under my belt both on and off the street and I make it a practice to get an alignment whenever I make a change to the suspension, including the tires.

You would be surprised at how little it takes to change the handling characteristics of a car. A few degrees in "TOE" have caused several TL owners to go nuts with the way their TL were behaving. Just do a search on this thread.

It's just cheap insurance for proper performance and longer tire life. It can also bring to light, worn suspension issues one may not have noticed.

Anyway, just my worth.

Good luck and happy motoring!