Widest tire on a stock 15" rim?

Hi all (and Lee),

Just found out that the thump-thumping from my car was indeed not the stereo but two delaminating Bridgestone Eagers (bought on the car in April and since then coming apart at an alarming rate). Question: My 93 190 has the stock aluminum rims (15x??). How wide of tire can I go with this rim? Ideally, I'd like to put some 205s on it, but I'm thinking 195 is probably all that it will accept. Can you offer an answer and if there are tradeoffs to going wider on that size rim what might they be?

[Lee Scheeler]

Matt,
Your 190 has 15x6" wheels with an OEM tire size of 185/65/15. You should probably be able to fit 205's on there. To keep within the "3% variance" rule the size I'd recommend is 205/60/15. 205/55/15 would fit within the 3% (2.4% shorter to be exact) rule but 205/60/15 is only .9% taller than OEM. A 6" wide rim is also acceptable for 205/60/15 fittment.

As for tradeoffs, you will get more handling but have more rolling resistance and perhaps a bit worse ride. (not by much necessarily) The tire you choose can determine just as many characteristics as size. You will have many choices in 205/60/15.

You can never go wrong with Michelin. In 205/60/15 your best handling option would be the Pilot SX GT. One notch down would be the Pilot XGT V4. Beneath that is the XGT H4. Treadwear goes up as handling goes down among those three. The XGT V4 is probably the best compromise. The Pilot SX GT is $114 a tire at Tirerack, the XGT V4 is $109 each, and the XGT H4 is $74 apiece. If your a bridgestone man (judging by your post) the performance oriented Potenza RE71 is $78 each and the more tame RE92 is $64 a tire. Give tirerack a click or call for further specifics or advice, that is what they do best.

Hope this helps...Lee

Thanks for the abundant info Lee,

I'm also looking at the Continental Contact CH90 Reinforced. Know anything about these? I know they're OEM equipment on a lot of euro cars and some folks have *opinions* about OEM tires. I can get them in 195 or 205 (I'm wondering if the 205 will fit 6" well and am really surprised the wheels aren't 7" wide...). Oh yeah, last obvious question: these tires come in 60-series or smaller and I'm wondering what kind of ratio I'm looking at if I go to 195x60x15 (sounds short).

Regards,
Matt

[Lee Scheeler]

Matt,
After reading fittment charts on the Firestone/Brigestone and Dunlop websites 15x6" rims are of acceptable width to fit 205/60/15 tires on. You will want to say within 3% of the OEM rolling radius. As such, 205/60/15 is one of the few sizes that is a practical fit for the OEM wheels. 195/60/15 is 1% shorter overall and is an acceptable fit if you feel the 205/60/15's are too big/wide. In 195/60/15 your best tire options are the Bridgestone RE71 for budget sport, the Michelin XGT H4 for all season performance, and the Yokohama AVS Intermediate. All three of those are in the $70-$75 ballpark. Of those three the best bet would likely be the XGT H4. Have driven a benz equipped with a "plus 1" fittment of XGT H4's and was impressed by the handling given the tire's other practical attributes.

Hope this helps...Lee

[Robert W. Roe]

Interesting thread; I'm wondering where the Michelin MXV4 fits in. I know it's referred to as a "touring" tire, but how is the XGT comparatively? I'm thinking in terms of wet performance, handling, noise, ride, etc. The pricing looks cheaper for the XGT H rated tires.

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Robert W. Roe
1984 300SD 165K miles

[Lee Scheeler]

Robert,
After driving and owning both XGT's and MXV4's on various cars here are the impressions:

The MXV4 is a very capable touring tire that will ride the quietest, give you the best gas mileage, last the longest under non-enthusiast driving habits, and be the most comfortable by a small amount.

The XGT is a bit sportier in nature accross the board. Less mileage, less treadwear (unless you drive hard then the shoulder of the XGT seems to be up to the extra stress more than the touring MXV4), slightly harsher ride, definitly more noise.

Both tires are really good tires, best in their respective fields. Those comments are just being as picky as possible. Don't have much experience in snow with the tires above. (doesn't snow much in ATL) Both should do well in the snow (especially the XGT H4's or the MXV4's) The latest generation of XGT's are FAR superior to the older ones. Comparing the current XGT's to the old XGT's really isn't fair. Of course, if you want to talk sporty you can go up one notch to the Pilot HX MXM (500E shoes at the moment) or one notch further above that with the Pilot MXX3. In my experience the Pilot HX MXM handles AND rides much better than the XGT's but should not last as long. The HX MXM is 90% of the ride of the MXV4 with handling in excess of the XGT's. (but nowhere close to the MXX3) Treadwear should be similar to the MXX3 by the numbers. Will have to keep an eye on that... The HX MXM is rated as a touring tire but it handles as much like a touring tire as the 500E does a grocery getter. You really can't go wrong with Michelin, it is just a matter of figuring out which one suits your car/driving style the best.

Hope this helps...Lee

[MikeM]

Having owned XGT V4's on the Porsche for a while now and through a winter, the tire did pretty good in snow. The issue still exists where the tread I have (245-50-16) is pretty wide and as such floats on top of the snow. the open blocks release the snow easily.
The directional pattern does real good in the rain.

Like all rear wheel drive cars I've had in the past, in dead of winter in southern Ohio (Dec-Feb), I add a bag of white "Kids Play Sand" #75 to the trunk. Put the sand bag inside of a double bag of Lawn and Leaf bags to minimize any spillage.

Some vehicles I've added 2 bags, (Toyota Supra) due to extreme light rear end weight.

As far as treadwear the XGT V4's have a rating of 300. The noise level is very good, and as far as looks, I really like the sidewall appearance.

Good Luck.



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Mike Mullins
71 250 Coupe
92 400E Sedan
90 944/S2 Cabriolet