Need tire suggestions

[five&dime]

I want to get new tires. Having trouble finding anything decent and reasonably priced in 195/55/14. Thinking of just selling my real racing Panasports and going with 15". I have found Kuhmo V700 for $200 per tire!!!! ludacris

[okayfine]

195/60/14 is a much more common size, and there's still some good choices out there.

Beyond that, what's "decent" and "reasonably priced" mean to you? Likely means different things to each Realm member.

[five&dime]

Good sticky capabilities and $150 or under per tire. That's what I want.

What about 205/50? Would that work?

[defdes]

I have Dunlop SP8000 195/55/14's on my street car and love them...I just did a search for them on TIRERACK and they seem to be NLA from them. Check around though, they were $135ish and have a great tread block and very predictable.

[five&dime]

That's what is on my car now. I would like a softer compound.

[okayfine]

Good sticky capabilities and $150 or under per tire. That's what I want.

What about 205/50? Would that work?

205/50/14? Can't imagine that's a more common size than your 195/55. Tirerack shows one in the 205/50 size, and it's a drag radial.

Back to 195/60/14, summer-only? Worried about road noise? NVH from stiff sidewalls? How long do you want your tires to last (keep in mind the normal trade off between grip and longevity).

That said, this is still the best max-performance street tire that will last a bit (especially on a light 510) and that isn't expensive:

https://www.tiresavings.com/tireShop.ph ... on=Regular

Falken Azenis RT615. That link says they're back ordered, but if you call around you should be able to find a set.

[five&dime]

I had the azenis on my silvia in 03. Great tires!!!!

My BMW tires only last about 6-8 months so I am not too concerned with the life. Car doesn't get driven much. Never in winter and never in the rain.

[thisismatt]

Contact patch on the 205 azenis I have is really only 185mm! I hate tire manufacturers for this reason (I have the same trouble buying mountain bike tires - they're never as wide as they claim. I have 205's on a 7" wheel and they almost looked stretched because they have the "lip protector" rubber that juts out, and then I have the same 205's on an 8" wheel and it's mad JDM stretch, yo! The lip protector on the 8" wheel is useless since the tire is stretched so much.

That said, if you have a 6.5-7" rim I would get at least 205's.

[okayfine]

Falken.com doesn't list a 205/xx/14 for the RT615. But, yeah, their "195" comes in at a measured 167mm. And the Azenis line is known for being wide for the measurement. Or at least they were

[Derek]

I wouldn't worry about the width as much as what tire models are available. I'd way rather have a 195 RT-615 than a 205 of brand X. I run 195/60-14 RT-615s on my 14x6.5 Wats and they look correct, not stretched or baloony.

[five&dime]

How about some pictures? The 60 series just scares me. I know 5% isn't much but I feel like it will look like a truck

[thisismatt]

The difference between a 195/55 and 195/60 is about 13/16ths or 20mm overall diameter.

[Derek]

How about some pictures? The 60 series just scares me. I know 5% isn't much but I feel like it will look like a truck

I would prefer a shorter overall diameter, but again the options are kind of limited and I'd rather have more go than show. Any pic with dark wheels has 195/60-14 Azenis on my car:

http://picasaweb.google.com/derek.bruce.young/510#

I have 195/55-14 V710s for track use and they look

[S15DET]

Guys remember that the first number (205, 195, etc) is the section width, NOT the tread width. The Azinis were and are known for a more square shoulder than most, which results in a wider tread width.

[five&dime]

I have to admit the pics with the dark wheels have a bit too tall of sidewall for my liking. Great looking track car btw!!!

I think if I stick with it I will have to dish out the coin for the Kuhmo V700's 195/55