Want a smoother ride on my Accord.. what size tires you guys recommend!?!

Mr. Anderson · #1 08-28-2004, 08:46 PM

Hey guys....

I had "Dropzone" coilovers in my car for about two years.. You can see the drop in the picture below. I was happy with the ride but I'm tired of that look. I took the Dropzones out today and installed Honda OEM coilovers back and just threw on my original Alloys "195/60R15". The rims you see below I think I'm gonna keep for now.. but my question is with all the size tires out there what would you recommend for just an overall smooth quiet ride? I do have alot of room left in the wheel well after putting on the original tires... I really would like to avoid low profiles and fill up the well with more tire if possible. So again, going from a 15" rim to the 17" that you see below.. what tire size would you recommend?!

And if someone could enlighten me on something.. today when I was changing out my back coilovers I had a HELL of a time.. and I mean a HELL of a time.!! I don't remember the Dropzones being that hard, but I would assume they were easier to "install" because they were shorter with less resistance.. but these OEM coilovers... HOly crap! The only thing that I came up with while trying to align the lower knuckle bolt and push the strut through the fender wall was compressing the spring after you get the bolt in the lower knuckle to relieve tension off the strut?? Is that the right way to do that? Haynes book is completly useless on this! Not a big deal... but I'm sure all of you would find it amusing that it took my only about ten hours to change four coilovers!!?!?!? Not bad right!?

Thanks for your help guys....

Mr. Anderson · #2 08-28-2004, 08:50 PM

I should also add that I did raise my car back up solely because I was "tired of that look" nor do I mean to insult anyone that has lowered vehicles.. the plan is to change rims in the near future to all chrome and just keep the car clean looking. It was just painted last year, new leather, new dash, carpet, etc.... But basically looking for a smoother ride!

Thanks again..

Mr. Anderson · #3 08-28-2004, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Anderson

I should also add that I did raise my car back up solely because I was "tired of that look" nor do I mean to insult anyone that has lowered vehicles.. the plan is to change rims in the near future to all chrome and just keep the car clean looking. It was just painted last year, new leather, new dash, carpet, etc.... But basically looking for a smoother ride!

Thanks again..

that I "DID NOT" raise my car...... geez... I'm an idiot!

phoenixitc · #4 08-29-2004, 10:28 AM

I plan on changing my 15" and 195/60-15s to 17s and 215/45-17 tires. I plan on using a 400AA tire such as Pirelli or Yokos. I use H&R OE springs for the softest ride and installed Koni Yellow and set to 1/2turn from softest setting. My ride currently is a little stiffer than stock. I'm hoping for a similar ride after going to the 17s but anticipate a little more firmness. I'm also interested in recommendations. THanks!

cablepower_9 · #5 08-30-2004, 01:00 AM

aside from suspension mods -

the best fix is 2 sets of wheels;

one with big rim and thin tire
one with smaller rim and thicker tire

just make sure the offsets, clearance and outer dimensions are the same

Doubletap · #6 09-02-2004, 03:09 PM

Well Mr. Anderson,
First of ditch that haynes manual and get a helms. That will save you some time next time you are goingat it on somethinglike this. Second if you try to get taller (sidewall) tires than what came on the car stock with the 15in rims you are going to be srewing with a lot of things. First the taller sidewalls will have more give that before. This will comprimise the handling of your vehicle making high speed manuvers dangerous. Second since the overall diameter/circumference of your wheel/tire package will be greater your spedometer will have t be recalculated or it will read wrong.

If that doesn't matter to you then just look at your curent tire size 195/60/15. This is by the way your stock TIRE size, NOT WHEEL size as you previously stated. Your wheels are 15 in diameter and probably 5-6.5 in width.

Your best bet is to look online at www.tirerack.com or some similar site and see if the have any tires with the same width (195) or something within 5-10 (180-205) and a greater ratio of width to height. The 60 in your tire size means that the sidewall is 60% of the width of the tread. It goes like this. Your tread is 195 milimeters wide. Your sidewall is 60% of that (117mm) tall. If you found some tires labeled 195/75/15 the sidewall would be 75% of 195mm or about 146mm resulting in a taller sidewall, more give, a smoother rider, an incorrect speedometer and worsened handling charactersitics at speed.

DoubleTap

phoenixitc · #7 09-02-2004, 05:13 PM

tirerack.com recommends 215/45-17, tires.com recommends several sizes including up to 235/45-17. All size have sidewide height shorter than original 195/60-15s.

Mr. Anderson · #8 09-02-2004, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubletap

Well Mr. Anderson,
First of ditch that haynes manual and get a helms. That will save you some time next time you are goingat it on somethinglike this. Second if you try to get taller (sidewall) tires than what came on the car stock with the 15in rims you are going to be srewing with a lot of things. First the taller sidewalls will have more give that before. This will comprimise the handling of your vehicle making high speed manuvers dangerous. Second since the overall diameter/circumference of your wheel/tire package will be greater your spedometer will have t be recalculated or it will read wrong.

If that doesn't matter to you then just look at your curent tire size 195/60/15. This is by the way your stock TIRE size, NOT WHEEL size as you previously stated. Your wheels are 15 in diameter and probably 5-6.5 in width.

Your best bet is to look online at www.tirerack.com or some similar site and see if the have any tires with the same width (195) or something within 5-10 (180-205) and a greater ratio of width to height. The 60 in your tire size means that the sidewall is 60% of the width of the tread. It goes like this. Your tread is 195 milimeters wide. Your sidewall is 60% of that (117mm) tall. If you found some tires labeled 195/75/15 the sidewall would be 75% of 195mm or about 146mm resulting in a taller sidewall, more give, a smoother rider, an incorrect speedometer and worsened handling charactersitics at speed.

DoubleTap

Doubletap.. what part of "I really would like to avoid low profiles and fill up the well with more tire if possible. So again, going from a 15" rim to the 17" that you see below.. what tire size would you recommend?!" did you not understand? Not only am I aware of what the "tire" size breakdown is... but it is completely useless for the question that I have. Will 225/45/17 fir "yes" or "no"..... nothing in between or out of line!

phoenixitc · #9 09-02-2004, 09:29 PM

You might want to contact tirerack.com. They have specs and info that could offer some info. They might be able to tell you what tolerances you are facing with 225/45-17s. I'm very interested in this also. tires.com says 235/45 would work but possibly only if there is no drop. Perhaps a call to tires.com can offer insight into why they suggest 235/45s and tirerack.com doesn't.

phoenixitc · #10 09-02-2004, 09:31 PM

I think I asked this already but what wheels are those?

Mr. Anderson · #11 09-03-2004, 06:34 AM

Phoenixitc... thanks for the info.. not a bad idea. I might do that either today or Monday (call)... the rims are from MSR but I can't remember what model number. I raised the car back up and put the original springs and struts back in. That's why I want a nice size tire, not only for a comfortable ride, but to fill the wheel wells up. Know whata' mean!?!?

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