wider tyres or not

[lenz]

i got 15x6.5" on my civic tyres on them are 195/50 love the tyres stick to the ground around corners.. but thinkin of gettin wider tyres 205/50 will i have problems wit it around corners since the tyre will be stickin out?

[shmivic]

no it will handle better
i had 215 on my civic for a long time and the handling was incredible only they did rub on the inner guards at full lock
i changed rims etc and now using 195/50 and it feels alot worse

[saxman]

195 is a bit narrow for a 6.5" rim... that seems to be more of the size of choice for a 5.5" wheel

205 is a bit more accurate as to what would be properly sized for a 6.5-7" wheel... I'd go with a 215 at 7.5" personally

[Domokun SPL]

205 should be fine.

A 195/50 tyre wont have the same rolling diameter as a 205/50 tyre. Profile is a % of width turned into height.

Use this to measure the differences it will make on your speedo.

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

[type one]

195/50 is what comes out of honda factory as a standard sizing or 15 x 6.5" - not saying it is correct but it is factory spec'd

Personally i have always run 205/50 profile on 15 x 6.5 or 15 x 7 and have loved the compromise between track and turn in...

The idea of running a 195/50/15 is that turn in and handling is more "direct" as the contact path of the tyre to the ground is slightly smaller, giving it greater nimbleness.

however, the compromise is that at the "limit" and i do mean the "limit" there is less contact grip.

NOW of late what i have learnt about modding, tyres included is that on the road vs the track - there is a correct setting for both... im not sure why (shmivic) you are feeling the 195/50 to be less grippy... clearly they will provide more resistance which one could confuse for grip... but between two amateur drivers on the road (not track) i think the difference in profile 205 - 195 is negligible... just my opinion though...

[Limbo]

correction from factory mine came with 195/55/15. That's the stock form of an ek4.

I'm running 205/55/15 and its fine on my stock ek4 rims atm.

[Terry]

i saw some civic in best motoring using 205/50/15 in the fount and 195/50/15 in the rear......would that be a good set up for street use as well?

[type one]

civic in best motoring was running this setup for more aggressive grip at the front...now what best motoring doesn't tell you is what suspension settings etc the car is running...

its fine to run a wider profile at the front, but for an amateur set up for maximum grip where and how do u set up your camber/castor rebound etc?

[tank]

If you don't have a understeer problem or traction problem, stick to 195. Your car will accelerate better in a straight line.

Even Integra Type R comes from the factory with 195. And they are one of the best handling cars around.

205 and 215 are bigger and heavier tyres compared to 195. And that will slow your car down.

[BlitZ]

195 will make your car more agile... but grip less out of corners and more lock ups.........

ill get 205 for an ek especially on a vtir.......
an possibily get away with 195 on an eg as they are lighter....

[Domokun SPL]

Lenz, are you ripping it up on corner exits? If not, i doubt you need much bigger tyres. Just upgrade the quality of the tyre on there an you could find the biggest difference.

if you are having understeer problems, look elsewhere other then tyres. Tyres are an easy target when playing the "blame game". Look into a rear swaybar.

[lenz]

im not in the mood of modding the car just stock as rock

and yes i do rip it up on corner exit and some other lil stupid things like rwd car does..
and no i dont have understeer problems had some brand tyre on the front which sticks to the ground and now its start to wear out havent change them for 3 years.

thanx for the advise i might go wit the 195's as 205's is more heavier

[Domokun SPL]

Well, having the same tyres for 3 years could be attributed to why you are ripping it up on exits mate.

Id probably want to change my tyres every 25,000km or 2 years....otherwise you are just not living life hard enough :P