15 inch vs 16 inch tyres handling

[WindeX]

I am about due for tyres guys and had been planning on putting the Oz racings back on and get some tyres for them but a mate suggested I would loose out a bit when it came to the sidewall flex side of things.

Do you reckon I would notice a thing? Normal street driving with fun on the twisties from time to time with no track work.

 

[evopwr]

i dont think you would notice much difference, especially if you buy a quality tyre.

 

[ENGINR]

Ditto.

Under normal and even harder than normal driving on roads, you wouldn't notice any difference between 15" and 16" tyres as long as you buy a decent set of rubber.

 

[JiMi]

i notice a big difference between 15 and 17's on the cordia... but the 15's are a bit narrower as well so that prolly has something to do with it as well

 

[Entaran]

I personally prefer the sidewall of a 50ish profile over a 35 in terms of steering characteristics. I don't mind the bit of flex in the sidewall, they also "give" more predictably and I found that you could take them past the limits of adhesion with a bit more confidence as they dont'just suddenly grip and snap back the other way like 225/35's and 235/35's.

Pet fave size for a vr4 (or gsr for that matter) would be 205 or 215 50

 

[mattrat]

put my 15's back on my vr4 after having only driven it with 18's and it felt like i would turn about 1 second after i turned the sterring wheel, but after i got used to it i did feel the 15's (215/50) were alot more predictable when they were gunna break loose as opposed to the 225/35 on the 18"

 

[265T]

On my VR4 I have Kumho Ecsta SPT 195/50/15's on OZ's for everyday driving & the odd hills run, very impressed with how they handle in the wet & dry - plenty of grip & very predictable :thumbsup:

 

[milkandoj]

I could imagine 18's being a bit too big but im quite happy with my 17's, and tires arnt too stupidly expensive at this size.

I had the stock 15's with some no name tires on when i bought the car. Then fitted 17's with maxis ma-v1's (cheap for a 17, $190 a pop). they are 235/35

What i noticed is the 15's my car would under steer at less speed but was quite predicatable. Seemed to roll on the outer edge more so id think its that roll to the outer edge that is breaking traction, so it'd slip easyer and not be as savage.

They were a cheap 15" tire though, so other may have better sidewalls.

With the 17's it grips better and the car twitches or the back will skip around a little before it breaks traction. Or if i throw it in hard the car will slide but i wouldnt call it too savage as it breaks.

But this could also be because of my hard suspension, but the car sits pretty flat through corners. So i feel bit more twitchyness thorugh bumpy corners, i put this down to less sidewall.

Basicly i think they grip better. AND a larger rim will make you vr4 look better!

 

[rob323]

Sidewall flex has nothing to do with tyre grip, if it did, Formula One would be running low profile tyres.
I am always amazed at how soft most sidewalls are on semislicks when compared to my rally tyres yet I have never had cause to complain about sidewall flex when actually driving the car.
Different brands/ models of tyres will have far more of an effect on outright grip than tyre profiles will.
A 15" rim and tyre will nearly always be lighter than 17" rim and tyre or the same width.:thumbsup:
Quality 15" tyres will be cheaper than 16" tyres.