Tire size...

[NoCones]

I know it's been alluded to many times in this forum, but I'd like to see the full arguments laid out for 205s vs. 225s. I've spent the last year on 225s and can't really complain. However, I'm starting to think that 205s may be better. Who favors what size and why?

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Bryan
Absolutely Red '00 GT-S
-Koni Sports
-K&N
-Custom alignment
-Kumho V700's on 15" GT alloys on select weekends

[autxr]

We really need to see a head to head comparison to know for sure. I was going to get 205/50-15 this time around, but the shop already had the new 225/45 Kuhmo's in stock...

Anyhow:
205/50-15
Pros:
lighter
better turn in? (more vertical sidewall, makes the tire a bit stiffer)
Heats up faster
Better gearing (this is somewhat course dependant, better acceration at the expense of less top speed per gear).
Potentially a better contact patch

Cons:
Heats up faster (can it hold up to a hot VA day?)
Many of the other things mentioned

You would make similar arguments with the others.

225/45-15 gives the gearing advantage with the wider tire.

The best tire will be the smallest you can run without overloading it. Of course, if you are pushing too hard, you just go slower and quit overloading it.

Hard to say.

Maybe Aaron will buy a set of the 205/50-15 Kuhmo's (new ones) so we can compare head to head.

I'd like to know the answer as well.

Scott

[nxracer]

CelicaRZ please do

This thread is for 205 vs 225

[pitcrew]

Driver is starting off with E700's in the 205 15 size simply because we were offered the used set that was shown to SCCA for type approval and briefly track tested. We jumped at the offer since at the time no one was sure when the full stock would arrive in country, and we didn't want to buy a set of V700's in the meantime.

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NO, I'm not the driver, SHE's the driver, I'm just the pitcrew!
99 Miata BS->CS his
02 Celica GT ESL->GSL hers

[NoCones]

I'm leaning to 205. It's obvious I'm not using the full width of the 225s that I have. I like the advantages of more vertical/stiffer sidewall and of less weight (although I doubt that one is really noticeable). Generally, I think the gearing change will be and advantage. The only events where I ran out of 2nd gear were the NASA events, which are definitely (at least @ Petersburg) faster than SCCA events. I didn't run out of gear at Petersburg Pro or Peru Tour. Of course, I guess the "improved" gearing will also promote our favorite--wheelspin. Maybe the smaller tire and the Koni's will offset and leave me with my current level of wheelspin.

Just finished a quick blast 7 miles up a mountain and 7 miles right back down. If the Konis work as well at 10/10ths autoxing as they do a 9/10ths on the street, it's going to be a fun event on Sunday...we'll see!

Do you guys think 205 is riskier with the Hoosier since they heat up so much quicker?

[Raymund]

I vote for 225s over 205s hands down. Specifically, the 225/45/15s that Scott had in mind.

Grip is a precious thing!!! Just remember next time when you are cornering at the limit and you have all that extra power on tap that otherwise could have been used if your car had higher lateral grip.

<FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Raymund on November 08, 2001 at 04:00 PM</font>

[autxr]

Technically if I am cornering at the limit, I will never be able to put any power down for forward acceleration.

I see the point though.

Scott

[Raymund]

my mistake.. if your tires are 100% commited into a turn, there is no room for acceleration or braking. Thanks for pointing that out.

Lets just say if you were running 205s and 90% were commited for turning and 10% were for accelieration. Assuming that the 90% on the 205s is the same speed as 85% on a set of 225s then 15%can be apllied for acceleration which equals greater speed.

But also, like any other car out there, there is a diminishing point on the maximum tire width that can be used. I just think 225s on the celica hasn't reached that point yet.

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mild manner daily driver/weekend track whore
pics&info about my Celica GT-S (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1378423&a=13918882)

<FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Raymund on November 08, 2001 at 05:08 PM</font>