Best tire sizes on Cetus wheels?

Post by **kcodyjr** » 01 Feb 2010, 11:41

15"x6.5" for those who don't have the list memorized. Factory size is 195/55R15, or so I've read.

Has anyone tried 215/50R15 on those wheels, 97 850 sedan?

I want a wider contact patch, but not the shorter sidewall.

TIA,
- Kevin

Post by **E Showell** » 01 Feb 2010, 12:08

I don't know about "best" but I've used 195 60 R15s for years with good results.

anmartin44 · Post by **anmartin44** » 01 Feb 2010, 12:24

stock size is 195/60/15.
i think you can to 205/55/15 or 205/60/15 but you might get some rubbing in the fender wells at full turn.

Post by **kcodyjr** » 01 Feb 2010, 12:47

Thanks for the responses.

I thought I'd remembered reading something about a change to the "factory" tire size, but maybe that was the turbo. OK, 195/60R15. That's what I've got on the NA wagon, same rims, and they feel just right.

The 97 GLT is a little too eager to spin 'em coming off the line, that's all. I was thinking a wider tire with a rain groove would address that.

Sounds like the best bet would be 205/55R15 to closely simulate the stock turbo size, with a slightly taller sidewall and smaller overall diameter. I don't know though, it might defeat the purpose.

I was hoping someone had tried 215 width, the outer diameter matches near perfectly at 215/55R15 vs 195/60R15. Failing that, are 205/60R15 known to rub?

I'd rather not go taller though; it feels like someone might have put some Bilsteins or something into it. It's a little harder on the bumps coming in and out of parking lots than the base model wagon, and I expected the GLT to be plusher, if anything.

RexSpeed · Post by **RexSpeed** » 01 Feb 2010, 13:37

If anything, the slightly smaller diameter will increase the likelihood of wheel spin. I have a similar complaint about my '97 GLT too but with fitment and cost of alternate tires being issues, I've just adapted my driving style to compensate.

As for comfort, check your tire pressures first. After taking my car in for any kind of service requiring the wheels to come off, I've found the shop to have jacked my pressures way too high. I tend to like mine in the 32-35 range depending on the season. Even at 32 it's a bit more harsh over the bumps than my Subaru Legacy is, but I've also got much newer shocks in the Volvo (KYB).

Post by **kcodyjr** » 01 Feb 2010, 14:24

So, it's down to 3 choices:

195/60R15 - stock size
205/60R15 - known good width but possibly too tall
215/55R15 - possibly too wide but known good height

I wonder if this is what my wife feels when she's berating brassiere manufacturers for not making half-sizes. Where's my 205/57.5R15??!!

If I don't hear from someone that's tried it by the time I go to buy tires, I'll just go for the most expensive 195/60R15 that I can afford, and maybe look for a different throttle cam to reduce its minimum takeoff grunt.

I wonder how many performance forums get someone saying that...

- Kevin