Funny thing at goodyear today.

[Blacker]

Time for some math!

.55x215 = 118.25 mm (this is the thickness of the tire)
.50x225 = 112.5 mm (ditto)

Difference of 5.75 mm
Both sidewalls: 11.5 mm = 0.45 in

So, your wheel and tire will be 0.45 in larger in diameter if you go with the 225/50

Close.....but backwards. The 215/55 has a larger diameter than the 225/50. You math shows that. Since the sidewall of the 225/50 is smaller, that will make the diameter smaller as well.

[cklinh]

dagnabbit!

In school, I never really paid attention to what was being asked in word problems, I just sorta made up my own answer as I went...

And to think, I'm a licensed engineer

[Blacker]

I think I am getting a better deal on the install because I am getting the tires through them instead of ordering from tirerack.

I didn't want to push them about the 215/55s because he called the warehouse they get Yokohamas from and they said they never heard of that size. He said 225/50s are pretty much "interchangable". He didn't say anything about it affecting the speedometer. Isn't it just a wider tread? That doesn't affect the diameter of the tire, does it?

Is there ever an easy answer?

Whenever you alter the diameter of the wheel/tire from the stock size, you will alter the speedometer calibration to a degree. Now, you can go with a 235/50R17 at that will be real close to the stock 215/55R17.

215/55R17 will have a 118.25mm sidewall
235/50R17 will have a 117.50mm sidewall

When changing the overall diameter of the tire:

Smaller will make the car slower than the speedometer is reading
Larger will make the car faster than the speedomter is reading

If you changed the tire size to 225/50R17, the speedometer will read 60mph and the car is actually travelling 58.96mph. If you changed the tire size to 235/50R17, the difference is less than 0.15mph. Again, not a big deal as long as you are aware of the effects tire sizes will have. Tire size also effects the odometer in the same way.

[slingshot]

My Goodyear Assurance TripleTread's 225/55/17's are very slightly larger in diameter but the difference in the speedometer is only 1mph. I drive 1mph faster than what the speedometer reads. No huge deal at all. An added benefit of the wider tread of 225 vs 215 is that there is less chance of curbage of the wheels since the tires extend out more protecting them.

[MikeATL]

Wow, thanks for all the help guys!

[MikeATL]

**update**

I got the Yokohama AVID V4s 225/50.

Two thumbs up for these tires. I recommend them if you don't live in an icy area.

[MrMikeL]

I have those tires in the OEM size on my '04, and I live in a snowy, icey area, and they are FAR BETTER than the Turanza crap that Toyota puts on there. You'll love these tires, though they are a bit noisey.

[MikeATL]

Haven't really noticed an increase in noise, but who knows. I'm happy.

It also looks like the car is sitting a little lower than it did with the stock tires. Might be an optical illusion because i finally washed it, but i'm happy either way.

[swindler]

This thread seemed to be the closest in answering my question.

My Gen 2 SLE has 215/55-17's. I imply from the thread that someone has put on 225/50-17's onto the same rim, and has not had a problem.

The issue with diameter was discussed with 235/50-17's, but I don't see where anyone has tried this size tire on stock rims.

Does anyone know if the 235/50-17's will fit on an existing Gen 2 SLE stock wheel with stock struts and springs? Or would that need a rim with a different offset?

Doing math, we're talking about an additional 10mm per side, or roughly 0.4 inches. From what I could see under the car, that looked too tight.

Any insight, please.

[CosmicGrooves]

I don' tknow if that is a compliment. Infinities are a poor man's Lexus in my opinion. Now if he mistook it for a lexus, that would be different. I'd rather have this Solara than any Infinity model.

I was gettin my oil changed today, so I parked my car right out front and went in to set everything up and give them my keys.

Next thing I know I look over and some mechanic is getting in my car (I haven't even finished the paperwork yet, and I still have the keys). The guy behind the counter runs out to tell the mechanic he has the wrong car, turns out he thought my car was an infinity! Not a bad compliment, huh?

The bad news is that I need new tires. They quoted me $999.19 total for Goodyear Eagle RS-A ($198.00 each) with the road hazard plan. Do you guys think I could buy tires (maybe Yokohama AVID V4S) off Tire Rack and have them installed at that Good Year? I like the shop because they deal with the company my mom works for and I get the "prefered discount" on oil changes and the such.

[Sap Z]

The best deal you are going to get on tires is at Discount tire..they match prices too - give them a shot - they carry all the tires ppl suggested above. I've used Yokohama HS4 myself..they r good but i wish i had gotten the Goodyr tripple treads.

[MikeATL]

I don' tknow if that is a compliment. Infinities are a poor man's Lexus in my opinion. Now if he mistook it for a lexus, that would be different. I'd rather have this Solara than any Infinity model.

I was gettin my oil changed today, so I parked my car right out front and went in to set everything up and give them my keys.

Next thing I know I look over and some mechanic is getting in my car (I haven't even finished the paperwork yet, and I still have the keys). The guy behind the counter runs out to tell the mechanic he has the wrong car, turns out he thought my car was an infinity! Not a bad compliment, huh?

The bad news is that I need new tires. They quoted me $999.19 total for Goodyear Eagle RS-A ($198.00 each) with the road hazard plan. Do you guys think I could buy tires (maybe Yokohama AVID V4S) off Tire Rack and have them installed at that Good Year? I like the shop because they deal with the company my mom works for and I get the "prefered discount" on oil changes and the such.

I think you are reading into it too much. It was some random oil change dude, he just mistook my car for a "luxury" brand, either way i thought it was pretty cool. I doubt he would mistake an accord for an acura, lexus, or infinity.

ps- i would rather have a g35 coupe than a solara. If a hard top convertible model comes out, its good bye solaraguy...