widest tire size on stock RS 14" alloys

[Empire932]

Hello, i did search and found
stock 15's and aftermarket.

but i need new tires and i have the stock RS 14" alloys.
My suspension includes H&R lowering springs, and zx2 S/R struts

Thank you for your time
-Matt

[Whisper]

205 is reasonable.

[Empire932]

Thank you for the response
205/55?
Also does anyone know the width of the rs 14" alloy?

[onlytrueromeo]

205 seems a bit wide for the stock 14's...aren't they only 5.5 inches wide? I would think you wouldn't want to go more than 195...I'm running 195 on my 7in wide rims, to stiffen up the sidewall.

[Empire932]

Im not sure the exact width, i plan on getting the tires off soon and measuring them.

i know it will be 195 or 205..i belive the minimum tire width for 205/60/14 is 5.5
but im checking that now

[onlytrueromeo]

I would go with the thinner tire. You will get better gas mileage and if you are pushing the limits of max tire size, you will handle better w/ a thinner tire (stiffer sidewall).

[Empire932]

im not worried about gas milage. But how would i thinner tire mean a stiffer sidewall.
a wider tire would have more of a contact patch, right?

[onlytrueromeo]

Wider tires will have wider contact patch with the road, however, if the tire is too wide it will "bubble" out, making your tires seem like they are not inflated enough. Going with a smaller tire will stiffen your sidewall somewhat because it is stretching your tire to fit the rim, rather than the tire being too large for the rim. With too wide a tire, you won't use the tread on the outside as it will be bubbled over.

[Whisper]

He asked for the widest size, so I gave 205, but yeah, 195 is optimal.