tire size issue
 

ok heres the tire issue. i currently have 225/45-17's on the car. i was thinking of getting a small width upgrade. i wanted 235/45-17's. the issue is. (i dont understand why) tire size calculator tells me i would be traveling slower at 60mph {with 235} than if i were using factory 225.

tire calculator said with 225/45-17 im doing 60mph. but with 235/45-17 i would be going 59.2 thats what i dont get. and it even got worse when i put in 245/45-17. it said i would be traveling 58.? mph. sound kinda backwards to me.

so is there a way to get wider with same rim size without loosing mph???

It all has to do with the crossection/profile ratio. I don't think there's enough of a profile range to not get a speedo error. Is under 2 mph really an issue for you? I'd be more worried arout rubbing with 245's. Don't know if that'd be the case on a 9-5 though.

Is 9-5 that much bigger than a 9-3??? I figured they were about the same size. but nope, its not that big of an issue. i wouldnt get 245 anyway. id get no wider than 235.

It's not so much the size, even though the 9-5 is bigger, it's about the rear suspension setup. The 9-5 has IRS and the 9-3 is a solid axle. The wheels don't "tuck in" on a 9-3.

ah, I see. so the Internal Revenue Service bothering my Independent Rear Suspension also. cost me money either way it go. But anywho. I wonder what that size would look like. too bad i dont see anyone wearing that size on any pics.

Is there a particular reason you want to go wider? You do know the wider you go the more it starts affecting gas milage.

I wanted a wider foot print. I figured a little more width would give me a tighter feel.

But no I didnt know it would give me less fuel econ. Thats 1 of the reasons i checked the speed/tire calculator.

It's a wider contact patch which = more friction. It's also going to have a couple of minor, but annoying handling effects. At least to me they are annoying. If you're not doing any racing with the car I really don't see a reason to go wider. Just get some good summer tires. I'm running Dunlop Direzza Z1 right now and couldn't be happier. They're very stiff at the sidewall and feel good overall...but the sacrifice is road noise.

also like the look. u know how your behind another car and u see the tires looking thin? well i like the wider look. and oh yeah. i no what u mean about the annoying handling effects. wouldn't feel as stable. that's something to think about. hmmmmm. now im having 2nd thoughts

Unless you have a RWD car, I'd stick with the standard size 225. The difference between 225 and 235 will be negligible on a 95 unless you have a much tighter tuned suspension. And the visual appeal of a 235 vs 225 really isn't that much of a difference. A large staggered setup like something found on a Porsche is where you notice the big track width.

If you want the tighter feel, my suggestion would be to get something with stiffer sidewalls, and more agressive compound rubber. This will make much more difference than 10mm wider tread. Just remember that more agressive tires generally cost more, wear out faster, and don't handle as well on wet surfaces. Forget trying to drive on snow. If you really REALLY want to go this route, a set of steelies with winter tires, and your OEM wheels with the summers is the way to go. The more expensive option would be to put the winters on your OEM and buy a set of fancy aftermarkets.

BTW, Roto- I got the Direzza Z1 Star Specs on my (other) car too. GREAT TIRES!

Amen to that! Trust me, I tried... RE01Rs = not even an inch of going anywhere. Direzzas - 15' of going sideways in a perfectly straight road. Really, if you do go to summers don't ever take them out in snow, you will regret it at the very least and can get seriously hurt...


P.S. what's the other car? :rolleyes:

nah, no what,... this will b the 1st un modified car ive owned. Im gonna leave it alone. maybe alittle audio. thats about it

Yeah, that's what I said when I bought my 9-3 3 years ago...

I also said that about 5 years ago when I bought my first sports car. Now, I've done wheels, brakes, interior, exhaust, front sway bar, and a few misc things in the engine bay. When I stopped driving that in the winter and could afford a "beater" I bought a wagon as a fun utility vehicle that would be the workhorse for other fun activities like hauling kayaks and taking it on climbing trips. Since that wagon got smashed by a deer (thank God), I bought the Saab. Now the itch to "tweek" that has gotten under my skin. :D

My "other" car with the Direzzas is an '03 Honda S2000. Totally different animal than the Saab. Not a riced-out POS either. I have General Exclaim UHPs on the Saab, and a set of Blizzak WS-60s on steelies for winter use. The car came with Fuzzion ZR1s and they pissed me off to a level I have never experienced with tires before.

Mr. Smith, before you know it, you'll be sporting some Volks, (not sure what model Saab you have) if you have the turbo motor, you'll have a better turbo unit and waste gate, nice exhaust, and then you'll take it autoXing!

Im in a 01' 9-5 Aero. from what im told, i really shouldnt upgrade the turbo in it, ppl say the engine couldnt handle much more. dont need to anyway.

but what I (DO)! want to do is lower it about an inch. just to rid fender gap. how about that?? who sells lowering springs for the Aero model?

Hey Mountain. u have any pics of your NOW Saab?

There's ways to make that engine handle more boost, but that just gets more expensive. What you might want to do is reflash it to stage 1, which has no hardware requirements and adds a nice 30 hp to it. I actually don't know of any suspension kits for the 01 9-5 aero, but that's because the stock is pretty damn good in that car.

Fender gap? I hardly have any on mine, the '03 I know it comes lowered from the factory.

And here's a couple pics of it. :)

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makes me want to buy a kayak..

LOL! Whitewater is the way to go! It's like racing the roaring river and one hell of a rush. Those aren't WW yakers, but we use 'em for that anyway.

I'll be loading up three again this weekend.

nice ride there mr mountain. Im gonna go and take some pics and post them sometime this weekend. weather to hot and raining this week.