205/45/16, 205/50/16 or any suggestions of sizes?

[FiestaST27]

Hi everyone!

I just purchased a set of Konig Dekagrams (Bronze) 16x8; and I need help with the best set of tires to go along with them. I’m going down from stock size (tire/wheel). I’m currently on Swift Spec-R lowering springs and would love some advice from all of you lovely people. I was looking to get the Advan Fleva V701 which are available in 205/45/16 but I’ve also heard good things about the Firehawks Indy 500, which are also available in that size, and also 205/50/16. Maybe even the ECS in the 205/45/16 as well. As you can tell, I have no idea what I’m doing but I have an idea of what I’m looking for in a tire. I’m looking for a good/great daily driving set of tires that I can drive with all year-round, not hydroplane in the wet times of the year, do the spirited driving and canyon runs, as well. I’m definitely open to suggestions, and thank you for your time!

I’m located in Orange County, SoCal. So I’d assume Summer/UHP tires, would be ideal! Again, thank you!

 

[Brianmc27]

I used Federal Evoluzion ST-1s when I had my Dekagrams in 215/45r16.

Besides having a slightly soft sidewall I think they were great. I used them all year up here in Sacramento. Excellent grip and cheap AF.

I’d recommend going 215 series. 205s look awfully stretched on 8” wheels. I’ve seen the Firehawks on an 8” wheel and it was more than I’d be comfortable with.

You would probably be able to get away with the Falken Azenis 615s down there, as well

 

[Jabbit]

Indy 500s seem to be popular around here. I went with re71r but those are on the way out.

 

[M-Sport fan]

I used Federal Evoluzion ST-1s when I had my Dekagrams in 215/45r16.

Besides having a slightly soft sidewall I think they were great. I used them all year up here in Sacramento. Excellent grip and cheap AF.

I’d recommend going 215 series. 205s look awfully stretched on 8” wheels. I’ve seen the Firehawks on an 8” wheel and it was more than I’d be comfortable with.

You would probably be able to get away with the Falken Azenis 615s down there, as well

^^^Yes, agreed. IF I had the choice to go summer, and NOT all season on a daily driver set of Dekagrams, I would also go to a 215/45-16, which is STILL lower overall diameter than any of the 205/50-16s (like the Neo Gens I have on mine), so much less chance of rubbing on a lowered (even slightly) ride.

 

[Brianmc27]

^^^Yes, agreed. IF I had the choice to go summer, and NOT all season on a daily driver set of Dekagrams, I would also go to a 215/45-16, which is STILL lower overall diameter than any of the 205/50-16s (like the Neo Gens I have on mine), so much less chance of rubbing on a lowered (even slightly) ride.

Yep, the 215/45r16s are slightly taller than the OE 205/40r17 and slightly shorter than 205/50r16.

 

[FiestaST27]

Thank you all for your suggestions! Getting them installed on Thursday and I needed to decide on the size of tire and which tire, in general, that I’d be wrapping these bad boys up!

 

[MattM]

Thank you all for your suggestions! Getting them installed on Thursday and I needed to decide on the size of tire and which tire, in general, that I’d be wrapping these bad boys up!

I run the Yokohama’s you mentioned in the original post in 205/45/16 and I like them quite a bit

 

[FiestaST27]

I run the Yokohama’s you mentioned in the original post in 205/45/16 and I like them quite a bit

Oh nice! Do you have them wrapped on Dekagrams as well or another 8” rim? Does it seem too stretched?

 

[Dpro]

I used Federal Evoluzion ST-1s when I had my Dekagrams in 215/45r16.

Besides having a slightly soft sidewall I think they were great. I used them all year up here in Sacramento. Excellent grip and cheap AF.

I’d recommend going 215 series. 205s look awfully stretched on 8” wheels. I’ve seen the Firehawks on an 8” wheel and it was more than I’d be comfortable with.

You would probably be able to get away with the Falken Azenis 615s down there, as well

Actually a Feddy in 205/45 does not look stretched at all as Federals run real wide. I have 205/45 RS Pro’s on my Dekagrams and I get compliments all the time people do not even realize they are 205’s.

 

[Jabbit]

Just to clarify my original post, I have 205/45-16 re71r on a 16x8 rfp1 and I regret it already. It looks too stretched to my liking. I'll burn through them quick though and probably go 225 with modified fenders/liners.

 

[Brianmc27]

Just to clarify my original post, I have 205/45-16 re71r on a 16x8 rfp1 and I regret it already. It looks too stretched to my liking. I'll burn through them quick though and probably go 225 with modified fenders/liners.

The Falken Azenis 660 can be had in 215s. You shouldn’t have to modify going that route.

 

[MattM]

Oh nice! Do you have them wrapped on Dekagrams as well or another 8” rim? Does it seem too stretched?

They actually are on dekagrams. I have some pics somewhere on here. Go look at my brembo swap thread and you’ll see some there. I can try to get more when I get home from work too

 

[FiestaST27]

The Falken Azenis 660 can be had in 215s. You shouldn’t have to modify going that route.

I saw that the Accelera Phi R are available in 215/45/16 as well. I don’t really see anyone rocking them though... I saw one FiST featured on Fitment Industries with a set on. It looks like it sits very well.

 

[FiestaST27]

They actually are on dekagrams. I have some pics somewhere on here. Go look at my brembo swap thread and you’ll see some there. I can try to get more when I get home from work too

I’ll definitely take a look of that thread! Thank you!

Edit: I just checked out your thread; awesome brake work! And those Fleva(s) look good on this Dekagrams! I’m surprised I don’t see others with them. I see a lot of good reviews online

 

[Brianmc27]

I saw that the Accelera Phi R are available in 215/45/16 as well. I don’t really see anyone rocking them though... I saw one FiST featured on Fitment Industries with a set on. It looks like it sits very well.

I saw those too. Those are all seasons - I think in SoCal you’d be better served to avoid those and get summer tires. In that price range the Federal ST-1s would be a far better performer.

 

[FiestaST27]

I saw those too. Those are all seasons - I think in SoCal you’d be better served to avoid those and get summer tires. In that price range the Federal ST-1s would be a far better performer.

You’re right! And I was looking up the ST-1, I can’t find anywhere with the 215/45/16 in stock. I wonder if they’re killing that size. 😓

 

[FiestaST27]

Actually a Feddy in 205/45 does not look stretched at all as Federals run real wide. I have 205/45 RS Pro’s on my Dekagrams and I get compliments all the time people do not even realize they are 205’s.

Nice! Then I can assume that the ST-1s run wide too! Because I can’t find the 215/45/16 available anywhere but the 205/45/16 are in stock, on most sites I’ve searched!

 

[Brianmc27]

You’re right! And I was looking up the ST-1, I can’t find anywhere with the 215/45/16 in stock. I wonder if they’re killing that size. 😓

Bummer! Well if you want to step up in price I’d Recommend the Falken Azenis RT615k. They’re still decently priced, but will perform better than the Federals with a caveat of wearing out a bit quicker.

These would have been my next tires if I kept the wheels.

https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ireModel=Azenis+RT615K+&partnum=145WR6RT615KP

 

[FiestaST27]

Bummer! Well if you want to step up in price I’d Recommend the Falken Azenis RT615k. They’re still decently priced, but will perform better than the Federals with a caveat of wearing out a bit quicker.

These would have been my next tires if I kept the wheels.

https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Falken&tireModel=Azenis+RT615K+&partnum=145WR6RT615KP

Ah thank you for the recommendation! I’m gonna check them out now!

 

[Dpro]

Bummer! Well if you want to step up in price I’d Recommend the Falken Azenis RT615k. They’re still decently priced, but will perform better than the Federals with a caveat of wearing out a bit quicker.

These would have been my next tires if I kept the wheels.

https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Falken&tireModel=Azenis+RT615K+&partnum=145WR6RT615KP

Ah no my RS Pro’s will out perform 615’s lol . In Fact RSR‘s will out perform 615’s. You are comparing Apples to Oranges the ST1 is not in the same class as the the 615’ . The 615 was Falkens old Ultra High Performance tire. While its still available the 660 actually is the replacement and its a much stickier tire than the 615.

Lets get this right here people you cannot compare lower line all season or product lines high performance tires to Ultra High Performance tires. The Falken RT615k was formerly Falkens Ultra High Performance tire.

I should also high and this had been said on this forum before you need to stop reading numbers on the tire sidewall. You should start looking and contact patch widths and tread widths to get a better idea of how wide the tire is on your rim.

Though are set numbers on the side that companies all agree to put on when it comes to manufacturing some companies run narrow some run wide. For instance Bridgestone’s tend to run narrow. So the contact patch and tread width is not going to be as wide as say any of the Federals. In fact Federals run so wide that a 205 is pretty much a 215. Hell my friends 245’s look like 275’s on his 240sx.

This is not so much a prop for Feddy‘s as it a reality check for a lot of the posters in this thread start reading tread width , contact patch, etc... of tires you are looking at . You can find them they are out there. I know I did and its why I put 206/45 Feddys on my Dekagrams.
On and just so you know Falkens run a little wide too not as wide as Feddys but wider than Bridgestone‘s.
Friend put RT615K‘s on his dekagrams in 215/45 and had switch from lowering springs to coil overs due to rubbing aka had to readjust height.
Its why you always look at the details rather than just reading sidewall numbers.