Tire Width
 

need new tires for my 2000 chevy prizm. wondering what opinions i might get on tire width.

presently there are 195/65/14s on the car. def gonna go smaller, just how small(narrow) is the question. this base model comes w/175/65s, but the LSi version gets 185/65s.

noticed w/ other makes in the same catagory(4 door compact) that both 175 and 185 widths are offered depending on the manufacturer or trim. so what do you think?

i have read some of the archives on the subject, but certainly different applications apply...

my driving is mostly hwy, so kinda leaning towards 185. price is not an issue as the 185s are $1 more per tire. your thoughts?

Well, your aspect ratio is staying the same. That's going to change your final drive ratio.

A narrower tire will reduce your contact patch, which might increase FE, with the same aspect ratio, your speedo will read differently in addition to giving you different readings for your miles covered.

Here's a tire calculator

Yeah, you'll end up with a shorter tire and more RPM on the highway like that so overall I'd think it would hurt FE. You probably need a 175/70 or something.

with the tire calculator, it looks as tho if i do not go with the stock 175/65/14, then 185/60/14 is very close to org specs if i choose to go that wide.

so should i go original, or 185/60? i do not think going taller than org tire is something i will do.

BTW, 185/60/14s are $5 less per tire:)

thanks SD26!

Hey, glad it helped.

If you're looking for economy, why not look for a narrower, larger aspect ratio tire? Maybe that's even less expensive? :thumbup:

A 165/70 would be a similar diameter, and resulting circumference, to the OEM 175/65.