Opinions: 225/50r16 on Stock Rims?

[TheGreenDragon]

Hey guys, I feel fairly confident in this area, but would love to hear from someone who has actually done this.

Stock 16" tire size on our cars is 205/55r16. I get mixed results if stock rims are 6" or 6.5" wide. My research indicates that the widest tire I can fit on stock 16" wheels is 225/50r16 which will be the closest fit to the stock tire circumference.

1. Who here has these tires fitted?

2. What benefits did you notice from the wider tires?

3. Would there be any reason to go with a 215 over a 225 in terms of weather driving such as snow/ice/rain/mud?

I'm going tire shoppjng later this week and want all the extra info I can get. Thanks for the help.

 

[Smarjason]

Stock wheels are 6.5”. Only the base model steelies are 6”. A 225/50 on a 6.5 is WAY too big. You’d be ruining the performance rather than benefiting from going wider. Around corners would be horrifying with so much sidewall and your tread pattern would ware unequally. 6.5” is 165mm. A 225 is 225mm. And with an aspect ratio of 50mm, that’s a thick tire for that rim man. I’d stick with your 205, or go with a wider wheel for a wider tire. You’re gonna get better handling with a higher quality 205 than going bigger.


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[shibbs]

Looks like you should be fine on most tires to fit a 225/50/16.

I looked at the General G-MAX because it was on the top of the TireRack Wholesale list. lol

Minimum rim width is listed at 6 inches, so you're golden.

Obviously be sure to check your exact tire you're going with.

 

[TheGreenDragon]

A 225/50 on a 6.5 is WAY too big.... Around corners would be horrifying with so much sidewall and your tread pattern would ware unequally. 6.5” is 165mm. A 225 is 225mm. And with an aspect ratio of 50mm, that’s a thick tire for that rim man.

Even with confirmation bias, I don't see how your example makes sense. The stock tire has a side profile of 55 which is taller than the tire I'm considering which has a side profile of 50. Unless I'm mistaken, a smaller sidewall profile = less deformation around corners and a stiffer ride.

As far as the tread pattern wear is concerned, if I was trying to cram a 245 on a 6.5" rim I could see the concern, yet most online tire sites seem to suggest that a 225 should fit on a 6" rim at minimum. When looking at the converted numbers, that is a 225mm wide tire on a 152.4mm wide rim. Since I have alloy wheels and not steelies, my rim width goes up to 165.1mm.

That seems like it should fit just fine, unless there is something major I'm missing?

Again if there is anyone who has this size tire on a 16" rim, please let me know.

 

[Smarjason]

Yes, the stock tire has a larger aspect ratio, but the section is smaller. Here’s what I’m trying to say, yes, you can run even up to a 245 on a 6” rim, but you would lose all benefits that come with a wider tire. With a 50% aspect ratio on a 225 on a 6” rim, you’re going to have a super narrow pan width with a wide cross section. So basically, your tire is going to have too much give or flex when hitting bumps and taking corners. This makes for a less responsive tire and worse handling. It’s too thick of a tire for that size of a rim. Not only this, but because of the smaller pan width and winter temperatures, you run the risk of losing excess tire pressure.

Most companies “recommend” at least a 7” rim to safely run a 225 because of the reasons mentioned. Yes, you can run a wide tire on that rim, but will not have benefits. Stock tires are skinny for a reason, not just to save costs.


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[The Champ]

Yes, the stock tire has a larger aspect ratio, but the section is smaller. Here’s what I’m trying to say, yes, you can run even up to a 245 on a 6” rim, but you would lose all benefits that come with a wider tire. With a 50% aspect ratio on a 225 on a 6” rim, you’re going to have a super narrow pan width with a wide cross section. So basically, your tire is going to have too much give or flex when hitting bumps and taking corners. This makes for a less responsive tire and worse handling. It’s too thick of a tire for that size of a rim. Not only this, but because of the smaller pan width and winter temperatures, you run the risk of losing excess tire pressure.

Most companies “recommend” at least a 7” rim to safely run a 225 because of the reasons mentioned. Yes, you can run a wide tire on that rim, but will not have benefits. Stock tires are skinny for a reason, not just to save costs.


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Late to the party on this one, but there is so much misinformation given here I had to jump in.

Hankook (OEM tire in most cases for the Sonic over the years), BFG, Continental, General, Michelin, Dunlop, Firestone, Pirelli, Yokohoma and Goodyear all spec a 6 - 8" rim for a 225/50/16. If the manufacturer's say a 6" is ok, then a 6.5 rim is more than wide enough to run a 225.

I've been running a 225/50/16 since October of 2014 in my '14 Sonic (replaced the OEM Hankooks at 2,000 miles).

The handling improved dramatically with the wider (but same tire height) Goodyear Eagle Sports vs the OE Hankooks. That only makes sense because of the lower profile and a wider contact patch.

As to running a 245/50/16 on a 6" rim - all the tire manufacturer's that I am aware of spec a minimum of a 7" rim for that tire size. No reputable tire shop would mount that size on a 6" rim.