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Just got a call from tire rack. They won't mount a 205/50 tire on an 8" wheel. Probably common knowledge, but thought I'd pass it along. Factor in mounting & balancing cost into your budget if you go that route.
While I can't speak to what they do if you order a wheel tire combo from them, it is highly dependent on who mounts the tires for you. When I went to Tire Rack in South Bend to get some 225's mounted on a 15X9, the kid doing the work was a drifter with an S14, and would have done whatever I wanted because he thought by car & wheels/tires were cool, and he has a dumb hobby. Supposedly the 225 on a 9 inch wheel is outside their guidelines. I also thought you could convince them they were track wheels only?
Just got a call from tire rack. They won't mount a 205/50 tire on an 8" wheel. Probably common knowledge, but thought I'd pass it along. Factor in mounting & balancing cost into your budget if you go that route.
SOP for TR is to only mount on wheels that fit the manufacturer's recs...which are industry standard per tire size, not per tire model. This avoids liability/warranty issues.
Just talked to one of my contacts at TR...here's the secret handshake:
We will mount it, with a warning note on the invoice. Rudy or Luke can handle this with no etc drama.
The key phrase is “This is my track only set-up……”
If the order was placed online, they will automatically get a call back to discuss.
I send all of my sales through Luke and Rudy. Both great guys...and Luke is a racer himself.
Going the other direction in tire width, do you guys think the Contis would work well on a 6" wheel? Normally I'd get 195s and move on with life, but if the Contis prove to be as good as what some are suggesting, I wonder if it might be worth it to go a bit noodlier to have a better street tire. I'm not in the mood to spend the moneys on wider wheels at this time, especially since I haven't hit the track in a couple of seasons now.
Ironic that this "bad idea" would be completely within tire shops' recommendations, while a 205 on an 8" isn't.
In my case I'm comparing to the BFG Comp2, which is available in 195, and near as I can tell is one of the better choices for a daily tire that still satisfies for spirited driving - back roads and the occasional light lapping session. By "worth it," I wonder if any additional grip (both wet and dry), longevity (both mileage and age), and bump compliance in the Contis would offset any loss in response resulting from going to a 205 tire on a 6" wheel.
I've been happy with the Comp 2, with dry grip being sufficient for my driving level and spring stiffness (318/233). The biggest problem is that they've flat-spotted from sitting despite keeping them at pressure, a hazard that I understand comes with UHPs. Things that would sell me on the Contis compared to getting another set of Comp2s: better wet grip especially in the cold, better road manners (quieter, more comfortable), and if there's more dry grip and/or more predictability near the limit, those would be selling points, too.
In my case I'm comparing to the BFG Comp2, which is available in 195, and near as I can tell is one of the better choices for a daily tire that still satisfies for spirited driving - back roads and the occasional light lapping session. By "worth it," I wonder if any additional grip (both wet and dry), longevity (both mileage and age), and bump compliance in the Contis would offset any loss in response resulting from going to a 205 tire on a 6" wheel.
I've been happy with the Comp 2, with dry grip being sufficient for my driving level and spring stiffness (318/233). The biggest problem is that they've flat-spotted from sitting despite keeping them at pressure, a hazard that I understand comes with UHPs. Things that would sell me on the Contis compared to getting another set of Comp2s: better wet grip especially in the cold, better road manners (quieter, more comfortable), and if there's more dry grip and/or more predictability near the limit, those would be selling points, too.
No doubt a new set of 205 Conti Sports will offer better wet and dry performance than your old set of Comp2's.
As for new vs new, in your situation I would not let the larger size affect the decision. While not optimal, a 6" rim is well within the manufacturer's rec rim range of the 205. The only other factor to consider is the OD of the tire will affect gearing/speedo a little bit.
I currently have the Sport Comp 2s on my car. I had them on 15x7" wheels, and then I swapped them onto my current 15x8" FFDs about 6-12 months later. They're about 3-3.5 years old now, and they're getting very loud. lol
As a DD tire, they've been great. Lots of grip wet and dry. Very forgiving when you break them loose. The BFGs also run a bit wide, so you're probably not looking at too much of a difference between their 195 and another manufacturer's 205.
But I will definitely be getting the Continentals in a 205/50 as my next daily tire. You can rotate them all around, instead of front to back, they should be quieter than the Comp2s, and the 205/50 size is closer to the factory overall wheel diameter. I also like the fact that I won't feel like I'm wasting as much money on a set of 200 treadwear tires, heat cycling all of the grip out of them on my daily commute before I can even get to a track day, and having to replace them in a year.
I got my wheels and tires today. Every one of the wheels has paint loss on either the inside/outside or both lips. It looks like it was caused by vibration against the styrofoam packaging. I've never had to return anything to Tire Rack. Hopefully this goes smoothly.
02-16-2017, 03:44 PM
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