[cacasesi]

The previous owner of my 93T had 225's on all four wheels. Toyo FZ4's I believe. I got a hole in the sidewall on the passenger side rear. So that tire is dead. I need to replace it. With the 225's all around, the handling is loose to say the least. I want less oversteer, so I'm planning on putting one of the front 225's out back (to replace the tire with a punctured sidewall) and replace the 225's up front. So, should I go 195 or 205? I hear the car is a bit pushy with the 195's on it? How true is that? Are 205's a better option?

Should I consider ditching the whole set of FZ4's and pick up something better? The MR2 is not daily driven, and will probably see around 5000 miles a year in mostly pleasant weather, with an occasional autox. Help? Thanks

 

[jeebert2]

I would go with summer only tires, based on your description. The Toyo T1-S are much stickier in the dry than the FZ4s. I've had both on my 2. They ordered the wrong tires when I wanted the T1-S so I drove them around for couple of weeks and returned them. I would go with the T1-S or some other similar tire.

As far as 205/50/15 vs 195/55/15, you will be fine with either, but there are many more tire choices in the 205. I currently have the 205 fronts with the stock rear sizes in a Bridgestone PP S-03. They are fantastic tires.

John
93T, 88 SC

 

[cacasesi]

Yeah, I have the BSP SO2's on my S2000 and they are the greatest factory tire I've ever driven on. I'm tempted to plunk down the cash for SO3's on the MR2, but I think I'm going to owe the government some money this year.

 

[cacasesi]

Any other recommendations? How badly will the car push on 195's up front?

 

[Variance]

Stock up front is 195 55 15. Which is what I have. I don't find it 'pushy'. But you might want to clarify what you mean.

 

[Kupop]

I have 205/50/15 Bridgestone Potenza S03's on the front of my car and I love them. I wouldn't consider a 195.

The rears were both worn when I got the car (they were 225/50 S03's) so since I didn't have the cash or know how long I'd keep these rims I went with ES100's.

 

[cacasesi]

By pushy I mean the car will tend to understeer... the front tires give up traction before the rears while cornering.

 

[GoBlueTwo]

really depends on the tire. all else being equal, a 205 will have less sidewall flex and greater contact area than a 195. but if you get a tire with sticky compound and stiff sidewall, the differences between the 2 should be minimal and you can probably base your decision on price/availability. jmho

 

[cacasesi]

I'm considering a full set of S-03's, 195F/225R. The 195's are on sale at tirerack. It would save ~$80 compared with the 205's.

I'm like the price/performance on the ES100's also...

 

[Variance]

haha I oversteer like crazy you should see me on AutoX

I don't like to bulge my tires, but thats just me.

 

[Conor]

I drove for awhile on 195/55/15 front with 225/50/15 rear... (among other various wheel and tire sizes), and as far as the street goes, I found the car to behave much nicer on a 205/50/15 // 225/50/15 stagger. It's a comfortable and inexpensive combo, in my opinion. Mk.II MR2s should not have the same size wheels/tires front and rear, if we're going to go along with the factory recommendations..

A set of ES100s in those sizes (2F, 2R) ran me $350 shipped to my door off of Tire Rack.