From 205/55R16 to 225/50R16, will acceleration suk

[IsaacHayes]

If I go from 205 to 225 width, will my acceleration drop a lot?

Say the tire is only 1-2 more lbs, would that be a noticeable hit in straight line performance?

Does anyone have 1st hand experience?

[SappySE107]

If you have traction issues, you will make up for the weight with the wider tires. If you increase the diameter, then you will notice less acceleration but a higher top speed. 1-2 pounds alone might be slightly noticable but I dont remember when I went from 15s to 16s to really say. Handling improvement was the biggest thing I noticed.

[IsaacHayes]

Traction issues aren't really there. I can burn out if I want, but I can launch without doing so no problem. Burn outs are a no-no for the 4t60-e anyways.

Diameter will be the same from 205/55 to 225/50. 16x7" Z26 wheel. As it is with 205's the rim sticks out farther than the tire, but does feel like I'm riding on rails since there is absolutely NO sidewall flex. You can jerk the wheel back and forth and the car doesn't wiggle/sway/flex at all. It's like a go-cart feeling. This makes it very easy to throw the car into corners with a predictable feel and know when you are on the verge of loosing traction.

I'm interested in 225's since they are just as cheap, look nicer, and corner better. However, I want to make sure there are no...

Possible Cons:
1) Sidewall might flex more since it's not stretched as much as 205's on the rim. Might loose the go-cart steering feel.
2) Acceleration loss. I don't want to be slower!

Just trying to see if it is a big issue or not. I love that go-cart feeling and I'd hate to loose it or be slower... But 225's are very seductive.

[PCGUY112887]

I put 5 spokes with 225's on my sedan, their great, you don't really notice any speed difference but you do feel safer on the highway knowing you have more rubber on the ground.

With my 205's I could pull out of a parking lot and be burning the tires the whole time without really trying... with 225's it's hard to break lose.

Plus they look MUCH better! I love how 5 spokes stick out on a sedan (physically stick out, makes em look much wider since there is no extra body cladding like the coupes have).

[IsaacHayes]

PCGUY, is this on the same wheels as the 205's were on?

Yeah more rubber=better braking. And handling but with 205's I could do some scary turns already.

[PCGUY112887]

Ohh this is on the same wheel, I guess it makes since now then.

If your runnin on steelies or anything else made for a 205 tire, then I would def not do that, would make your tires look massively bubbled and you would probably roll your bead in a hard turn.

[IsaacHayes]

See post #3. 205/55R16 are stretched to the max, the rim sticks out more than the tire. 225/50R16 would be perfectly safe. That is not the issue. BMW runs 225/50R16 on 16"x7" wide wheels from the factory, so there is no cause for concern there.


Was your 205 to 225 upgrade using the same wheels?

[PCGUY112887]

No I went from 15" steelies to 5 spokes off a GP sedan.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.