RIAL's 15" with KUMO 205x50x15"

[MB DNA]

Joel,

Way to PIMP (said in jest for the politically correct) your ride! - It's beginning to look like a muscle car and looks great!

And how did you get your bumble bee to wink for the picture??

[Derek Bell]

When I saw that you went with the 205/50/15, I asked myself why I had gone with the (elsewhere suggested New wheels/tires have transformed the car) 195/50/15. I thought that I would only get a close approximation of the stock outside diameter with my set up.

So I went to the tire dimension calculator and I got this info:

Totals are in inches (195/50), (205/50), (Difference)
Sidewall Height: 3.84, 4.04, 0.2
Section Width: 7.68, 8.07, 0.39
Overall Diameter: 22.68, 23.07, 0.39
Circumference: 71.24, 72.48, 1.24
Revs per mile: 889.36, 874.18, -15.18

If your speedometer reads: 65 You're going approximately: 66.13

All of this seems perfectly acceptable, and coupled with the extra rubber on the road, likely more desirable.

Good work. I think I'll go with the 205's on the next tire change.

This thread should probably be cross posted over in the Smart Car Wheels & Tires - Smart Car of America Forums

[Dunerunner]

p1nball - Did you ever consider any other wheels? When you decided on the Rial wheels, which tire combinations did you consider before choosing the 205/50's and Why Kumo's?

[p1nball]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

p1nball - Did you ever consider any other wheels? When you decided on the Rial wheels, which tire combinations did you consider before choosing the 205/50's and Why Kumo's?

First off I have gone through this many times and on many different vehilcles. This one for some unknown reason, I really have grown fond of. Call me crazy!!! I trolled around all the Smart sites and looked what everyone was trying for wheels and tires. For the wheels, I was going for all black at first, but when I saw the RIAL's on the web sites, and on Smart that were upfitted at South Charlotte Smart. The RIAL's looked the best, but there was a problem!! The dealer only replaced the wheel not the tire!! The wheel looked good but using those DoughNut tire that came with the Smart, well not for me. It missed the POINT. I did see some folks going for 195'sx15" or 16"x45 or even 17". For me 16" would have been the most I would have gone for. It just hit me that a 205 wide tire would be the right proportion on the wheel for the car!! As for the KUMO's, to be honest
Their were three other choices:
1. Falken Ziex
2. BF Goodrich g-Force Sport
3. Yokohoma S Drive
4. Kumo Kumho Ecsta AST
For the money and all the personal reviews,even the weak,or the very poor, almost all liked it or loved it. But all stated that for the money you would have to pay much more to find a tire as good or better!! Also looked at the type of vechile that this tire was placed on. Also what that person wrote about it on that vehicle. Seem this was the choice to make! It works well, looks good and does all I want of it, at a value price point!!Hope this explains it to you all!! pinball

[Dunerunner]

Thanks Bro!! You gave it some thought and not the s*#t that looks cool, I'll buy that thing. This is alot of help.

[RussBarnes]

Originally Posted by Derek Bell

If your speedometer reads: 65 You're going approximately: 66.13

Derek, I went with 185/60-15 Michelins on stock wheels. They are also a larger diameter, nearly an inch as I recall. What I found after using my GPS and checking against the portable radar boards the cops set up is that now my speedometer reads absolutely correct. I agree that it should have made it read slow, but at least on mine with the stock tires it read really high and now it is correct. However, after numerous runs on the interstate over minimum tests of at least 20 miles, my odometer does reads low and therefore I have to multiply the miles times 1.056 to calculate the mpg accurately. Manufacturers have tolerances in both speedometers and odometers. On mine with the stock tires it appears they wanted it to look like I was going faster and getting better mpg - gee what a plan.

[SubSlr88]

P1nball -
Did you stay with the 15/5 for front and 15/6 for rears? Or did you go 15/6 all around for the wheels? Any offset problems?
Would like something along this line when my non-orphan order arrives.
Thanks!

[p1nball]

Originally Posted by SubSlr88

P1nball -
Did you stay with the 15/5 for front and 15/6 for rears? Or did you go 15/6 all around for the wheels? Any offset problems?
Would like something along this line when my non-orphan order arrives.
Thanks!

Did that so as to be able to rotate all the tires. I hate to be so positive on this MOD, but the handling, on the freeway is so greatly improved, with most, if not all that buffeting gone. The cornering is also impressive, with much better ride quality. Very happy with around performance of the wheels and tires.

p1nball

[Thumper]

I did the same set up and love it. Hyway ride is much better ( reduced buffeting from Semi- Trucks). Lost a little MPG, but just installed DT twin pipe and will try the new air fliter, so maybe I'll pick back up the lost MPG.

Which bring up the next question...anyone tried out adding any sound deading material aroung the engine ( inside the cab)...the new pipe is a bit louder than I was hopeing for. Not bad, but does have some drone to it.

[p1nball]

Originally Posted by Thumper

I did the same set up and love it. Hyway ride is much better ( reduced buffeting from Semi- Trucks). Lost a little MPG, but just installed DT twin pipe and will try the new air fliter, so maybe I'll pick back up the lost MPG.

Which bring up the next question...anyone tried out adding any sound deading material aroung the engine ( inside the cab)...the new pipe is a bit louder than I was hopeing for. Not bad, but does have some drone to it.

I have the original DTH, has drone, but did get some what used to it. The k@N filter did put some umph back in it. I was trolling through the treads and did find a post that had the web sites for sound deading material. It was from a member that really know his materials, and source. Sorry it was very late at nite and forgot to book mark it. If I find it I will get link on this post. From what was written these materials would help. Using a resonator or super trapp will only drop it 2 db at most!!! Hope this helps. p1nball