Never go back to OEM setup on tires

[klock55]

Yesterday the Tire Barn installed the 175/55s on the front on the original OEM wheels, this saved me from purchsing new wheels for the front. I drove around I-465 and down to Edinburg, I was pleasantly surprised the difference it makes in the way the car handles and rides. It seems to hold the road better then it did. I now have the two tires I took off the front and will use one for spare as soon as I get a wheel for it and sell the other tire.
If I can just get the engine noise down a little I will be a happy camper, maybe the wife will even ride in it LOL.

Ken

[Okiesmrt]

I don't know what the so called engineers were thinking when they put those pizza cutters up front. Maybe they did all the testing in deep snow?

[forestacademy]

And that brings me to my question, At this time of year, if your changing tires I would either be going for snows or keeping the narrow to help with the snow. Unless you think it won't show in Indi this year, then you made a safe choice.

[Jordon]

Seems a little dangerous to be putting a near 7 inch wide tire on a 4.5inch wide wheel. I am surprised a shop would do that, many shops will not put anything other than stock size on a stock wheel.

[klock55]

I will keep the smart at home if the snow gets too deep, but I don't think that a 1 in difference in tire width would make that much difference in most snows around Indy. I would think the wider foot print would be an advantage in driving on slick roads.
I have heard a lot about over steer and under steer to justify the OEM setup on tires on the smart, but I wonder if the smaller tires on the front, may also of had to do with the car not having power steering at one time?

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by klock55

... I have heard a lot about over steer and under steer to justify the OEM setup on tires on the smart, but I wonder if the smaller tires on the front, may also of had to do with the car not having power steering at one time?

Nope, just the result of a LOT of effort by M-B to make a safe handling car. Most smarts never had, nor do now, have power steering - an option only.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by klock55

If I can just get the engine noise down a little I will be a happy camper, maybe the wife will even ride in it LOL.

Ken

Hey, if the wife doesn't ride with you, you can always use it to pick up chicks!






.....that is if you don't value your life much.

[klock55]

Originally Posted by Jordon

Seems a little dangerous to be putting a near 7 inch wide tire on a 4.inch wide wheel. I am surprised a shop would do that, many shops will not put anything other than stock size on a stock wheel.

I read a few post where others had put the same size on the front OEM rims, the tire guys did not seem to have an issue with it.

[Old smart]

Taking a second look at the OP’s premise, I might comment again. Mounting a tire on a rim that has less width than specified by the tire manufacturer can lead to problems. No, you are not likely to actually “roll” a tire, but you can break the bead-seat at the very worst time – in a tight, fast turn. Added, a front tire width that is not specified as balancing the specified rears.

There is danger in amateur (automotive) engineering following “what’s in style.” This a case of going beyond really expert engineering (Continental’s/ M-B’s) in two cases – using a too-narrow rim, and a front tire not specified for use with the same size rears.

It reminds me of the OP’s avatar – a case of outside influence over-ruling common sense - a weak ship hoping for a redeeming mission and hoping to survive it.

N.B. We no longer have a Naval combat salvage force.

[klock55]

but I don.t think that a 175/15-55 on the front OEM rim is that far out of spec. I would not go any bigger, quite frankly just looking at the tire on the rim compared to the rear, I don't see much difference in the overlap.