Falken Ziex ZE950 A/S 185/65R15

If you're running 5.5"wide wheels with standard offset they will fit.  I have that size on my VS on 15x5.5" wide 5's. 

Thanks for the reply Steve, I have the stock VS 4 lug chrome wheels which I believe are 5.5" with zero offset. Hoping that these work without issue.

The plan is to convert to the wide 5 set up down the road. Did your VS come with wide 5's or did you do the conversion yourself? I've done a ton of research on it and my head is still spinning. From what I can tell there may be a bolt on rotor and drum that will fit with some fine tuning. I just can't seem to find the exact parts needed for my car. 

I've recommended this tire a number of times.  It's very popular with Miata owners who want a good handling tire at a reasonable price.

They do wear faster than most all seasons tire, but that shouldn't matter too much on our light cars.

I like this tire so much a put a set on my wife's 2004 Chevy Tracker. 

What size tires are on the car now? How much fender clearance do you have now? If you presently have 165's, the 185's will be about 3/4" wider (it will vary a bit, depending on the manufacturer) so if there is more than 1/2" clearance on each side in the back then they should fit.

I agree with what Ron says above. There's another reason to stay away from long wearing tires- most guys don't put enough miles on their cars to be worrying about fast wearing tires, and this way you shouldn't feel guilty when replacing them after 5 or 6 years (when you should be, for your own safety). You get to sample the newest technology more often as well...

I have 165's on it now. Looking at the clearance I should have enough room so I'm going to go ahead and place the order. Keeping my fingers crossed. 

Out of curiosity, how much taller are the 165/15 tires than the 185/65R15. Will it make much a difference? 

Yeah, I'm not too worried about long wearing tires, I will need to replace them long before the milage. I only put about 3500 miles a year on my daily driver so I can't see me going through the tires the speedster very quick. I just want some good looking tires that are good performers. 

Thanks for replies!! 

165/80 is 3/4 inch taller.  25.4 inch vs 24.5

Mine was built with the wide 5's, 185/65/15's,  front disc and rear drums.

Marty knows two things... well three.

He knows wheels.

He knows tires.

He knows shoes.

Listen to Marty (and Steve, Ron, and Al... and Wolfgang...)

Ted

In 4th (.89) gear at 3200rpm the difference will be 3 mph.

Surprisingly, the rpm difference between a 24.5" and 25.5" diameter tire isn't that much.

example:

0.89 4th

3.88 R & P

60 mph     difference is only 112 rpm.

70 mph     difference is only 130 rpm.

Greg, I lost it through the thread, are you staying with 4 lug or going for a adapter and using 5 lug?

Hi Michael, 

I'm actually in the process of the wide 5 conversion right now. I ordered a wide 5 front disk brake kit and wide 5 drums from SoCal Imports and went with Pirelli P4's instead of the Falkens.  

 Here are a couple pics, not the finished product.. I still have some work to do, but I definitely like the look a lot better than the chrome mangels I had before.