Should I get a set of cooper cobra 235/55/16 for $66 (from work) or should I get a set of Falken Ziex 512's 255/50/16 for $88 a piece (from tires.com)? I am mainly city/ highway driving plus an occiasonal street race. These tires will see rain and possible light snow (<1").

 

I run the cooper cobras on mine, same size. Seems to be decent.

 

On the Falken website, it says that max load (lbs) for the 255/50/16 is 1201 R. Would that be too low?

 

Max load on tire (4x1201 = 4804) can be anything equal to or above whatever the factory tires were rated. It has to do with the weight of your car + a saftey margin. If its lower it might not be safe. For instance my tires are 255/45/17 Falkens. Load of 1874 (4x=7496@50lb max pressure) So I'm not sure if that will be ok. I think factory is 1400-1500? @ 36psi but I wont mind being corrected. I would talk to the local tire shop or wait for more informed posts.

 

For some reason there website says 1201lbs but it has a load rating of 99 which is 1709lbs. Its too late anyway, I bought the tires last Saturday.

 

Load rating 99 sounds more like it. My last ones were 98 and my new ones are 102.