I noticed that these Sizes are getting harder to find, what are you guy's running and what is out there? I did a search and not mush came up up, I sent E Mails to a bunch of tire companys just waiting on replies.

Where are you guys getting yours?

I have ran this size for over 20 Years, and would like to cont to do so.
245 Front 255 Rear.

I ran mostly BfGoodrich, and Some Goodyears.

 

245-50-16 Uniroyal TigerPaw GTZ

 

Bfg and firestone still make the 245 size, there are a couple othrs but most 16" options are drying up.

 

This used to be such a Popular size, There are many third Gens out there and other car's still using this size, I have not bought tires for this car in the past ten years, then there were many options.

The Bf Goodrich Comp tires are looking like the ones to get.

E Bay has some different choices but man they are expensive.

 

Just checked and the only choices (high performance summer pattern) are the Firestones and the BFG G-Forces. BFG is one hell of a tire, Firestone is a distant 2nd.

You only have one choice in 255-50-16, The same BFG tire.

Everything else is pedestrian all season crap in 245-50-16 - a lot of which are only "H rated", or 130mph max speed.

There is an option, a 225-55-16 tire, of which there are dozens of choices on the market - it was a BMW, MB, and other import size for over a decade. I noticed over 20 summer tire choices in that size, including the excellent Continental Extreme DW, the Dunlop DZ101, and the BFG KDW 2 patterns. For those that frown upon the slightly smaller size, keep this in mind: a third gen on the 225-55-16 Dunlops mentioned above will destroy an equivalent car on all season 245-50-16 tires on a road course by a few seconds, which shows you how much grip you lose with a non summer tire.

 

Do you have a set? If so, what do you think of them?

 

I try to stay with a quality tire, Don't like going to a off brand, I want the Best Perf I can get Mileage is not a top concern since the ca sees very little mileage per year.

Any Pic's of what a 225-50-16 looks like on our cars? I like the look of a smaller tire in the front by just a touch. MY Car sits quite low as it is now, can't afford to lose to much more ground clearance.

 

They sell Cooper Zeon RS3-A 245/50/16 97W. Friend has these tires (not same size) on his 3rd Gen Taurus SHO... nice tire.

 

225-55-16 is the same height as 245-50-16 sized ones - don't bother with 225-50-16, they are 1" smaller in diameter...

 

I have a set mounted on the GTA wheels the previous owner put on. They ride cushy and are sloppy - way too easy to break the rear tires loose in normal driving. Not for performance use, IMO.

 

These should help. All pretty short threads. Won't take long to look them over. Pics in last link.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...tire-poll.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...245-50r16.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...nces-16-a.html

Pictures in this one. Post #6.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...5-50-r16s.html

 

ive been looking for tires as well, just stock 245/50R16's. also noticed most are not Z rated. Does it seem that important to get Z rated? big price difference between them. don't see myself going 130 plus in a 305 convertible.

 

Thanks for posting your feedback.

 

225-55-16 are they not as wide as the 245-50-16?

Friend has the Coopers Zeons on her 02 TA not a huge fan of them, But if you have to run them then I would there are worse out there.

I have contacted all the major companys, so far these companys have gotten back to me.
Goodyear No longer makes either size.
Michielin No longer make them
Toyo No
Nitto No
Pirelli No
BfGoodrich Yes both sizes
Waiting on Dunlop,Cooper,Firestone,Bridgestone I think.

BfGoodrich is the tire I normally run and looks like ill be trying again.

 

I do have a set. They are a very good dry weather tire, good grip and and very predictable and smooth when they lose adhesion. Road noise is at a minimum. In wet weather, they will get you killed. Braking distances feel like they are doubled and longitudinally they lose grip like they are on ice. They still have decent lateral grip when it's wet but nothing that inspires confidence. They are a good tire, but I probably wouldn't buy them a second time.

 

The BF Goodrich Sport Comp 2 and Super Sport A/S are awesome tires. Ive run both sets and like the Super sport a little better mainly cuz its a great all season tire. Nothing bad to say about them. They lasted me a long time and grip very nicely and look nice. IMO some of the best 245/50 tires available!

 

No. Noticeably narrower, Slightly taller than 245s.

245-first # is the width in millimeters
50-second # is the side wall height as a percentage of the width. In this case the sidewall height is 50% as tall as the width (245).
R16- the third # is the rim diameter and is identified by a R. I know most people get this one but I put it in here in case it might help a reader in the future.

 

Thanks.

 

Yokohama Nope
GoodYear Nope
Kelsey Tire Nope
www.coker.com Nope

 

There is another option - 245/50-16 KUMHO tires. They are reasonably priced. I live in Colorado, so summer ONLY tires are NOT an option here. They'll get you killed. It can rain/snow/hail/blow here at ANY time of the year.

Speed ratings are different than they used to be. I have W rated, which is up to 168mph

Symbol Max Speed (mph & km/h)
Q 99 mph & 160 km/h
R 106 mph & 170 km/h
S 112 mph & 180 km/h
T 118mph & 190 km/h
U 124 mph & 200 km/h
H 130 mph & 210 km/h
V 149 mph & 240 km/h
W 168 mph & 270 km/h
Y 186 mph & 300 km/h
ZR Above 300 km/h or 186mph

 

You are incorrect about the symbol for "above 300km/h or 186mph" - the proper symbol is (Y) - the parentheses are the difference between 186mph rating and above 186mph...

 

These are the current Firestone offerings, I just took that picture. The only ones on the list that are really available are the Indy 500 wide ovals. I had them on my lt1 car, and they were ok at best.

 

Nitto makes the NT01 in our size, but it's 100 treadwear. If you're only doing autocross and light street driving, they'd probly last you a couple of years; daily driver - - one season, but stick would be awesome.

 

Do they Make them in a 255?

 

IMO the best street tire option in a 245 or 255/50R16 is going to be the BFG Comp 2's. I auto-crossed on a set of 255s and they had pretty awesome grip. I REALLY had to try to lose traction.

 

Here's my review of Firestones in 245-50-16...

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...wide-oval.html

 

while most of us like to have some performance tires, many of us do very little driving. I go mostly to car shows so why would I spend a fortune on tires that will age faster than get worn out. more likely to dry rot and have lots of tread

I went for General's Altimax HP and never seen another on here with them.
The are unidirectional and have good grip. they are a bit softer so they ride nicer and my kidneys thank me.

at 97$ a pop they are a steal. I bought them at 81/ea before Obama increased tariffs on tires made outside the USA. They do very well and have good cornering grip.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

here is my car with them on

 

I am leaning toward the BfGoodrich, Price is not a big issue since I put very few miles on my car a year, I don't use it for track day's anymore either. I do Like the tires for there Perf and also there looks, I think the cheaper and no name tires lack both Perf and Looks.

 

You can't go wrong with them. One of the best all season tires out there. Which one you thinking on running? Sport comp 2? Or super sport?

 

I think just the sport comp 2's come in the 255 size for the rear.

 

I put BFG sport comp 2's on my TTA (500+ HP), and am very impressed with them. 255 on back, 245 on front. I got the tires out the door for under $700.

 

Can you post pic's of them mounted on your car?

 

I'll snap some pics tonight.

 

Cool, If you could try and get a side shot with both tires in it, and a Tread shot and what not. Thanks again.