Topic: downsizing and driving difference

[ziggy]

I purchased aftermaket wheels and summer tires last year and have found some disadvantages.  I went up on inch to 215 40 17's from stock 195 50 16 on my Protoge.  I do mostly highway driving and feel lots of tracking or weaving in the grooved roads and can really feel the many tar cracks.

I love the looks of the wheels and want to keep the 17 inchers but would like to soften the tracking and ride.  How much difference would moving th 205 45 17 make in the ride?  These are 2% taller and 10mm narrower than what I have now.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[tpl]

I go between 225/45-17 on 8" rims to  205/50-17 on 7" rims summer to winter and the first thing I notice  on the narrower winter tires is  less "tramlining". The second thing is less noise.  9the third thing is more grip when it is cold    )

This is only a 0.4% difference in size

[morty]

What kind of tire are you running?
Try getting an alignment...some guys can set the car up so it doesn't wander as bad.

[ziggy]

Thanks for all of your advice.  I was running Toyo's and did do an alignment and this didn't help.

I just purchased some Falken 205 45 17's from TireTrends and am getting them installed soon.  I talked to the service rep on the phone and he was very helpful, as you always are as well, Morty. 

[morty]

Sorry that didn't work for you. A lot of times it does and it is much less costly than buying new tires. The Falken will hopefully have more forgiveness and not track as poorly. Let me know how and if it helped.