Wrong site for mr2's 2000-2005? tire size

bailsout · 06-06-2009, 07:34 PM

Hi, I'm obviously new to the site and almost all the forum topics seem to be of early generations. I was hoping to find information about the importance of running the newer models with same size wheel and tire combinations to allow for tire rotation and not disrupt the engineering too much. Any one tried it? These new models currently run 185/55 r15's in front and 205/50
r15's rear. Is there a happy medium?

Davis · 06-06-2009, 08:38 PM

Stay staggered. The MR2 was engineered that way. If you wanted to have better tire life should've stuck with the Camry you know? This is a sports car, so treat it like one.

Or you can always get another set of wheels and switch them every now and then. Also you can't just put on 195s all around and expect to rotate them front to back because the the fronts are 15x6.0 and the rears are 15x6.5 (16x7 for 03+).

Yeah it's a shame none of the Spyder guys visit these boards. Some do, but most are on Spyderchat.com: The Online Community for Toyota MR2 Spyder Enthusiasts!

You can register on there and what not, but don't leave us!

Anyways welcome aboard brother!

bailsout · 06-06-2009, 09:49 PM

Very gracious response; thank you for welcoming me aboard and pointing out the rim difference. The way around it is not worth doing it contrary to the Toyota engineers' way, though I wish they'd have taken that into consideration in their design. Like my Goldwing I need to get used to replacing my rear tire more often than the front. I'll make the adjustment.

MGalo · 06-18-2009, 05:29 PM

I have an '03 Spyder and the stock sizes are
f 185/55-15 and r 215/45-16. I have been running 4 x 195/50-15 RE-01R's
for more than 12k miles, and have nothing but good things to say about
equal size tires. I have an Addco 1" f bar, Koni Sport Inserts and 4 "crash bolts" f and 2 rear, with -1.7* f/-1.5* r camber; my car handles fantastically(neutral to slight oversteer in mid-to-fast corners) and the tire wear is minimal(showing 6/32nd tread). And yes, same sized tires CAN be rotated, but they must be removed from the wheels and remounted on the correct wheel
(f-to-r, r-to-f/l-to-r, r-to-l). This is what I have done, and my tires are lasting.
If your tire store wants your business, make sure they agree to do the the dismount/remount rotation as a part of the sale/maintenance.
And DO join Spyderchat, as all this info + volumes more is there to be found and read. Stay here also, as there are many good people here

06-06-2009, 07:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
bailsout No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Wrong site for mr2's 2000-2005? tire size Hi, I'm obviously new to the site and almost all the forum topics seem to be of early generations. I was hoping to find information about the importance of running the newer models with same size wheel and tire combinations to allow for tire rotation and not disrupt the engineering too much. Any one tried it? These new models currently run 185/55 r15's in front and 205/50 r15's rear. Is there a happy medium?

06-06-2009, 09:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
bailsout No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	gracias Very gracious response; thank you for welcoming me aboard and pointing out the rim difference. The way around it is not worth doing it contrary to the Toyota engineers' way, though I wish they'd have taken that into consideration in their design. Like my Goldwing I need to get used to replacing my rear tire more often than the front. I'll make the adjustment.

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06-06-2009, 08:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Stay staggered. The MR2 was engineered that way. If you wanted to have better tire life should've stuck with the Camry you know? This is a sports car, so treat it like one. Or you can always get another set of wheels and switch them every now and then. Also you can't just put on 195s all around and expect to rotate them front to back because the the fronts are 15x6.0 and the rears are 15x6.5 (16x7 for 03+). Yeah it's a shame none of the Spyder guys visit these boards. Some do, but most are on Spyderchat.com: The Online Community for Toyota MR2 Spyder Enthusiasts! You can register on there and what not, but don't leave us! Anyways welcome aboard brother!

06-18-2009, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
MGalo Some Skills Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indy Posts: 74 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have an '03 Spyder and the stock sizes are f 185/55-15 and r 215/45-16. I have been running 4 x 195/50-15 RE-01R's for more than 12k miles, and have nothing but good things to say about equal size tires. I have an Addco 1" f bar, Koni Sport Inserts and 4 "crash bolts" f and 2 rear, with -1.7* f/-1.5* r camber; my car handles fantastically(neutral to slight oversteer in mid-to-fast corners) and the tire wear is minimal(showing 6/32nd tread). And yes, same sized tires CAN be rotated, but they must be removed from the wheels and remounted on the correct wheel (f-to-r, r-to-f/l-to-r, r-to-l). This is what I have done, and my tires are lasting. If your tire store wants your business, make sure they agree to do the the dismount/remount rotation as a part of the sale/maintenance. And DO join Spyderchat, as all this info + volumes more is there to be found and read. Stay here also, as there are many good people here