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Here is my question posted elsewhere...What I want advice on is should I stay with standard size 14" tires or would moving up to 15 giving me significant advantages at a reasonable cost? I'm looking for best bang for buck with emphasis on bang. Also, if i go up to lets say 15" would I have to get new uhmm...hub caps?? I'm a tire noob so exuse my ignorance...

Question:
I have a 2000 Honda Civic Ex Sedan and I need to replace the tires from stock ones I've had there all along. Any suggestions...I'm looking for value and quality vs a high performing tire. I was almost ready to bite down and buy these 185/65HR14 Kumho ECSTA HP4 716 Blackwall
for 2000 Honda Civic EX Sedan, but I thought about this place first. Is there a better size for my car or am I limited to 185/65-14. Is this a good pick, any recommendations?

Answer from Connor at tirerack.com:
"If you are planning to keep the OE 14" wheels than you are fairly limited in optional sizing. I can only recommend two sizes for this vehicle in 14" and they are 185/65/14 and 195/60/14. Between the two i would recommend using the 195/60/14 Kumho Ecsta HP4 716 (40.00 each). They are a low cost tire that still performs at a higher comfort level. The slightly wider tire would also offer a little better handling."

You would increase the way the vehicle handles by going to 15" or even 16" by you would not help the ride quality. In fact the larger you go in rim size the more you will feel the imperfections in the road.

 
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HAHAHAHA. sorry, had to laugh.

Ok, You have a wheel under the hubcap (the black steel thing). If you want a bigger than 14" "tire" than you have to get bigger wheels. Wheels are around the same price of tires, or hellofalot more. I have 17" wheels, and 205-40-17 tires. the last number is how big your wheels are. the 205 is width, and 40 I believe is the percentage of the width, which is how tall the tires are. good luck, youll need to read before you buy anything, or go to discount tire, and let them replace the stock tires. I dunno what you want

 
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Yeah... what he said.

IF you go with a bigger tire, you will need new rims and tires. Going up to a 15 inch will not increase you’re performance that much. You can put 17 inch rims and tires on your car, but with a crappy tire, you have zero gain in performance.

Best bang for your buck, buy a good set of tires (ie plan to spend $500-600 for a set of tires and don't go to Wal-Mart). Also figure out what you mean by performance. There are tires that are better in a straight line and not so good in turn and there are one that are better at turns and not as good at straight line performance, but either way will be better than stock in every way... Then you have to ask yourself... myself, do I drive in wet or snowy weather and do I want a tire that is good in these condition or do I just want to slow down a little.

Once you have answered all this... post the answers and we'll see what comes up.

 
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Might just stick with the 14" then...I really can't afford to do much which is why I need bang for buck. I don't see much snow in Maryland light, so if Connor recommendation okay? 14" is going to have to be it because I don't want to committ more than 300 bucks to this. I wish I had the money, I just don't...

 
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Yeah, then get a nice set of all seasons... I know the money problem.

 
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welcome to the site... and damn I laughed hard at first but yeah the money situation, that is always tuff. I got arizonian tires, some knock off brand from discount tires that has an 80,000 mile warranty on them. all four for under 300.

 
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IMO, Kumho ECSTA HP4 716 are not performance, but a good all-season choice.

 
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if u want noticable gains, get a good 195/55/14 tire, they will give u probably the best performance u can get on a 14" rim.

Also, as far as i know only 3 195/55's even exist.

Dunlop SP Sport 8000

Toyo Proxes T1R

Toyo Proxes T1-S

All are around the same price. The T1-S can be found for 99 bucks per tire, a good deal. at 1010tires.com

Good place, might cost u a bit to ship them down tho. T1-S are a sexy wet/dry tire, but dont do anything in snow.

 
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Kumho has some 195-55-14, but they are more along the lines of track tires.

 
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http://www.7thgencivic.com/index.php?page=tirecalc&

14"? how about 195/60/14?

 
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195/60/14 Kumho Ecsta HP4 716

Looks like this just might be the winner then...Good All type weather performance, price is just about right, if there is nothing else better for that price point then I will go for it. I appreciate all of you guys help...if decide to do some work on this car, I'll definitely be back for some tips.

I was driving a BMW M3 before this, so times are tough and all of this has got me down, penny pinching has never been tougher.

 
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spend a little over a grand and get your self some nice 17"s rims are everything for cars.

I just put on my new rims today and dont know why I didnt buy rims sooner,

but if your on a budget nothing wrong with 14's dont bother spending extra for 15's

 
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why not get something better than those Kumho's.? I know lots of people with Falken 512's on stock wheels.

 
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i used to have the kumho's. they worked super well for me, not crazy aggresive for spirited driving, but can handle a lot of wat u can dish out.