What size tires should I get and where should I get them?
I have a 2010 Hyundai Elantra SE that's in need of a set of new tires. It currently has the following size tires on it: 195/65R15, and apparently that's the size I've been getting for awhile but the manufacturer suggestion is 205/55R16. My question is should I stick with what's been on it for as long as I can remember or should I go to the new size? My second question is does anyone have any experience buying tires online? I'm debating on going to the garage like usual or buying them online and having the garage install them. What's my best bet, especially money wise? I'll choose a best answer and thanks in advance!
Anonymous2015-11-06T01:29:38Z
Favorite Answer
If you have /15 tires on there now, and want to change to /16, you are going to have to change the rims as well, and that's going to cost $$.
It's quite common for manufacturers to sell different models of the same car with different tires, and even rim sizes. The 16" lower profile tires have about the same diameter as the taller profile 15" tires, so the gearing and speedo stay the same. The 205/16s should handle slightly better, so they may have been fitted to a more upmarket model.
End result, stick to what you have, it's working, don't need to fix it.
Yes, the engineers and designers at Hyundai determined 205/55R16 sized tires would best serve your Elantra SE. It would be wise to stick with there findings. A 195/65R15 sized tire is both too narrow and too tall for your vehicle.
Buying online is easy, fast, and can save you a substantial amount of cash. I have purchased dozens of tires online and it works like a breeze. From a seller such as tirerack.com you can choose from a number of outstanding quality tires and have them shipped to an installer of your choosing.
There is however an advantage of buying tires from a local tire retailer. Your local tire shop will more than likely offer free life-time balancing and rotations if you buy a set of four tires. If buying online you would have to pay for balancing and rotations out of pocket when the time came to do so. So think of it this way, if buying online you save for the cost of the tires but then have to pay for the tire maintenance later. Otherwise, your local tire retailer will be initially more expensive but the after care costs are free.
The problem with that is you are not only changing your tyre size, you are also changing your wheel size, new wheels can be quite expensive, also changing your tyre size may make your speedometer read incorrectly, and because you are putting larger wheels on, you may not have enough clearance under the fender, also in certain countries and states the local law enforcment may also be interested. I have bought tyres on line and have never had any problems, you may also get them significantly cheaper
think you got your info wrong recheck ..you are talking about different size wheels as well ....if you have 15" rims you cannot fit 16"tyres ...stick with what you have ...and from experience ..online is not always cheapest