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Hi there:
I've got news that might save time for anyone attempting to find OEM Saab 9-5 tires (2002 to present) -- and I need help, fast, please.
The other night I was distracted while driving my 2002 9-5 Linear and clipped a center divider (stupid, stupid, I know). Net result: Two trashed OEM Michelin MXV4 Plus tires (215/55/16; 93V).
So I took it to my local service station -- guys I trust, have used for years. Advised them these were OEMs, wanted two more of the same. They get some tires in the next day -- and they're the wrong rating (91V instead of 93V). They try again -- this time they're 93V (good) but wrong model (MXV4 regular, not Plus). Oy vey! They try again, personally supervising the delivery and call me when it arrives -- same problem as the second time! This time they buy them from the Saab dealer -- and when they arrive it's the same story, they're regulars not Pluses!!! Finally, I call Michelin, who tell me two things: (1) I shouldn't mix and match regulars and Plusses, unless I want to fuss with different pressure ratings and other crap, and (2) that the MXV4 Pluses in that 93V rating -- the Saab OEM tire -- is no longer available anywhere, with no plans to reimport it! Jeez!
So... I tell the station, please put on four Dunlop SP Sport A2 tires. I know them from my Passat and like them a lot, and four of them will cost me barely more than the OEM tires I was trying to replace. So the station recommends plus-sizing -- going from the OEM 215/55/16 to 225/55/16.
This sounded like a good idea but an odd size choice -- I'd have thought we'd go to 225/50/16, since I thought you always went down in sidewall size if you went up in width. So I found an online tire size calculator (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html). To my surprise, the station's recommended size is actually barely closer in size to OEM (1.7% larger) than the smaller tire (1.8% smaller). And the difference in the larger tire's diameter is just 0.4 inches. And the station's owners (who specialize in wheels and tires and have been doing it since the 70s) insist that the 225/55/16 tires will be the better choice, with no chance of rubbing the wheel well, and with an indistinguishable performance edge on their recommended tires compared to the smaller ones (but noticeable over the OEMs). Incidentally, I note on that calculator that the 225/55/16 radius is 12.9" vs. the 225/50/16 radius of 12.4" (OEM radius is 12.7")
Advice? Agree? Disagree? I have until Monday morning!
Thanks,
Brent
posted by 66.1.14...
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
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