I hope the dealer put in the right engine oil, gear oil and transmission fluid.

 

You should be fine with VSA-On as the wheel rotational speeds front and rear will be close to the OEM ratios. VSA computer senses drastic differences and attempts to correct. If I'm wrong (who? me?) and the VSA light flashes just press the button on the dash.

I'm running "CR spec" 215 front/255 rear with no issues. Bridgestone S-04 tires handle (as far as I can tell) just like the RE-11A tires (215/245) they replaced and are much quieter than the RE-71R tires. Highly recommend the S-04 tires in these sizes. Some guys use 225 in front but that size will tend toward oversteer which I didn't want for my driving style and streets. My existing sizes seem very neutral handling but since I rarely get tire squeal I really don't drive as fast as my wife accuses me.

-- Chuck

 

If those are the tires that are on that S then you will have to turn off the VSA off or every little turn the VSA will try to do its job. That won't be a fun drive. 225/50-17 are 25.9" tall with 255/50-17 tires are 27" that is a 4.2% increase in circum. and that is a lot. On stock tires the difference in circum. is 0.4%, I run 235/45-17 and 245/45-17 tires and even with just 1.6% difference in circum. I can tell the VSA will turn on sooner than when on the stock size tires. I would also be suprised if the front tires don't rub on the fenders somewhere when turning especially like going from the street onto a sloped driveway. Don't know if the back will rub but at 27" that is 2.3" taller than stock and they could rub on something too. If you want the car, TELL them to put the right size tires on the car.

ROD

 

x2. When it comes to tires, I get really turned off if the tires are either 1) the wrong size, 2) cheap, 3) mismatched, or 4) don't match the style of the car (like 340-treadwear all-seasons on a sports car). In this case, the tires are obviously quite different from factory - and not in a nice way - despite stock wheels and otherwise stock appearance. It makes me wonder how seriously either the dealer or previous owner took maintaining the car properly, and with the appropriate fluids/parts.

I personally would wait for another deal.

 

VSA doesn't know the tire diameter (to my knowledge) and only reacts to the differences in wheel rotational speeds. The OEM front and rear tire sizes are the same 24.7 inch diameter diameter and have the same rotational speeds.

If VSA detects a difference of some magnitude it will compensate. Anyone know that that magnitude may be?

My only experience here is limited to my 255mm rear tires which are 0.3" larger diameter than the OEM 245mm size and have yet to activate VSA with this 1.2% difference. Rod's experience is pointing to some VSA activation with a 1.6% difference. At least when maneuvering.

Anyone have the technical details? I still suspect the OP will be fine driving the car home and it's easy to hit the VSA button if needed.

I also agree the tires are crap and may be a bargaining chip in the car's price.

-- Chuck

 

Wow they may as well as put on super swampers on there. I wonder if it rubs under hard cornering. The rear tires seem very very close to the arch. I would tell the dealer to change the tires before buying it but that is just me.

 

All this talk about VSA is moot if the wheels are original ('04-05 = no VSA).

 

Great call! It is a 2004 with less than 15K miles priced about $23K. The writing is on the wall for a quick Google search.