I'm a new guy. 2000 black-black Stook, 500W stereo, Passport 8500. Need new tires. Want to stick with stock wheels for now. Looking for wider tires, same profiles: 225/55/ZR front, 245 or 255/55/ZR rear. Bridgestone doesn/t make rears in those sizes in 02 or 03. How about Michelin Pilot Sport? Tirerack test data close: road handling 7.95 vs. 8.02 for 03; road rating 7.43 vs. 7.47 for 03; track handling 8.16 vs. 8.32 for 03; track rating 8.11 vs 8.29 for 03. All times dry
The Raptor
La Crescenta, CA

 

I`m a Toyo T1-s Proxes Fan

 

I meant 245 or 255/50 ZR rear

 

In those sizes, I'd look at a 50 aspect ratio in the front and 45 in the back.

 

There are few tires wider than the 225/50 16 SO2 which fit our stock rim. While the tires may say 245, check to see if they exceed the 9.2 section width, 8.5 tread width of the stock SO2. You may be surprised to find that many 245's are no wider.

 

Raptor,

Do a search and you will find a LOT of threads about tires. However, I believe the consensus is that if you replace the OEM tires with anything else, the correct tire sizes are 205/55 front and 245/45 rear. At least that is the combination that is closest to matching the treadwidth of the OEM S02's.

Good luck and have fun.

 

JSCHMIDT, won't reduction in rear tire diameter from 50 to 45 on same size wheel translate to loss of speed?

 

Yes, loss of top end speed but added quickness.

 

It appeared from my research that the Bridgestone S03s in the rear standard size were about as wide tread width as the OEM S02s, therefore no need to go bigger.

 

In general you are correct. But, this tire is about the same diameter (within 2%) of the bastardized sizing on the stock tires. So in this case, the usual logic doesn't apply.