'05 xB stock wheels - what alt tire sizes can I use?
 

I've got a stock 2005 xB - NO upgrades (except for the radio), so it's the stock steel wheels. The stock tire size is 185/60/15. I'm approaching 45,000 miles and these tires are pretty much toast at this point, so I need to get new ones.

The pickings are slim in the stock 185/60/15 size, but I figure I can go up to 185/65/15 without any trouble - that adds about a half inch to the tire radius (my speedometer reads high anyway, so this ought to make it more accurate). I used to do this with my Mustang; the stock size was 225/55/16, and I ran around in 225/60/16's all the time without any trouble and saved about $40/tire.

HOWEVER - my wife went and got herself scared by a Costco guy trying to sell her Michelins in the stock size. Don't get me wrong - I love Michelins, but I don't have the extra $160+ right now. He told her "185/60/15? Scion doesn't have that particular tire listed as an optional size, so we won't sell them to you for that car."

So - 185/60/15's ok on my ride? I'm thinking about getting a set of Goodrich P185/65R15 88T Traction T/A's - I can snag them for $65/apiece (as opposed to $109 for the Michelin Hydroedges), and they've got treadlife warranty to 70,000 which ain't bad.

One last note - I'm not married to the Goodrich's. If anybody's got a suggestion for something in the <$75/apiece range with decent treadlife AND quieter ride, I'd love to hear it.

Hmmm that sounds like a good deal. yes you can run 185/65-15.

You can also run
195/65-15(had them),195/60-15(if you want a little wider but also cheaper tire) , 195/55-15 (i have them now, hard to find size). 195/50-15(you're speedo will be way off)
205/55-15, 205/50-15

The Yokohama Avid TRZ is a quiet tire. If you want something more performance wise . the bridgestone potenza RE960AS is available in the 195-60-15 size.

45,000 on the stock tires?? wow.

I was in a similar place as you... with 52k miles on the stock tires I was finally ready for a new set of rubber.

I ended up going with the Michelina Pilot Exalto A/S in a 205 65 15.

Yup, 205/65s. Lovin it!

Firmer grip, smoother ride with all the extra sidewall, and the only real drawback is the box sits up higher.

Time for springs? Maybe, but after changing the stock springs on my pre-box car, a Nissan 300ZX twin turbo, I vowed NEVER to touch stock springs again...

Either way, I'll take some pics and post them if you'd like.

I got mine at the local BJs Warehouse club when I was in North Carolina, but Tire Rack has em for $89 each.

Thanks for the responses, guys, they were a big help. Based on TJ's recommendation, I was going to go with the Yokohama AVID TRZ tires, but it turns out the place I get my tires from didn't have them in stock, I'd have to wait a few days, and quite frankly, I'm not happy I'm still using my existing tires; they're in very bad shape.

So he suggested an alternative - Yokohama 520s in 195/60-R15 size. Made me a pretty decent deal on them too ($75 apiece including road hazard and lifetime rotation), so I'm jumping on it. It's a little wider (10mm) and a little taller (6mm) but really ought not affect my speedo much. Heck, the wider tire ought to make it handle better, too.

And the guy said, "and this is a very quiet riding tire as well", but I thought I detected smoke drifting toward my ventral side when he said it, so... :D

Why can't you use 205/60 - 15's ?

Side wall is going to be wayyyy too tall. The original aspect ratio is a 65 series with a 185 tread. Your going up 2 sizes in tread with and sticking with the same or nearly the same aspect ratio? You would probably run into issues with the stock wheels not being wide enough to support such a tall sidewall either.

I think "way too tall" is a bit of an exaggeration...

sidewall on the stock = 185 x .65 = 120.25 mm
sidewall on 205/60- 15= 205 x .6 = 123 mm

2.75mm is not exactly a huge difference. That makes the whole tire less than 1/4 inch higher.

^^^ ok ... maybe a little exaggerated ... but i dont think a 205 would work on a 6 inch wide wheel. IMHO it just seems too big of a tire all around to stick on a stock wheel.

205 works well on the stock size 6" wide wheel. i've ran 205 50 15 on them before.

Ok, I realized today I have 185/60-15's not 65s. So, 205/60s would be way too tall! Looks like 55's are the way if try 205s on stock since I do a lot of higway driving, only slightly taller than stock.

The 185/65/15 Traction T/As will be the perfect replacement for the steelies. They look nicer and ride way better. BTW, did you realize that 185/65/15 was the original size the bBs came with in Japan. The speedos are already calibrated for that size so it's a win win for you.

Can I put a 205 75 R15 on my car? I am just wondering if it would fit? I have a 2005 XB. I am rat rodding my XB and I want to get white wall Coker tires.

HOWEVER - my wife went and got herself scared by a Costco guy trying to sell her Michelins in the stock size. Don't get me wrong - I love Michelins, but I don't have the extra $160+ right now. He told her "185/60/15? Scion doesn't have that particular tire listed as an optional size, so we won't sell them to you for that car."

So - 185/60/15's ok on my ride? I'm thinking about getting a set of Goodrich P185/65R15 88T Traction T/A's - I can snag them for $65/apiece (as opposed to $109 for the Michelin Hydroedges), and they've got treadlife warranty to 70,000 which ain't bad.

One last note - I'm not married to the Goodrich's. If anybody's got a suggestion for something in the <$75/apiece range with decent treadlife AND quieter ride, I'd love to hear it.[/QUOTE]

05 xB on stock steelies
 

Hey did a lot of digging my self to come up empty on this subject. Figured I drop a line to help if I could. I've had a bunch of different tire sizes on the 05 xB. 175/65/15 , 185 65/15, 195/60/15, 195/65/15, and now running a 205/65/15
But let me be clear 205/65/15 they RUB at full turn new. When you get a little wear on the that goes away. So if you bought used tires you would be ok I guess. I had to trim a inch X 2 inch off the plastic inner to get them not to rub from regular turns. It kept folding the plastic over. They are all seasons so they have a bit more meat on them. Also the ride is great speedo is not off as bad as they say. Mine is only off 2 mph. But by far the best ride I've had so far is the 195/65/15 at 32 lbs best ride ever. It seem with these 205s there is a little stealing dead zone little shake on the highway after this set goin back to my
195/65 hope this helps!

I wonder if spacers might fix that issue with the 205/65/15s?