16" wheels

[13 max paul]

Hello, begining on the forum and also on my first hybrid.

I found a bit rough the 17" tires and considering change to 16".

Wich will be the best option for confort and economy ?

I found some good priced used 6Jx16 ET42 mags. Do you think are a good option ? I am thinking about something like 225 50 R16 tires (all season) and will keep the OE for winter (I just bought the car with those on it).

TIA

[obob]

Here is a Tire Size Calculator

 

https://tiresize.com/calculator/

 

From my playing around, 205 60 16, 225 55 16 have a diameter of 25.7 vs the OEM 25,9

 

My sense is to get a softer ride you need to increase the 50 to like 60, but you give up traction and perhaps gas mileage.

 

 

 

Here is a google search on this site for "tire size" to get a similar diameter.  If you ever want to put snow cables on, you don't want to increase the diameter.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=fordcmaxhybridforum.com+wheel+size&oq=fordcmaxhybridforum.com+wheel+size&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i65.10768j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

There might be good information in these threads to get the right size wheel.

 

It also may be that you just need new tires.  These OEM tires do get noisy from the cupping on the rear tires.  I just replaced two of my tires with 225/50R17 General Altimax RT43 Tire 98 V recommended by Plus2Golfer and things really quieted in the rear.

 

 

Welcome.

 

Lots of good info on this site.

Edited May 31, 2018 by obob

[plus 3 golfer]

Hello, begining on the forum and also on my first hybrid.

I found a bit rough the 17" tires and considering change to 16".

Wich will be the best option for confort and economy ?

I found some good priced used 6Jx16 ET42 mags. Do you think are a good option ? I am thinking about something like 225 50 R16 tires (all season) and will keep the OE for winter (I just bought the car with those on it).

TIA

"A bit rough" doesn't really define your issue.  "Econony" in what sense?  lower tire price, higher fuel economy, or over all cost as higher FE tires generally cost more with expected fuel savings to offset the additional cost of the tires.  "Comfort"?  softer ride, less noise,  less jarring when hitting pot holes, or something else. 

 

Have you tried lowering the tire pressure to 38 psi (IIRC, that's Ford's recommendation).  That will likely solve your rough and comfort issues (assuming tires are aligned and not cupped / feathered). Many on this site run pressure considerably higher than 38 psi and have no issues with comfort / roughness (including myself).  

 

I note you don't mention safety.  For me, handling is at the top of the list especially wet / dry traction and braking when buying tires.  Even though one may drive conservatively, one never knows when one has to execute an emergency manuver.  

 

I suggest you look at tirerack.com for tire reviews and ratings and get tires that meet your criteria for "roughness, comfort, and economy."  IMO, why spend money on changing wheel size when the "right" tire will likely solve the rough and comfort issue.

 

Having said the above, as obob stated, I highly recommend the General Altimax RT43 irrespective as to whether you want to put on 16" tires (see ratings below).  I'm approaching 12k miles on the tires and the only negative, so far, is a hit to FE over the Michelin OEM tires (which I expected).  Based on my data, I'd say that the Michelins will yield about 5-7% better FE than the Altimax.  However, the Altimax is rated higher in virtually all other categories than the Michelins at about 60-65% of the cost of the Michelins. 

 

[ptjones]

I'm wondering if he is referring to 50 aspec ratio and maybe going to 60 series tires will give softer ride.  I think in the long run the Michelin's maybe cheaper than Altimax with fuel savings and long lasting tread. I have 73k miles on mine and will easily hit 80k miles and maybe 90k mi. :)

 

Paul    

[13 max paul]

Thank you all. Long days of work, fried brain when I arrive here. Very pleased to read you guys..

Yeah obob, I guess I will for the 60's :p

Im in Montreal, Canada. Very bad road conditions, plenty of holes and roadwork all year round for the next couple of decades. At least :/

I just bought my 2013 cmax (hybrid) and cames with winter tires that will melt s butter so need summer/all season tires. If I have 2 sets of mags the yearly change tasks will be much easier.

Since I will be driving a lot, (maybe one set of tires by season if cheap ones) I was thinking "downgrading" to R16 to save some good money. As said somewhere, I can buy new 16" tires AND 16" used mags cheaper than just new 17" tires. Offer in my area is not great for 17" if compared with 16".

As +Golfer stated Im interested in lower tire price/over all cost and  softer ride, less noise,  less jarring when hitting pot holes. I'm concerned with mileage bit ready to try. Winter will be on the original 17". Holes are smoother :p

The dealer said me today that 225/60R17 will not fit without touching the fenders and suggested 215/60R16.

Any considerations ?

TIA

[obob]

Thank you all. Long days of work, fried brain when I arrive here. Very pleased to read you guys..

Yeah obob, I guess I will for the 60's :p

Im in Montreal, Canada. Very bad road conditions, plenty of holes and roadwork all year round for the next couple of decades. At least :/

I just bought my 2013 cmax (hybrid) and cames with winter tires that will melt s butter so need summer/all season tires. If I have 2 sets of mags the yearly change tasks will be much easier.

Since I will be driving a lot, (maybe one set of tires by season if cheap ones) I was thinking "downgrading" to R16 to save some good money. As said somewhere, I can buy new 16" tires AND 16" used mags cheaper than just new 17" tires. Offer in my area is not great for 17" if compared with 16".

As +Golfer stated Im interested in lower tire price/over all cost and  softer ride, less noise,  less jarring when hitting pot holes. I'm concerned with mileage bit ready to try. Winter will be on the original 17". Holes are smoother :p

The dealer said me today that 225/60R17 will not fit without touching the fenders and suggested 215/60R16.

Any considerations ?

TIA

 

Using the tire calculator link, the  215/60R16 have a diameter of 26.2 inches which is 1.2% bigger than the OEM 25.9.  The 205/60R16 have a diameter of 25.7 inches, 0.8% less big.

 

Also, I assume you determined the 6Jx16 ET42 mags have the same bolt patterns and are compatible with the C-Max.

Edited May 31, 2018 by obob

[plus 3 golfer]

xxx

Edited June 1, 2018 by Plus 3 Golfer

[fbov]

My snows are 215/60-16's on Ford steel wheels. You'll also want to run tire pressure lower than most of us, at the placard level. A third thought is to look for tires with a good ride comfort rating. You can bias several things to one side and get some improvement even if they're little things. 

Frank