The stock size is hard to find around here.
Would the 185/65/15 be okay? I wouldn't mind if the car is a tad higher or that the speedo reads lower.

Thanks.

 

For winter tires on stock 15x5.5" wheels

185/65-15 is fine, essentially stock tire diameter even though it is slightly taller than 175/65-15 which is also an acceptible winter tire size.

In addition 195/60-15 is suitable for winter tires and there is a good selection.

See
http://www.tirerack.com/snow/WinterT...=W&search=true

 

That's a good size. 175/65/15 is theoretically slightly better for snow, but there's
usually not as good a choice in that size. I'm using 195/60/15 because of tire
selection preferences at the time I got them.

I'd probably go for the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 off of this list:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...65&diameter=15

 

Thanks!

 

I'm going to need new tires soon and was thinking about Nokian WRG2 size 195/60/15 to replace the 175/65/15. Nokian makes the tire in a 175/65/15 but the tire is rated 84T for load and speed. While the 195/60/15 is rated 92H which is closer (slightly better than the 89H rating of the OEM Conti All Season.

I'm guessing that I would be better off with the tire with higher speed/load rating in a slightly different size as the higher rating usually equates to better handling..cornering, etc. Am I correct?

I may go with one of the better tires at Tire Rack and not Nokian, but either way, it is my understanding that someone should not put a tire with a lower speed/load rating than the OEM tire. In the case of my Justa, that is an 89H.

 

You are correct but you can also get the WRG2 in 185/65-15 92H rated which will also work fine.

 

Is there advantages to one over the other? The 185/65/15 verses the 195/60/15 regarding ride, handling, etc.?

In the past I have been more the type to replace tires with the OEM size, my thinking that the engineers choose that size for a reason and maybe it's the best stay with that size.

 

The narrower tire would work better as a snow tire. I found out that the 185/65R15 tires have the speedo reading almost spot-on. Much more accurate than the stock 195/55R16.

 

No need to stay with OEM 175/65-15. Tire selection is limited and other tires will work fine for street use whether in the summer or winter.

185/65-15 is the next best size to OEM, giving a slightly taller sidewall than stock. 195/60-15 is a few mm shorter on the sidewall overall and 60 series sidewall is a little stiffer. 185mm cuts through snow better and gives less rolling resistance than wider tires in the winter/summer.

Handling and comfort for three seasons has more to do with the tire you select than with the actual tire size but tire selection favors 190/60-15.