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Kia Spectra Tire/Wheel Questions
Discuss tire and wheel options or problems for your Kia Spectra/Spectra5 here.
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http://tinyurl.com/6qfd7
EXCERPT:
In fact, it is the engine's strong performance that highlights one of the Cerato's two major failings: the Hankook tyres. Our test car came with Hankook Optimo K406 15inch tyres and their performance is a definite lowlight, potentially holding the Cerato back from being a better car.
In the dry the Hankooks are OK, if a little prone to road hum over coarse bitumen. In the wet these tyres can be a real liability. Grip levels are adequate when cornering at normal speeds, providing you're not trying to accelerate at the same time. Attempt any amount of lock - let's say turning from a side street onto a main road with flowing traffic - with a need for acceleration and wheelspin is a real handicap.
Braking, too, is a problem in the wet. As Russell mentioned in our first drive (above) the brakes can grab unnecessarily, and in the wet that is a real hazard - ABS would be a real boon in these circumstances. Shame the Cerato doesn't have it standard, then. One other way to improve Cerato's wet weather performance would be to fit different tyres after purchase, perhaps Bridgestones or Dunlops.
There's also a good chance that better tyres would improve Cerato's bump soaking abilities - one area heavily criticised above. Clearly the Cerato's not trying to be a sports sedan, so its roly-poly ride is not going to be a big issue to suburban owners, and we had little problem over our seven-day test. But the ride quality was harsher than it needs to be over road joins, tram tracks and the like, and hinder what is an otherwise extremely competent, comfortable package.
Overall, we really liked the Cerato in its role as comfortable, well-appointed, well-priced urban transport. With better tyres we would have no hesitation recommending it as a bargain-priced alternative to Corolla, Mazda3 and Pulsar. But if driving's still fun to you, think carefully about the Cerato's dynamic limitations.
The Kia Spectra5 just looks like it would be fun to drive straight-from-the-factory. Question for Spec5 owners: what kind of tires does Kia put on it OEM? Goodyears? Are they nice and good-grippers?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+RS-A&vehicleSear- ch=true&partnum=05HR6RSA&fromCompare1=yes
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
got new OEM rims and were golden.
Good Luck
Geo
Thanks a lot for the info. What size of tires did you end up getting? I called my dealership in Ottawa and they told me the suggested size was 15" for the Spec5. They also tried to sell me the $200/tire + steel wheel package to me, but I've got 14" Yokohamas that have only seen one season. If that size is okay then I would only need to buy the rims....may check out the dealership for those rims though - have to make it soon given the forecast!
Thanks again.
the CT icetracs' saved my [non-permissible content removed] this morning with the snow and blackice on the hwy.
Good Luck and enjoy the season
Geo
Am still pleased as punch with my Spectra!
Many thanks
arb000
arb000
Eagle LS also seem OK in dry and wet, but they too have very limited snow traction. Rather than buy (or try to find) another set of steels and TPMS sensors and buy winter tires--by now you're looking at over a $1,000+ bill--I installed some Dunlop SP60s. All season tires, they're incredible in the snow and work fine in all conditions. Slight size discrepancy in that they're 195/65/15 vs the 195/60 that's stock, that's a 3% difference. Very happy with these tires, somewhere around 65 bucks per at tire rack. About the same at treadepot. Probably won't find them at your local tire shop.
However, if you are careful, you can find low profile tires that will have the wear characteristics you desire.