I need help choosing the right tire size

Alright, as some of you may know, my plan is to buy a set of new rims/tires for this summer when the good ol' tax refund comes in. My question is, as far as 16" rims go, for a 1997 Civic (sedan) with a 16x7 rim, which tire size would be better: 205/40-16 or 205/45-16? i ask, because the tire i would like to get is only offered in 205/40 for 16" on the site i'm ordering my rims/tires from ...if it ends up being the 205/45 as the right choice, then i know what tire i'll end up getting. i'd appreciate any helpful insight anyone may have. thanks in advance.

 

i would go with 205/45, that is what i have with 16", i think 205/40 is too low profile and will get difference in speed reading. My civic comes from factory with 195/55/15 and when we put both tires together they had almost the same size in height.

 

thanks vtiek. i know what tire i'll be getting then for sure now. i appreciate the input:thumbup:

 

youre welcome....just to be sure there is a thread about tire calculator.
i have the ink here
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

muchas gracias senor

 

de nada mi amigo

 

My current tire size is 205/45-16. It's recommended by TireRack (where I get my tires). I've heard you could go with the 215 width, but I'm not sure if you could keep the 45 profile or go to 40. What tires are you thinking of getting?

 

well, now that i am 100% certain that 205/45 is the right size to go with for a 16" wheel, my original choice was going to be the Flaken Ziex tire. i just was curious about if a 205/40 would be alright, because i wanted to opt for the kumho ASX. i have the same model kumho tires on a different set of rims, and i really like them a lot. it's a good all-season tread...the ASX is essentially a high perfomance all-season tire. but, the Falken Ziex is equally as good from what i have heard. a lot of friends i have have used them, as well as a few people on here, and each pretty much gave it a good review. it's a decent all-season performance tire for the price. i'm ordering my wheels/tires from discount tire. discount tire doesn't offer the kumho in a 205/45-16, damnit. lol. only a 205/40-16. for the Falken Azenis RT-615, i have to go up one more tire size. it's all good though. i still have plenty of time to decide, for certain, which tire i want to go with. i may just buy my rims first, and get the tires later on. thanks for the help though everyone i appreciate it.