205/55-16 on '96 Accord LX
 

Hi, We just bought a '96 Accord LX 2 door and need to replace the rear tires. Right now the tires are 205/55-16s. Can we go to a different size on the back and keep the fronts at this size?

Thanks!

You'll get the best results replacing the rears with the tire size on the sticker in the door jamb (where they list all the car facts).

I would put the new, correctly sized tires on the front and move the incorrectly sized tires on the back. OR, buy 4 new tires and keep 2 spares.

What size were you thinking of going to?

If the car has ABS, it will not be happy with different tire sizes. Unless you're careful about keeping the same running tread diameter (same revolutions per mile).

Why do you want to do this?

Thanks!
 

Hi,
Thanks for responding. Sorry haven't gotten to my computer in a couple of days. We were thinking of going with the tire size that's listed for what the car came with which I think are 185-70-14. I don't even know if they will fit. Do you think it's wiser just to get the 205-55-16?

Thanks for your help.

You have 16 inch rims on there now, right? You'd have to buy new rims to use 14s.

Okay, thanks.
 

Thanks to everyone who responded!!

Go to http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html and enter in the factory tire info and then find a matching tire that has the same dimensions, but with a 16" diameter for the wheel. Sounds like there are some aftermarket wheels on your car, as the 5th gen was never offered with wheels larger than 15".