I have been doing a lot of research on tire sizes etc. . .
Here is what I found out: Contact patch!
The BF Goodrich T/A 295-50R-15 contacts the road with 9.5 inches.
The Dunlop SP Sport 8000 255-50ZR-16 contacts the road with 9.4 inches
The Firestone Firehawk SZ50 255-50ZR-16 contacts the road with 8.1 inches.
So tire size numbers does not tell the whole story, contact patch is what really matters, because that's what actually hitting the road. . . . It has to do with the sidewall curvature.
Tire Rack gives you all these specs for each tire. Some tire manufacturers, like Michelin do not publish these numbers. . . I don't know why. Maybe it's because they're small. . . .
Let me know if you have any questions.
Personally, I like the higher speed rated tires for steering response and better overall handling, not for the speed potential, because I don't plan on driving at 150 + If I did, I'd run race tires in a closed track. . . .
Just my 2 cents worth.
