Are tall skinny tires the future?

[oil pan 4]

Are odd sizes like 155/60R20, 175/55R20, 125/60R21, 145/50R21, 115/80R15, 145/55R16 going to be normal?

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I think they look like radial motor cycle tires.

[Frank Lee]

Bridgestone Corp.’s Ecopia ologic tire, size 155/55R19, has a larger vertical diameter and increased air pressure to limit changes in the contact patch. Introduced as the Large and Narrow concept tire, it is now in production, the company reports.

We saw the Bridgestone on EM in March yet I don't see where these are available for sale.

[mcrews]

and increased air pressure to limit changes in the contact patch

I love it!!!!

[RobertISaar]

and i consider my 205s as narrow.....

[NeilBlanchard]

If anybody sees the Bridgstones available for sale PLEASE post it here on EM!

[elhigh]

Shoot, I saw Ecopias for sale at Walmart just a couple of months ago. At the 122 exit from I-75 near Clinton, TN.

<looking that up>

Yup. Check it out: Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Tire - Walmart.com
That's just the online stuff, couldn't confirm about current avail. at my local store. Other sizes obv, and I strongly doubt those crazy tall/skinny are going to be on the rack. That would be seriously special order if you want that right now.

[Frank Lee]

Nnnnyyyyeeesssshhhh- that's a different animal with the same name.

[gasstingy]

FWIW, be careful about buying tires from Walmart. They have tires made especially for them in at least some cases. As a couple of examples that I checked into {not second party info that I'm repeating}. Walmart sold the BF Goodrich Excentia GT RWL tire in 185/60R14 that I considered for the Miata I used to own. Wanting to know more about the tire before buying it, I went to the BF Goodrich website to look at the specs. Nothing at all on the Excentia, so I e-mailed BF Goodrich via their contact link on the website. They told me that it was specially made for Walmart and if I was interested in any specs, contact Walmart. Same basic story for Goodyear and the Viva 2 radial Walmart sells as a fuel economy tire. Goodyear disowns the Viva 2 as a Walmart special. Both of these are store-stock tires.

OTOH, when I went to buy tires for the Rio I had, I saw a Continental tire available for Walmart online purchase that were listed on Continentals website. It was not a store-stock tire, but could be shipped free to the store. I bought a set of those tires but in both previous cases passed on the Walmart specials. My logic is, if the manufacturer is ashamed of them, I don't want them either.

Mark

[jamesqf]

I've often thought that taller & skinnier tires would be better for rough & dirt roads, as they would tend to span smaller potholes.

[Frank Lee]

Just got off the phone with Bridgestone- the 155/19 tires are "in production" for concept cars in Europe. They said it would be a while, if ever, that we or even European consumers can get our sweaty mitts on 'em.