Tyre Sizes

[Jer309GTi 3]

Been looking at prices of tyres,

 

195/55-15s are really expensive compared to 195/50-15s.

 

Would it make any difference to the handling/feel of the car if you fitted 195/50's? Obviously the speedo would be slightly out, but are there any other reasons why this would be a bad idea?

 

For an example of prices, mytyres.co.uk quote:

 

EAGLE F1 GS-D3 195/50 R15 as £37.40 each and

EAGLE F1 GS-D2 195/55 R15 as £67.10 each!

 

Would the fact that they are GS-D3 rather than GS-D2 make that much difference?

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

Bugger all difference to be honest mate in terms of speedo reading and gearing and economy. The 205/309 GTI owners have the same situation - their OE spec 185/55/15 tyres are a rip off (or just not available) so they get the 195/50s.

[petert1345402284 0]

195/50/15's don't have the load rating to carry an Mi16. OK on a 205, but not a 405.

[Guest DesMi16]

Other option is 205-50-15. Got some good deals round here on Yoko's in that size.

[Jer309GTi 3]

Other option is 205-50-15. Got some good deals round here on Yoko's in that size.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's a good idea. Only problem I could think of is that a 205 width tyre is too wide for the standard Mi wheel?

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

195/50/15's don't have the load rating to carry an Mi16. OK on a 205, but not a 405.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But Peter almost all uk 405 Mi16s, 306 S16s and 306 GTI6s end up wearing 195/50/15 tyres because they're so much cheaper but we don't get blow outs.

[Rippthrough 98]

You can get plenty of 195/50's with a high enough load rating

I'm running them on mine, and mines even heavier than most, slightly quicker acceleration, speedo's out a few percent, but it bounces up and down a little anyway

[Guest piran21]

205/50 would be the tire size i'd recommend. get a bit of extra grip/handling too.

[Guest Eric Josefsson]

205/50 or 195/55..

Got 195/50 now for road use, they are to small diameter for my opinion.

 

For track I've driven 215/50-15 for 15"-wheels but thats too wide for best performance. Next set is 205/50

[Jer309GTi 3]

So 205/50's fit fine onto standard rims then? I would have thought they would be too wide for the wheel?

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

So 205/50's fit fine onto standard rims then? I would have thought they would be too wide for the wheel?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This question pops up occasionally over on the 205 forum and the answer there is usually that they will fit but there might be too much flexing over the tyre wall. Or something. Years ago I asked at my local tyre / exhaust fitters, a family run business, and they said they wouldn't fit 205s.

[Guest Tjuls]

I have no problems with 205/50 on my standard rims looks good too

 

[petert1345402284 0]

I can testify that 205x50/15 move around way too much on the standard rims. I then tried them on some Pug. Motorsport 15x6.75" rims and they were superb. You can really feel them squirm when you work them hard. A bit like having a loose seat.

[petert1345402284 0]

You can get plenty of 195/50's with a high enough load rating

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Show me one with an 84 load rating. I'm happy to be proven wrong! Our local RTA inspectors and cops love nothing better than to defect a car after checking the Tyre plate.

[Guest Tjuls]

I can testify that 205x50/15 move around way too much on the standard rims.

 

You got that right though

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

They don't here in the UK, when the police pull you over they never do a check of your car, they usually just gas on for 3 hours about why going 0.00000001 mph over the speed limit is so naughty.

Thing is Peter fitting the 50 profile tyres is very common because they're cheaper than the 55s but I've never heard of anyone having a blow out.

[Rippthrough 98]

You can get plenty of 195/50's with a high enough load rating

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Show me one with an 84 load rating. I'm happy to be proven wrong! Our local RTA inspectors and cops love nothing better than to defect a car after checking the Tyre plate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Some of our 55 profiles don't have an 84 load rating either.

Edited June 20, 2006 by Rippthrough

[Jer309GTi 3]

I thought about 195/60's like on a Focus but they're hardly any cheaper than 195/55's, if at all.