What tyre brand/model to look at ?

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Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1120694 2-Sep-2014 18:27

Give us a picture of your smart car.

miked

207 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#1120771 2-Sep-2014 19:34

This site has a calculator that gives you the diameter of your chosen tyres to compare the current size (or even the original size if different from current) with your proposed sizes.

A quick calculation on there with 195/50 R15 compared with 195/45 R15 shows they are 3.5% smaller (which is 2 cm less diameter than now and about the same from the originals too), which will be pretty noticeable (and not necessarily in a good way).

Where is the scrubbing happening? Is it the tyre rubbing against bodywork, or is it the width of the tyre rubbing on the road when you turn the steering wheel?

If it is a bodywork issue rather than a road issue, then this site might help too (this one even shows you actual speeds compared to speedo readings)

Hope you suss it out.

Mike

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#1120829 2-Sep-2014 21:12

miked:

A quick calculation on there with 195/50 R15 compared with 195/45 R15 shows they are 3.5% smaller (which is 2 cm less diameter than now and about the same from the originals too), which will be pretty noticeable (and not necessarily in a good way).

Where is the scrubbing happening? Is it the tyre rubbing against bodywork, or is it the width of the tyre rubbing on the road when you turn the steering wheel?

2cm is not going to be too noticeable on a Smart I think ;-)

As to where the scrubbing is, it's only at one point when reversing and turning, and then it's only very light .. weather has been so bad the past week I've felt no urge to get outside and find it yet :-)

I might actually look for a good alignment place and have them give the car a going over.

That said .. new tyres still needed in the next month or so :-)

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#1120830 2-Sep-2014 21:16

TimA: Give us a picture of your smart car.

Hmmm .. not sure that car is drivable around corners or on anything other than a mirror smooth surface!! :-)

Mine is not so dramatic ...

Though I am planning on going for an obnoxious bright orange for the panels ;-)

Oblivian

7300 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1120840 2-Sep-2014 21:36

The mentioned 2cm is in wall height, not circumference distance. That translates to quite a bit of roll change.

And a quick read indicates the smarts have a fair bit of negative rear camber applied to stop them rolling over on corners. To counteract that, if its ever been aligned here. They may have done the toe adjust trick to counteract wear which may or may not be noticeable on wide soles.

Hows the edge wear on the rears...

That, or the fact they are so small could translate to under-steer/road skipping/ripping sound on turning lock if its got the old rack/pinion not-parallel facing going on and you aren't driving it like the 60yr old grandparent whos spent their savings on a new toy do :)

heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1124414 8-Sep-2014 15:37

Try Adens Tyres.

Great prices

Free shipping to your fitter.

195/45/15 - Toyo Proxes T1R $175 shipped.

+1 on the Falken ZIEX 912 if you can find in that size. I run them on my little Colt for spirited driving (185HP)

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