replacement tyres - which size?

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aucklander

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#236195 22-May-2018 22:35

Hi all,

just quick: car is fitted with 195/60R16 but everywhere I look it appears this is some sort of odd size, new tyres appear to be more expensive than just the next size up or down...

I could get a good deal for 205/55R16 and this tyre sizes calculator site shows they are a really close match:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=195-60r16-205-55r16

Of course, the 205 will be 10mm wider than the 195, and this is where I come with a question: could this be critical? Could the 205 rub on anything? I would expect the clearances to be more than 5mm, don't you? Car will be lower by 4mm but that is not the end of the world either, isn't it? Thank you.

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Batman

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#2020796 22-May-2018 22:39

as long as all 4 tyres are the same, you will be fine.

the specific tyre you want to fit has a minimum and maximum recommended rim width. check your rim width and check the tyre recommendation.

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insane

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#2020799 22-May-2018 22:44

There is a table on this site which shows what tyres your rims can handle

http://www.tyresizecalculator.com/charts/tire-width-for-a-wheel-rim-size-chart

aucklander

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#2020810 22-May-2018 23:05

the link for "tire-width-for-a-wheel-rim-size-chart" is very good, I agree with what you are saying - thank you for pointing it out. There is no size written on the rims, maybe on the back? (I will have to remove one of them to see if there any markings resembling "6" or "6.5"?

Is there any way to find out what rims a certain vehicle is supposed to have from the factory?

aucklander

472 posts

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#2020816 22-May-2018 23:21

got this website:

https://www.wheel-size.com/

for my car (nissan bluebird sylphy 2006 - body KG11) there is only one option for R16 rims:

I guess that means the rims are 6", and the website http://www.tyresizecalculator.com/charts/tire-width-for-a-wheel-rim-size-chart shows ideal size 185 and 195, with a max size 205; Based on this, I can fit the 205 tyres and also 185/65R16 which to me looks like an even better match. But wider is better, isn't it?

so get the 205/55R16 instead of the 185/65R16? the wider ones would also look better?...

Scott3

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#2020817 22-May-2018 23:36

I would stick with original size, (assuming you still have original wheels), that is, unless you want something like better off road performance on a 4wd.

Cars suspension and geometry is set up for original tire size, and you have no risk of rubbing, and no change to effective gear ratio, or speedo error. Going for a wider, shorter tire will give a (slightly) harsher ride than the stock fitment.

At your tire size:

Bridgestone has the "Bridgestone Ecopia EP150 195/60R16 89H", and are running a 4 for the price of 3 deal atm.

Hyperdrive have tires from $88.99 - $297.99 each

Trademe has Hankook H226's fitted at $144 each, or Hankook KINERGY EX(H308) at $163 (+fitting), or Chinese tires at $80 (plus fitting)

Whatever you get, make sure you get something decent, when I brought my previous car it was an ex rental with mismatched cheap tires on every corner. The change in grip in the wet when I put decent tires on it was massive. (no more spinning the tires when leaving a traffic light in the wet).

jarledb

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#2020822 23-May-2018 00:27

A little tip that always saves me money: Call around to get prices.

Last time I got new tyres (just recently) I saved almost $200 (best price vs highest price) with 5-10 minutes worth of work for Bridgestone tyres!

Wife really loves Tonys Tyres, so thats who we went with. And they beat the best price I had gotten elsewhere by $24 per tyre.

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mattwnz

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#2020823 23-May-2018 00:50

jarledb:

A little tip that always saves me money: Call around to get prices.

Price beating IMOis a really lazy way for businesses to do business, and as a consumer, you still don't know if that is the best price you could have got it for. Why can't companies just charge their best price to begin with rather than playing games. I have gone to a tyre place to get a quote before, and the first thing they asked was what prices have you already got...but that shouldn't matter, all I want is their best price.

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#2020832 23-May-2018 05:59

Scott3:

I would stick with original size, (assuming you still have original wheels), that is, unless you want something like better off road performance on a 4wd.

Cars suspension and geometry is set up for original tire size, and you have no risk of rubbing, and no change to effective gear ratio, or speedo error. Going for a wider, shorter tire will give a (slightly) harsher ride than the stock fitment.

That's 100% not true.

Cars are made with a range of models with a range of tire size - and therefore a range of scrub radius, tire circumference, tire clearance.

Go outside the scrub radius that the suspension is designed for and you will feel changes that may be detrimental (or favourable!) depending on what you are after - eg drifting vs turn radius vs suspension wear. Speedo error will always exist - just need to know what it is. In fact the error changes as you tires wear down and when you put more air or when it deflates over time.

So .. OP will be fine as long as his factory rims are wide enough.

Sidestep

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#2020927 23-May-2018 08:41

Batman:

.. OP will be fine as long as his factory rims are wide enough.

Probably.

Usually manufacturers DO target a specific rated tire taking into account – importantly - circumferance, weight capacity and speed rating, but also sidewall flex, rolling resistance.. and many other factors.
There is usually a 'tag' on the car showing this specification.
For a light vehicle, in NZ, WOF rules are relatively loose and you'll get away with changes that may negatively affect your vehicle's handling.

My work ute, requiring a (tougher) COF would - and should - fail if I installed tires outside the manufacturers approved range.
An LVV engineers certification and plating would be required for rim/tire changes.

These 2 tags show it is rated at a certain GVW only with the specific tires approved by the factory.
Even small changes could impact operation of the ABS, TPMS, traction control, stability control, trailer sway-control etc

Wade

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#2020940 23-May-2018 08:58

I would recommend Hyper Tyres, buy online they usually have promo codes available etc and nominate your local tyre guy to fit

FWIW my car comes with 225/50R17's which I replaced with 235/45R17's, looks better as even though a similar height sidewall the design looks lower profile and it is such a common size that you can get budget performance tires for next to nothing, the 225/50's left me with very available choices where every man and his dog stocks a wide range of 235/45 options

Bung

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#2020946 23-May-2018 09:21

The WoF limits on changes are

the tyres:
– have an outer circumference that is no more than 5% greater than OE, and

– are an appropriate selection for rim width, and

– have tread that does not extend beyond the original or modified body panels or guard extension (see Figure 10-1-1).

My vehicle uses 205 60 R16, other versions use a 195 R15 so I doubt minor changes will be critical. I use the local Bridgestone place when they have one of their buy 1 get 1@50% the local Tony's (owned by Bridgestone) can't offer that deal but will match it with some BS "special wholesale price" 😀

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#2020984 23-May-2018 10:11

Wade:

I would recommend Hyper Tyres, buy online they usually have promo codes available etc and nominate your local tyre guy to fit

FWIW my car comes with 225/50R17's which I replaced with 235/45R17's, looks better as even though a similar height sidewall the design looks lower profile and it is such a common size that you can get budget performance tires for next to nothing, the 225/50's left me with very available choices where every man and his dog stocks a wide range of 235/45 options

That's correct. When my cars have odd tyre sizes, i change them to something more commonly stocked. I'd buy 2nd hand rims to accomplish that if needed (need to match the offset, and adaptor for the centre bore).