i30 Owners Club
MODIFYING OR DETAILING YOUR I30 => TYRES | WHEELS | BRAKES => Topic started by: Instroe on March 29, 2012, 05:21:30
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Sorry to bring all of this up again I've read all of the posts and acknowledge surferdude as tyre expert.
So I've got the standard steel rims 15" and 5.5 inches wide, as shipped tyres being 195/65R15.
When I have a phone around the 195/65R15's are way more expensive than 205/65R15's. This being because the 205/65R15's are fitted to loads of cars.
The info from Vic roads regarding maximum tyre width suggests no more than 15 mm wider. So the 205/65R15's comply with that requirement.
The tyre calculator (results copied and pasted below) shows that I'll be doing 2% less RPM across the board which doesn't bother me
Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
195/65-15 5.0in 12.5in 25.0in 78.5in 807 0.0%
205/65-15 5.2in 12.7in 25.5in 80.1in 791 2.0%
Alternatively and again less common but probably a better fit since it's closer to the original tyre OD
Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
195/65-15 5.0in 12.5in 25.0in 78.5in 807 0.0%
205/60-15 4.8in 12.3in 24.7in 77.6in 817 -1.2%
So has anyone fitted 205/65R15's or 205/60R15's to standard 15" 5.5" wide steel rims?
If so, have you had any issues, are you happy, do you have any comments?
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Just be aware your speedo will also be showing incorrect speed.... :)
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I wouldn't advise you to do that. Even with 195/65/15, you don't feel the car as well as with 205/55/16 not to say 225/45/17. Other factor would be, that speedometer will give you false numbers and third (main) reason are the rims, which are really narrow. 5,5 are quite narrow - even for 195 tire. Usually (other) factories mount 195 tires on 6" wheels and 205 tires on 6.5 rims. So in my opinion, 6.0 is a minimum for a 205 tire.
I have "aftermarket" alloys for my 205/55/16 tires and they are 7×16...seemss just about right..
PS: It's interesting that 195/65/15 tires are expensive there. Here, they are considered as one the cheepets dimesions, because most cars have those dimensions on.
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The pricing surprises me a bit.
I'd have to check and I need to be in a store to do that, which I won't be until after Easter.
IIRC the mid range products should be almost the same price.
Yes, greater volume but less componentry (weight) so that should offset the volume savings somewhat.
The 205/65R15 is designed for Commodores and Falcons of a few years ago and at their height that size was probably 60-70% of all tyres. Of course they are fitted to almost nothing current now as the Commodores and Falcons have moved on to 16" or 17". So, not a lot of development work on that size any more.
Whereas the 195/65R15 is still fitted to a few common and current cars.
The 205/65R15 is best on a 6" rim. Fitting to a 5.5 will create just a bit more bag therefore a bit less steering precision.
The 205/60R15, however is an option. I considerd them myself but they ARE generally dearer.
Hope this helps a bit.
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Agree with Accim and Surferdude.
Here 195/65-15 is also the most common size of the ones mentioned.
I have for the winter the original steel 5,5x15 with 185/65-15 and for summer, alloy 6,5x15 with 195/65-15
The wintertyres feels more "baggy" - softer - than the summertyres. The tires have same loadindex.