Tyre size, what's the difference?

iammart · Post by **iammart** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:35 pm

Hi all,

I have another goddam tyre question....

Currently have 195/55/15 on Taurus wheels and looking for replacements. Would I really notice much difference with 195/50/15 or 205/50/15 instead? 195/50s are a heck of a lot cheaper, but they sound a lot smaller when you look at the numbers; not quite sure what it means in real terms though... Most of my driving is town/motorway (bah) and I'd like good wetness performance... For the record I'm looking at Toyo T1R or Yoko A539 based on what I've read on here already...

Cheers!

Ally · Post by **Ally** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:00 am

Just got a new wheel and tyre package with Uniroyal Rallye 550 tyres 195/50/R15. Seem to get good reviews for both wet and dry performance, are fairly quiet and don't cost the earth.

I couldn't decide whether to get to 50s or the 55s with my wheels 'cos the size listed in the manual for 15" wheels is 195/55 but I previously had 14" rims with 185/60 tyres - do the math and the 195/50/R15 match these almost exactly whereas the 195/55 are a wee bit bigger so would affect the speedo more. Plus there's the price difference...

http://www.motechdirect.co.uk/content.a ... &inc=tyres

hebruins · Post by **hebruins** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:05 am

195/50/15 are way cheaper than the 195/55/15 tyres, but they don't fill the arches as nice as the 195/55/15 tyres.

205/50/15 is compatible to the 195/55/15

Anton_K · Post by **Anton_K** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:24 am

Yeah, I agree to Hebruins.
My Cetus wheels have 195/50 and in any angle I think they look too tiny..when time comes to buy new tires I will go for 195/55. Less noise in the car also, I guess.

volviz · Post by **volviz** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:28 am

If running on standar height.. I'd defenetely get 195/55 or 205/50

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:29 am

my 205/40/17 are Kumho which Matbat said was good and he was right, I'm really happy with the grip on these.

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:57 pm

Hi Martin!!!!!!!!

Mate,I swear by Michelin Pilot Primacy in 195/55/15.

Id stick with 195s as the manufacturers recommended these.Also 195/60/15s in case you weren't aware.

205s?Mats yer man.

V480TI · Post by **V480TI** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:05 pm

He , I also got Pilot premacy on very nice taurus alloys, just waiting to get on the car. (Will do a rebuild of the car first).

But what can you say about the premacy ??

How long do they last ??
Hows the grip ??
How on wet ??
How on dry ??

Thanks and greetz

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:57 pm

Hey!

The 2 Primacies that are fitted to my Turbo were on the front since 44,000 miles,it now has 94000 miles.They still have 4mm tread !!!!!

The wet grip is fantastic,in the dry very very good.I drive very carefully,with occasional heavy roundabout sessions to give u some idea of my driving style.....

I manged to get 40000 out of a pair of Marangoni budget tyres though,until at Wales it was pointed out to me not to drive much further!

V480TI · Post by **V480TI** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:03 am

thanks, soon I will find out what premacy's are like.

greetz

robkendall · Post by **robkendall** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:34 am

michellien pilot sports (or sports II)
michellien pilot cup

expensive, but good....
lots of road noise, cos tread pattern is symmetrical
soft compound, so life span not good.
stick to road like shit to a blanket though!
rgrds
rob

chris1roll · Post by **chris1roll** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:54 am

I've got some goodyear eagle F1's now... very grippy. dunno how long they'll last though....

I have never got more then 8,000 miles out of a set of front tyres.

rpruen · Post by **rpruen** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:27 pm

Avon ZV3 tyres all round here.

Grippy, yes very.

Life, Yikes!

Fronts last 4k miles or so. The rears seem to be doing a little beter at about 10k.

However it's not a normal 480, so the tyres get a hammering.

Richard

vins480t · Post by **vins480t** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:36 pm

Ive got some nice Marangoni Zeta 215/45/17 at the front. Lots of grip, bad on wet due to the width. this tyre lasts a while now but the car is standard
225/45/17 Yokohama G. 539 at the back for excelent roadholding when dry but also poor when raining due to the width and the low massa of the car.

98kellrs · Post by **98kellrs** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:44 pm

vins480t wrote:Ive got some nice Marangoni Zeta 215/45/17 at the front. Lots of grip, bad on wet due to the width. this tyre lasts a while now but the car is standard
225/45/17 Yokohama G. 539 at the back for excelent roadholding when dry but also poor when raining due to the width and the low massa of the car.

Not so good with the good ole' british weather then?

felyx · Post by **felyx** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 9:25 am

toyo proxies 195/50 15 all round super sticky but feel the bump a bit more,also 0-60 must go up by about 3%to5% as the tyres are smaller

cheers

vins480t · Post by **vins480t** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 12:24 pm

98kellrs wrote:
vins480t wrote:Ive got some nice Marangoni Zeta 215/45/17 at the front. Lots of grip, bad on wet due to the width. this tyre lasts a while now but the car is standard
225/45/17 Yokohama G. 539 at the back for excelent roadholding when dry but also poor when raining due to the width and the low massa of the car.
Not so good with the good ole' british weather then?

nope very bad for British weather.
gotta put all 4 emergency tyres in my car when i come to the meet