Tyre sizes - 15's.

[Matt GTE]

I've just acquired a cheap set of Cav GSi alloys for my SR that will be going on eventually, I'm unsure what size tyres I'm going to need though.

I assumed I'd be best off going for 195/45's but having looked at a tyre size calculator here (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html), 195/50's are closer in rolling diameter to the 175/65/14's that are on the car now and they're also quite a bit cheaper than the 45's.

I'm hoping to lower the car 40mm, assuming I have the arches fettled when I have them replaced (will need doing fairly soon) are 195/50's going to cause me any rubbing problems?

Any help or comments appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt.

[dan-hipgrave]

i run 195/45's and they scrub on the rear with standard suspension when someone is in the back, so you will most likely find you have problems with the 50's, but it seems to differ from Nova to Nova lol

[Nick]

some people will probably say i'm talking rubbish,

but i definetly noticed a more precise and responsive difference in handling whe changing from 50's to 45's, and before soemone says, they were brand new 50's, and i bought some brand new 45's.

Same make of tyre e.t.c

[jamie gsi16v]

once upon a time when i was very poor i had a set of standard 15" astra alloys with 55s on and the arches rolled and it didnt rub one bit, then i bought a set of 50s and they were fine but you carnt beat a low profile 45 not only do they look better but nicks right they handle better and if you have the right offset wheel you wont evan need to do your arches. go for 45s mate there worth that extra pound or two.

[andyhayes77]

I've just acquired a cheap set of Cav GSi alloys for my SR that will be going on eventually, I'm unsure what size tyres I'm going to need though.

I assumed I'd be best off going for 195/45's but having looked at a tyre size calculator here (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html), 195/50's are closer in rolling diameter to the 175/65/14's that are on the car now and they're also quite a bit cheaper than the 45's.

I'm hoping to lower the car 40mm, assuming I have the arches fettled when I have them replaced (will need doing fairly soon) are 195/50's going to cause me any rubbing problems?

Any help or comments appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt.





Do what im doing its a ball ache ive got some 15" GSI alloys (GOOD CHOICE) im having 205/55/15" fitted everybody has said NO NO NO but I went to see one of my mates who is the most clever engineer he got out his tape n calculator and assesed that it will work with 10mm Spacer plates but you need to buy new bolts to compensate the extra 10mm to the thread the size u need are 12mm x 1.5 x 45mm thread (Tapered) its sounds a ball ache of a job but well worth it I put the alloys on my car at the weekend and it looked cool as F**K look at this thread ov mine for a link to buy the gear http://www.novaload.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=110482

[Jack]

195/45 has a sidewall height of 87.75mm
205/55 has a sidewall height of 112.75mm

IMO if your wheels are 6-6.5" wide then 205/55 is too wide as well as too tall. Thats a tyre thats more akin to 7" wide wheels.

If you really wanted 205s then i'd say 205/45 max as this will give you a sidewall height of 92.25mm

Assuming the cav GSi rims are et49, adding 10mm spacers will make them et39? My OZ Exclusives were et38 on 195/45/R15 and had the odd comeuppance with the arches...

Matt, Camskill (http://www.camskill.co.uk) are usually pretty good for tyres, 195/50 are ?35 each for Toyo T1Rs

[Stuart]

post hijack, what will be the "best" tyre size for 14 *5.5 wheels? im thinking 195/45 or what ever come out as the most sensible wall height Vs price.

[Jack]

post hijack, what will be the "best" tyre size for 14 *5.5 wheels? im thinking 195/45 or what ever come out as the most sensible wall height Vs price.
Have a butchers here (http://www.rochfordtyres.co.uk/TyreCalc.asp), its a handy tyre calculator that tells you what tyre ranges fit what wheels - it recommends that 195/45 be used with 6.5-8" wheels, so I reckon you'd be looking at something a bit thinner for 5.5 wheels?

[ANDYRACER]

My mate had 205 tyres on his nova and the steering is shit with such wide tyres and they look hugh on a little nova.

[Matt GTE]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm very tempted to and most likely will go for the 195/50's. The car is my daily hack so to speak and it isn't exactly a performance car either so optimal handling is a much lower priority than low running costs (?35 for a Toyo T1-R isn't to be sniffed at me thinks!) and if I do get any rubbing problems I can get the rear arches played with because they are going to need doing soon anyway.

The alloys are currently fitted with 205/55's (the standard tyre size for a Cav GSi) but I'm not going to even attempt to put them on... they may not be that far off the rolling diameter of the 175/65/14's on the car now but I can see the width causing problems and they're no cheaper (slightly more expensive in fact) than the 195/45's. Messing about with spacers would just be even more grief and make rubbing even more likely along with tramlining, I'm basically just wanting to smarten up the car a little on the cheap... I've got my Cav for going silly on :lol:.

Thanks,
Matt

[Ste_Nova]

195/50 15"x6"

49mm

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v343/Ste_Nova/K368ARO/PC110016.jpg

[Matt GTE]

How much is that lowered by Ste?

Just checked www.mytyres.co.uk as that's where I've bought the last few tyres for my Cav...

Toyo T1-R 195/50/15 - ?31 each delivered = ?124 for 4

Toyo T1-R 195/45/15 - ?44.60 each delivered = ?178.40 for 4

Toyo T1-R 205/55/15 - ?48.60 each delivered = ?194.40 for 4

[boredbloke]

gotta love the 205's!!!! I miss mine!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/bwareofblade/Image374.jpg

I did have to have standard suspension at the time thou....

[Jack]

Is Ste's car always dirty? I don't think I've ever seen a pic of it clean :lol:

[Ste L]

basically yes, mine the same, only gets a wahs when i can't see out the windows :lol:

[Ste_Nova]

Is Ste's car always dirty? I don't think I've ever seen a pic of it clean :lol:

yeh... it gets driven!!


it will be clean in the summer for any shows it goes to

[mikey14sr]

I've just got some firestone 195/50's for my astra gsi rims, they're more like 215 accross the sidewalls, the offside did catch a little on the outer arch but as the arches are new I cut them back nicely. But down to the age old problem of the +/-5mm tolerence that vaux put on the rear beam alignment the nearside catches on the inner arch a bit when the wheel is pushed up, so the BIG hammers coming out again to give it some more room!!!!