175/55 15?

[Prey]

Anyone run this size? (just for randomness its the same as a smart car rear!)

Looking for alternatives to a 195/50 15 for a 6j rim while keeping as close as poss to standard diameter... a 185/50 is very hard to get so a 175/55 is the nearest - any ideas?

[mikey14sr]

195/45 is what you need to look for, as said in the other post.

[Prey]

195/45 is what you need to look for, as said in the other post.

I could very well be being thick here (fully prepared to stand corrected) - but going from a 50 to a 45 profile wont affect the tyre rubbing (the side of the tyre is rubbing the plastic shock guard) as it will only reduce the height of the tyre not the width - wont it?

[Adam]

Yes, but its the height that causes problems, as it makes the tyre taller, so it rubs the inner arch etc.

[Jack]

If its rubbing the shock guard then yes, either the tyres are too wide or the wheel is on the wrong offset.

Putting a tyre on with a smaller sidewall may help, I know my 195/60s bulge out much more than any 195/45s ever have done.

[Dave.]

mate i had profile 50's on mine, and i had to take bumps at about 5mph, i didnt think 45's would make any difference, but now i can take bumps quickly

get them, it makes a hell of a difference

[Prey]

Thanks for the comments - seems 45 profile is the way to go - always good as theyre about the cheapest size too!

[mikey14sr]

Also the brand and type of tyre can affect fitting aswell. The firestones on my astra gsi fans are 195/50x15, but due to the consruction and the fact that the entire sidewall is used as a rim protector bead they are more like 205/50's. They rubbed on the inner arch when first fitted! An adjustment with mr. sledge sorted that out, but I had to cut the lip off the arches completely aswell.

[Prey]

Thats very true, as it has barum cheapo budget tyres on right now and they seem to 'balloon' a lot - moving on from that - anyone know a tyre that has a particularly good sidewall profile to buy?

Also what shocks do people run and how do they stand out? As looking at, say spax psx, they dont seem to have that guard on so Im guessing will give an extra 5mm ish of clearance there?