What tyres?

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Lime79, Oct 15, 2011.

  1. I'm deciding on tyres for my new set of Fuchs 6x16 alloys - 195/60/16 or 205/55/16?
    Load ratings are 99 for the 195's and 92 for the 205's, just totally undecided...
    Thoughts?
     
  2. those tyre seem wide for a 6 inch rim? wouldnt worry to much about the load rating unless you plan to use the van to collect a ton of bricks from the builders yard? people are running much lower rated slam tyres and have been doing for years now
     
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  5. both are smaller than the standard wheel and tyre and will limit your cruising speed
     
  6. how about a 195/65/16c

    it will just up your gearing a little bit

    or 205/60/16c

    which is the same size as a standard wheel and tyre

    both a commercial tyre
     
  7. both you're suggesting lime are greater than a -5% reduction in diameter, a massive 3cm difference - it will be undriveable unless you're planning on changing all of your gear ratios too?
    :)
     
  8. Hmm now I'm more undecided than before... 65 height just looks too odd for me as I prefer the low profile look. Don't want it to be undriveable even though I'll be looking at enhancing the gearbox ratios at some point... Not keen on dumping £500 on a set of tyres that I'm not happy with.
     
  9. Great site that - worked out I should go for 195/50-16's. Just need to find the highest load rating and reinforced tyre now.... Rocking horse poo comes to mind!
     
  10. i dont want to get into the whole tyre rating debate

    all im saying if you tell your insurance you have a non standard alloy wheel in 16" and it says it on you insurance policy then you have a accident you have it in black and white they know about it. remember the bay only has a gross weight of 2310kg very light by todays van standards there are much heavier mid sized saloon cars all running low profile tyres and non are 8ply. the gross front axle weight is 1010kg divided by two wheels equals 505kg a 85 rating tyre is rated to 515kg so any thing over that and you are exceeding manafactures axle rating, again gross rear axle weight 1300kg devided by 2 wheels and your at 650kg a 93 rating tyre is rated to take 650kg again fit anything over this and you are rated over the manafactures axle rating. there isnt a court in the land that could rule against someone who had fitted tyres rated to take more weight than the designed axle weight there fitted on !!!!!!!!!! there will be a small weight difference side to side so i say to be safe fit a tyre rated to all least the above the suggested number and if possible higher to have a saftey margin

    most quality low profile 16" tyres will be suitable for the front its the rears that will be closer to the load rating and you might have to get extra load tyres to get the extra rating
     
  11. regarding speedo ive got 195 45 16 fronts on my split (came with a 185/14 stock tyre) and the speedo is less than 5mph out at 70mph according to sat nav ;)
     
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  13. Thanks for all the comments guys and the links to the car bible tyre site.

    This is the research I've done:
    Original tyre size: 185/75/14 which has a rolling circurmference of 1909.38mm.
    New tyre size: 195/60/16 which has a rolling circurmference of 1931.4mm.
    Difference in circumference: 22.02mm or 1.15%
    So when the speedo reads 70mph, I'm actually travelling at 70.81mph - I'm ok with that!

    Ok, so next job was to find the correct load rating tyres - nipped on to Blackcircles.com and found a couple of options: Hankook Radial RA14 Commercial Tyre (£94.98 each) Dunlop Cargo Marathon (£102.66 each), Pirelli Chrono (£106.45 each) all rated at 99 Load Rating equivalent to 775kg (1550kg per axle).

    Searched for a Promotional Code and voila 25% off the Hankooks (type in HANKOOK25) in the code field and I got a set of 4 delivered, balanced and fitted at my local tyre place for just shy of £300. Happy bunny as I have commercial tyres so I feel safe with the missus and 2 kids and the profile is not to high at 60.

    Once I get the tyres fitted, I'll post some pics!
     
  14. Original tyre size: 185/80/14 which has a rolling circurmference of 1965.18

    you might want to try again

    with your size tyres

    So when your speedo reads 70mph, you're actually travelling at mph
     
  15. mini bungles right most vans were 185/14 but some microbus's had a slightly lower profile tyre belive it might of been a 185/75/14?
     
  16. Thanks for the replies guys. I checked the one remaining original wheel and tyre and its a 185/75-14C so I think my tyre sizes work out ok. Better than what I have currently anyhow - 175/55-15 on the front and 185/60-15 on the back....
     
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