TYRE ADVICE

[Gee0]

I am running 215/40 /16 all round

An have purchased 2x 205/45/16 (In error on line and cant return)

Can I run the 205's on the front and the 215 on the back?

What difference will this make if any and would it be advised?

[theelanman]

dont know to be honest....
I would have thought that as our car is FWD then reducing the contact area would not be beneficial....
do you not have a local tyre guy who might buy them from you??....

[tweetdriver63]

Just curious why you run the 215's? Do you think it improves handling having slightly shorter sidewalls? that size introduces a 2% error in your speedo (it shows you going faster than you really are.

In any case, and this is just a guess, I would think putting the 205's on the rear would be best. It would look better that way, and because of the slightly shorter sidewalls on the 215's, the wheels that steer would probably be the better place for them. Like I said....just a guess.

[theelanman]

read the first post wrong....
didnt realise you were running slightly wider tyres

tyres should be

205/50 15.....or
205/45 16

[tweetdriver63]

According to the wheel and tire size comparison calculator here, they have exactly the same footprint, but the 215/40's have an overall diameter 12mm less than the 205/45's, and an overall width 10mm greater than the 205/45's. Where looks are concerned, I would think it would be better with wider on the back. In this case though, the wider tire is also the smaller diameter tire, and I think that would look a little weird being on the back. Seems to me that the 215's on the front would look better, and offer the best handling, since the turning wheels would have the lower sidewalls.

[JIMBO]

I am running 215/40 /16 all round

An have purchased 2x 205/45/16 (In error on line and cant return)

Can I run the 205's on the front and the 215 on the back?

What difference will this make if any and would it be advised?

Hi GeeO,
Neither combination would be good. Athough having a wider tyre on the front of Mini's
and some Alfa's was good for racing, generally speaking the O/D was very similar front
to back. Putting a smaller tyre (O/D) on the back would change the steering geometry
(a little) but it would also allow more weight transfer to the rear under heavy acceleration.

You don't say what make, or if they were supplied by a reputable dealer or private seller.
If it was a dealer I am sure it would be possible to return them by accepting a handling
charge and paying the postage. I know this would leave you out of pocket, but it's better
than having a car that handles with a mind of it's own.

Regards
Jim

[theelanman]

jimbo
think geeo got them on line.......with a 'no return' policy
cheers
g

[JIMBO]

jimbo
think geeo got them on line.......with a 'no return' policy
cheers
g

Hi elanman,
I was aware of that, but it's worth trying. Any well run operation would
concider this, unless they came direct from the Manufacturer and were
never handled by the seller. Even then, if the goods had been supplied
wrongly there would have to be a "return policy" in place.
If more info was available, and it was a company that I had any contact
with, I would be prepared to help try and sort it out.
Regards
Jimbo

[tweetdriver63]

Gee0,
Maybe if you posted the make/model of the tires, somebody here who is about to buy tires for theirs would want them, and either buy them from you, or work out a swap?

[Gee0]

Toyo proxies 205/45/16 (stock size IIRC)

[GeoffSmith]

Toyo proxies 205/45/16 (stock size IIRC)

Gerry, they're normal sized tyres for S2 wheels. Why don't you a) advertise them in the for sale section as S2 tyres or b) keep them, rotate your 215s until they all wear out and fit the proper sized tyres all round?

[max and andy]

Has the Kumho ku31 the side wall protection the same as the Michelin pilots to stop your alloys getting scuffed. Are there any other mid range tyres with this protector? Thanks M&A.

[max and andy]

We have two sets of wheels that need tyres we like the rime protection that the Michelin offer but buying 8 in one hit is a lot. We have tried to check the different agents and sites to find other brands that are cheaper. But few give that spec. Any pointers would help loads. One set would be for track use and maybe getting there. So we are a bit reluctant to spend to much. Thanks M&A.

[theelanman]

there are loads of em.....

http://www.mytyres.co.uk

£49.50 each and upwards

[max and andy]

[Blue_Bullet]

I went with a slightly higher wall on my old wheel, made the drive feel so much smoother!

2 of 205/55 R/5 H660

2 of 205/55 R/5 AR550

[Blue_Bullet]

I went with a slightly higher wall on my old wheel, made the drive feel so much smoother!

2 of 205/55 R/5 H660

2 of 205/55 R/5 AR550

Still trying to sell the old s1 alloys with these nearly new tyres on them!

any interest?

[theelanman]

I went with a slightly higher wall on my old wheel, made the drive feel so much smoother!

2 of 205/55 R/5 H660

2 of 205/55 R/5 AR550

Still trying to sell the old s1 alloys with these nearly new tyres on them!

any interest?

erm...slightly higher wall...
puts the speedo out, changes the suspension geometry and therefore handling and will also rub on your arch liners to start with three problems I can see to start with

[Blue_Bullet]

I can see what you are saying but i think you are Wrong as they Did not rub on my Arches, however I have tried 17" TSW's with low profiles they did do this!

They did give a much smoother ride and made the speedo more accurate!

As for the geometry you could be correct, but I cant see it makes any difference from having S2 wheels ie 16" or federals on because they were then matched in size! possibly not weight though, I was not that sad to weigh them!

The car felt good, drove and cornered just as well and I didn't have a massive gap between the Tyre and arch anymore!!!

So there ! lol


Anyway I have sold them to surfboardfiller now and i'm sure he will back me up on this!

[tweetdriver63]

I can see what you are saying but i think you are Wrong as they Did not rub on my Arches, however I have tried 17" TSW's with low profiles they did do this!

They did give a much smoother ride and made the speedo more accurate!
As for the geometry you could be correct, but I cant see it makes any difference from having S2 wheels ie 16" or federals on because they were then matched in size! possibly not weight though, I was not that sad to weigh them!

The car felt good, drove and cornered just as well and I didn't have a massive gap between the Tyre and arch anymore!!!

So there ! lol


Anyway I have sold them to surfboardfiller now and i'm sure he will back me up on this!

I was going to say it would make the speedo more accurate. My speedo reads about 10% higher than actual speed, and the 55 vs 45 would make the actual speed 7.2% higher than indicated. Therefore, the speedo would end up indicating about 2% or so higher than actual....a lot more accurate. However, I would think the handling would have to be affected by a tire with a .85 inch larger radius. Probably not noticably for normal street driving though. I wouldn't think that difference in diameter would make them rub in the wheel arches, though, but I could be wrong there.