tyres sizes for 7Jx15

[rab-doo]

So it's time to finally put some rubber on the Hartge rims that have been kicking around the spare room for a while.
Unfortunately times are tight so I was wondering if anyone has experience of running 195/55R15 instead of the usual 205/55R15?

For a start, do they fit OK? and secondly will handling be noticebly affected?

[Theo]

They will be fine, but I'd personally go for a 205/50 profile instead.

[Nay]

205/50/15 has a smaller tyre wall doesn't it?

[Theo]

Who cares? Not like the speedo is accurate anyway.

FYI - a 195/55 will also be different from OE spec as the tyre wall height will be 55% of the tyre width (195mm)

[magpie]

205 will offer more protection to the lip on your wheels and reduce,,damage

[rab-doo]

Looking at http://www.blackcircles.com for what's in my range -

I reckon I'm gonna be a total gyp and buy mega budget 205/55R15 - £194.44 for 4 over Toyo Proxes T1-R 195/55 R15 V (85) £215.04 for four.

That way I'm running the proper size and I can put 2 decent ones on when the time comes Surely better than running 205s up front and 195s out back for a while.

I'm not bothered about grip

[Jon_Bmw]

195 55 tyres are expensive! 205 50 as Theo said. If you really are being a skin flint, 195 50

[Nay]

Toyo Proxes T1-R

These tyres in 205/55/15 (which i'll be getting) are apparently really good especially for being part of the reasonably priced tyre range.

Apparently going up into the expensive tyres make very little difference compared to these for road use and occassional "fun" driving. Not sure what they'd be like on a track, especially compared to top end road tyres, but for roughly 50 a tyre they aint bad.

Personally i'd only go for 205/50/15 as a none standard set just to lower the tyre wall. Haven't really seen or heard anything about running on 195/50/15s before. I take it they give you the strecthed tyre look. Anyone got any photos/opinions? Still doubt i'll go for them. I'll probably stick to standard till i can afford some borbet A's (or B's if i find some )

[rab-doo]

205 will offer more protection to the lip on your wheels

God knows they need it with my parking skills!

hmmm....Blackcircles.com Value Choice 205/50 R15 V (86) £177.12 - Yee-hawww!

Cheers for the tips fellas.

[Jon_Bmw]

Are you really sure you can't spend an extra £17.44?

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... 0s289p1673

Free postage, next day delivery. When you buy them send me a fiver for finding them for you?

[Jhonno]

Good to see the usual e30 owner spirit alive and well..

Scrimp even the bits that keep you on the road

[rab-doo]

Good to see the usual e30 owner spirit alive and well

More like the recently made unemployed spirit! Right now I need to be legal and mobile - The end.

Are you really sure you can't spend an extra £17.44?

Prices I quoted are fitted - usually around another tenner a wheel no?

[Jon_Bmw]

I find a crate of £8-10 beer will get me 4 tyres removed, new ones fitted and all balanced up. I do just drop the wheels with the company to save them have to put it on a 2 poster and fuck about with wheel bolts etc etc.

[djk]

205/55 x 15 tyre circumference = 1925mm
205/50 x 15 tyre circumference = 1860mm

So a difference of just over one percent. Each wheel revolution will equate to a 1% shorter distance covered, so speedo should overread by about 1% compared to standard size tyres. My e30 speedo overreads by roughly 5 - 10% at present compared to satnav, so it would just make the 'speed camera margin' a bit bigger, ie 6 - 11% in my example. Basically there is a minimal difference, and it's in the 'right' direction.

Personally I think 205/50 x 15 looks wrong on e30s, but each to their own, and they do tend to be considerably cheaper.

[Dezzy]

I will take a pic of my sallon tonight when i get in its sat on 15 and 195, 50,s. I think it looks mint. It is personal opinion though. I hate the balloon effect of standard tyres. That might just be me.

[Jhonno]

195/50 on an e30 looks wrong! You are left with massive air above the wheel to the arch..

[mr_dink]

i'm running 195/50s, did have 205/55s but had to change cos they rubbed.

I think the 195/50 looks good, very very slight stretch.

My car is lowered 60mm though so I don't have any problems with arch gaps

[Nay]

205/55 x 15 tyre circumference = 1925mm
205/50 x 15 tyre circumference = 1860mm

So a difference of just over one percent. Each wheel revolution will equate to a 1% shorter distance covered, so speedo should overread by about 1% compared to standard size tyres. My e30 speedo overreads by roughly 5 - 10% at present compared to satnav, so it would just make the 'speed camera margin' a bit bigger, ie 6 - 11% in my example. Basically there is a minimal difference, and it's in the 'right' direction.

Personally I think 205/50 x 15 looks wrong on e30s, but each to their own, and they do tend to be considerably cheaper.

When i asked a local garage about 205/55/15 he said they're a little dearer becuase they aren't a common size. are 205/50s more common?

[magpie]

i had 205 50 15 on my 60mm dropped m40,,that handled well,,,
i have 205 45 16 on the front of my IS and 225 45 16,on the rear,,soon too be lowered 40mm all round.
on standard IS shocks for comfort. i dont want to be smashed all over the place like in my m40 60mm drop.
again8)

[mr_dink]

205/55 x 15 tyre circumference = 1925mm
205/50 x 15 tyre circumference = 1860mm

So a difference of just over one percent. Each wheel revolution will equate to a 1% shorter distance covered, so speedo should overread by about 1% compared to standard size tyres. My e30 speedo overreads by roughly 5 - 10% at present compared to satnav, so it would just make the 'speed camera margin' a bit bigger, ie 6 - 11% in my example. Basically there is a minimal difference, and it's in the 'right' direction.

Personally I think 205/50 x 15 looks wrong on e30s, but each to their own, and they do tend to be considerably cheaper.

When i asked a local garage about 205/55/15 he said they're a little dearer becuase they aren't a common size. are 205/50s more common?

Last tyre place i spoke to told me the other way round, he had loads of 205/55s and no 205/50s?

[djk]

205/55 x 15 tyre circumference = 1925mm
205/50 x 15 tyre circumference = 1860mm

So a difference of just over one percent. Each wheel revolution will equate to a 1% shorter distance covered, so speedo should overread by about 1% compared to standard size tyres. My e30 speedo overreads by roughly 5 - 10% at present compared to satnav, so it would just make the 'speed camera margin' a bit bigger, ie 6 - 11% in my example. Basically there is a minimal difference, and it's in the 'right' direction.

Personally I think 205/50 x 15 looks wrong on e30s, but each to their own, and they do tend to be considerably cheaper.

When i asked a local garage about 205/55/15 he said they're a little dearer becuase they aren't a common size. are 205/50s more common?

So I understand - almost anything is better than 205/55 x 15 as it is a weird size when you think about it - it falls between two stools ie tyres for bigger/more modern cars and tyres for smaller/older cars, if you see what I mean.

I might be confusing myself however with all these tyre sizes, I'm no expert. Best thing to do is shop around and see what you can do. Personally I would tend towards original sizes and proper brands so long as they're not ridiculously expensive.

[Nay]

Ye i see what you mean. Newer cars are getting smaller more low prof as standard, and older cars had bigger ones... loosely speaking.

i had 205 50 15 on my 60mm dropped m40,,that handled well,,,
i have 205 45 16 on the front of my IS and 225 45 16,on the rear,,soon too be lowered 40mm all round.
on standard IS shocks for comfort. i dont want to be smashed all over the place like in my m40 60mm drop.
again

225/45/16s? they for 16" by 8" wheels?

A lot of people like this stretched look, but i also really like the bludging look (where the tyre is slighter wider). Can this be done, and would it mess up the grip? for example 205/<60|65>/15s? Would be cool.

Has anyone got any photos of no standard tyres on the 15" bbs?

[darren1200]

If your that skint go and get 4 part worns £60 fitted

[Dezzy]

Hourses for courses mate. I wouldnt be messing about with part worns. I am a tyre fitter and we have nothing but problems with them. My advice is get the best you can afford, Tyres make a big difference on e30 we all know they are tail happy.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo36 ... 110378.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo36 ... 110379.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo36 ... 110368.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo36 ... 110369.jpg

[magpie]

my 225 are on these 7j,,rears only,,,phat foooker's

[Dezzy]

Thats a nice looking car mate, I love the standard bbs wheels but yours look really nice.

[darren1200]

I go side ways everywhere rears only last a month!

[Dezzy]

Like i say i am a tyre fitter. I love ford for fitting 195/50/15 on the new fiesta. I have loads off with 2-3mm left. On the back with 50psi in love it. Number 11s everywhere.

[magpie]

Thats a nice looking car mate, I love the standard bbs wheels but yours look really nice.

i get my center caps back tomorrow,,,machined down to form a recess to take my new alpina center caps,,,will look cool as feck when i put them on tomorrow ,,,cheers for the nice coms