Tyre width

[Alwyn]

I have got four near mint 195/55 R15 tyres currently on a piece of shit Volvo which is about to go to the breakers.

Anyone got any ideas of whether it would be OK to have these tyres fitted to standard 15" BBSs for my Touring? I believe the standard tyres are 205/55.

This would save me a bloody fortune in new tyres.

[orangecurry]

it would probably be 'ok', but your rolling diameter would be slightly wrong, and so would your speedo....
606.5mm for the 'correct' size, 595.5 for your 195/55/15, so that's 11mm smaller diameter.

what would concern me is that the 195 tyres might be a bit stretched on the rim from a width point of view, as your BBS will be 7inches wide - I'm sure someone on the zone has done this though?

[Alwyn]

As long as it is safe, I can live with being a little further from the a speeding ticket.

Would it be a good idea to measure the width of the Volvo rims??? This might solve the 'stretching' quandry.

[orangecurry]

definately - good idea; it will be written/stamped in the metal somewhere 7Jx15, or more likely I think 6.5Jx15

I'm not an expert - this is about safety so you should be careful
I think that when you get into a car and go driving on the roads, there are only 5 things (that are within your control) that really are the difference between life and death, and 4 of those are the tyres.

this is worth reading if you have a few moments; this bloke seems to know what he is on about

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

skip down to the section on

'Too wide or too narrow - does it make a difference?'

[Chris]

Come on then what is the 5th thing?

[320Touring]

i've got 195/50 all round on my touring/iS all fine here

16k miles under their belt too

[orangecurry]

there we go - actual experience says it's a go-er - I suppose we can trust a zoneteammember

the fifth thing is...you; the driver of course

[320Touring]

there we go - actual experience says it's a go-er - I suppose we can trust a zoneteammember

ask me mate dave who helped me put 6500 of those miles on them within 2weeks-its all good for me.

and the 5th thing is "the nut behind the wheel"

[Chris-W]

"the nut behind the wheel"

22mm, before anyone asks.

[320Touring]

"the nut behind the wheel"

22mm, before anyone asks.

my waist is bigger than that

[Chris-W]

I know.

[320Touring]

I know.

take it you managed to exchange the shekels I gave you for a new battery for the rangerover?

my dad just shook his head when i turned up with it

[Chris-W]

It just doesn't like a warm start. Might have to bight the bullet and service it.

my dad just shook his head when i turned up with it

Like bringing a Sex Pistols single home....

[Alwyn]

I have heard a vicious rumour that the 195s might be a little bit better for some tail out fun... and all for the princely sum of paying someone to change the tyres over.

Thanks for the help.