General 195/50/15 tyre Panda owners

[fpan]

My car would benefit from having new tyres as the ones on it although still have plenty of tread left, they are 4+ years old and have cracks.

I am tempted to get 195/50/15 not only because they are cheaper but to improve the ride quality at the same time.

However will the increased diameter make the car noticeably slower in gear acceleration and will I loose a lot of steering feedback?

Thanks!

 

[A3jeroen]

My car was already on 50's when I bought it. Car is pretty quick, still not really comfortable and the feedback is still ok!

gr J

 

[Goudrons]

I presume you have a 100hp with 195/45 R15's?

You'll gain 9.75mm of ride height with the 50's over the 45's.
The 50 or 45 in the tyre figure is % of the width not total height in millimeters.
So it's height is 50% of 195mm (97.5mm) compared to 45% of 195mm (87.75mm)

You'll also lose 9.75mm of wheel arch gap.
If the taller tyres don't catch on anything, it may look ungainly on such tall tyres.

Diameter will go from 556.5mm to 576mm, so you will lose a little acceleration as you're gearing it up slightly, but saying that, at cruise it will pull slightly less rpm.

Your speedo will read -3.39%
So reading 30mph you'll be doing 28.98mph, 60mph and you'll be doing 57.97mph.

 

[Dan Friel]

Makes zero difference to performance, and on my car it actually makes the speedo read closer to the truth (it was well over before and still is a bit). I can't see any negatives running 50 instead of 45, especially as they are cheaper.

 

[fpan]

Cool, I think I'll go with the 50s then. What tyres do you guys recommend?
I used to have 205 GTis that ran the same tyres and I had tried Michelin PE2 that were excellent (although there may be better alternatives nowadays) and some Bridgestones which although were good had too hard sidewalls (which may be a bonus in order not to loose any steering feel).
The Hankook S1 Evo were also good from the ones I've tried.

 

[Dan Friel]

Cool, I think I'll go with the 50s then. What tyres do you guys recommend?
I used to have 205 GTis that ran the same tyres and I had tried Michelin PE2 that were excellent (although there may be better alternatives nowadays) and some Bridgestones which although were good had too hard sidewalls (which may be a bonus in order not to loose any steering feel).
The Hankook S1 Evo were also good from the ones I've tried.

Have a look here:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre-Size/15-Inch-Tyres/195-50-15-Tyres.htm

 

[AB100]

Makes zero difference to performance, and on my car it actually makes the speedo read closer to the truth (it was well over before and still is a bit). I can't see any negatives running 50 instead of 45, especially as they are cheaper.

Agree with Dan - same for me. On 50s my speedo is pretty much 100% now.


No obvious acceleration difference, minor ride improvement and the extra sidewall helps reduce flatspots from potholes.


Uniroyal rainsport.

 

[Matt100HP]

Rainsport 3s get another vote from me, my mum's Fiesta has Rainsport 2s (195/50/R15) on its front wheels and they're fantastic in both wet and dry conditions. By all accounts the RS3s are an even better tyre and they're cheaper than RS2s nowadays.

When my 100HP needs tyres, it may well get cheaper 50s instead of the more expensive 45s. Especially now that Eagle F1s are hard to get hold of, so there's no practical way to fit the OEM tyre.

 

[fpan]

I assume no rubbing with the 50s even during hard cornering?

 

[Dan Friel]

I assume no rubbing with the 50s even during hard cornering?

No rubbing, even when on track..

 

[fpan]

Sounds good. The Rainsport 3 are cheap as chips in 50.
Dan, does the steering feel become more spongy and if there wasn't any difference in price between the 45/50 which one would you choose?

 

[toas1372]

I fit four toyo in a 50 profile and removed them after 2 weeks due to the fact they where catching the plastic spats, my car is lowered on KW coilovers but it's not sat on it arse. Just a tad lower than lowering springs. Went down a dip in the road and popped the spat of its clips so thought that was a it and changed them. The ride is a lot comfier but they handle a lot better on 45 profile tyres

 

[AB100]

Sounds good. The Rainsport 3 are cheap as chips in 50.
Dan, does the steering feel become more spongy and if there wasn't any difference in price between the 45/50 which one would you choose?

The difference is barely noticeable believe me. The fact that you're switching to newer, grippier tyres is the most obvious (as it always is when changing tyres).


There's no loss in 'feel' whatsoever over the Eagles, and little change in comfort - the main benefits being:


a) The Rainsport grip in the wet
b) The reduced chance of flatspotting your alloys on potholes (which I id to 2 of mine when wearing the 45s)

 

[Dan Friel]

Agree with the above, you won't have any issues.. just don't fit Toyo T1R's, there are better options.

 

[Rooflessdriver]

I recently changed all 4 tyres for Uniroyal Rainsport 3's and loving them.

There is a nice section of dual carriageway and roundabouts between one of my regular journeys at the moment, (A264 between Crawley & Horsham), and the car has been transformed.

So much more confidence in the handling, both in the dry and wet, its really added a new layer of enjoyment to the 100HP.
Highly recommended.

 

[Lucio]

Rooflessdriver..did you fit the 82V or the 82H rainsport 3's? (not that it makes much difference as they are rated at 150 & 130 mph) Curiously, the 82H are 50p more expensive on tyreleader.

 

[Rooflessdriver]

Rooflessdriver..did you fit the 82V or the 82H rainsport 3's? (not that it makes much difference as they are rated at 150 & 130 mph) Curiously, the 82H are 50p more expensive on tyreleader.

Off the top of my head, no idea. I will check for you when I pick up the car at the train station tonight.

 

[Lucio]

"Off the top of my head, no idea. I will check for you when I pick up the car at the train station tonight."

Thanks for that..Sorry to be a pain but if it's not too much trouble could you post a photo of your car with the 195/50s fitted? Just want to see what the slightly higher profile looks like before I commit to reshodding my car...would be greatly appreciated..

PS how do you include a quote from somebody else's reply when posting a reply?

Thanks again

 

[Lucio]

Off the top of my head, no idea. I will check for you when I pick up the car at the train station tonight.

Just figured it out!

 

[Rooflessdriver]

Thanks for that..Sorry to be a pain but if it's not too much trouble could you post a photo of your car with the 195/50s fitted? Just want to see what the slightly higher profile looks like before I commit to reshodding my car...would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks again

Yep no problems. Might not be for a day or so as its dark now and Im still at work!