Technical 195/55/15 instead of 185/55/15 tyres. Is it OK?

[The Twins]

Hi Guys,
Sorry for typo in title, I mean 195/50/15 not 55's.
Please do you think its ok to fit 195/50/15 om standard OEM 15" rims instead of the regular spec 185/55/15.
I know Jason runs 195's with 15" rims but they are aftermarket rims and likely wider than standard.
I think the standard rims are 6" wide.
The 195 size tyres are a good £20 per tyre cheaper and I'm thinking I might also benefit form the slight extra width too.
Opinions welcomed
Thanks,
Ian.

 

[ahmett]

Hi Guys,
Sorry for typo in title, I mean 195/50/15 not 55's.
Please do you think its ok to fit 195/50/15 om standard OEM 15" rims instead of the regular spec 185/55/15.
I know Jason runs 195's with 15" rims but they are aftermarket rims and likely wider than standard.
I think the standard rims are 6" wide.
The 195 size tyres are a good £20 per tyre cheaper and I'm thinking I might also benefit form the slight extra width too.
Opinions welcomed
Thanks,
Ian.

Give me a break The Twins we've discussed this 10000 times before. I am currently on the 195/50's on standard rims. They are fine and I do push the cars performance envelope. They feel much better than the 185/50's, but I guess that's the Michelin Pilots as well changing things. Only downside is the car feels a bit heavier on wider tires.

 

[KaZetec]

Ford uses 195/50/15 on the (Fiat made) Ka. Wonder why they chose that instead of just using the same as Fiats. Surely using the same would cut costs?

 

[306maxi]

Check with insurance company etc etc, but yes it will be fine.

 

[SteveTDCi]

Should be ok

 

[The Twins]

Thanks Guys,
Sorry Ahmett maybe not 1000 times though eh?
Just want to be sure.
So the overall opinion is that its fine.
Thanks maxi, I'll check it out with insurance
I noyice that rolling circumference is ever so slightly smaller too. nothing to cause the speedo to be out by much though.

 

[loveshandbags]

Thanks Guys,
Sorry Ahmett maybe not 1000 times though eh?
Just want to be sure.
So the overall opinion is that its fine.
Thanks maxi, I'll check it out with insurance
I noyice that rolling circumference is ever so slightly smaller too. nothing to cause the speedo to be out by much though.

When I enquired about using a cheaper size winter tyre of 185/60 R15 I got the green light from a phone call but when I asked for a follow through email it required an 'expert' to state that it was OK (Click here).

I would be curious as to what your insurance will say. Imagine that Maxi will stand by what was said before and I was appreciative of his advice.

The only reason that I can see you going for 195/50 R15 is for those 'cheap' Pilots. With 85bhp to play with I would stick with the 185/55. IMHO the Conti 5s would be a good compromise with a C fuel efficiency rating and a A for wet braking plus they're approx 1kg ligher. From the research that I did I believe that getting a B Fuel efficiency rating e.g. the BluResponse detracts from the overall performance rating (namely Grip) of a tyre which Dave has being trying to highlight. I would be a little sceptical of the comparison tests done on the Bluresponse to-date showing no downsides.

 

[306maxi]

I wouldn't get too focused on tyre ratins as an absolute measure of performance tbh, unless you're caravadossi in which case I would... But I'm not and neither is the twins.

 

[loveshandbags]

I wouldn't get too focused on tyre ratins as an absolute measure of performance tbh, unless you're caravadossi in which case I would... But I'm not and neither is the twins.

Main reason for recommending the Contis was because I had the Conti 2s on the last 500 and the Beamer and I really liked them. Drawback with them on the 500 was the mpg penalty which the Conti 5 has addressed. I may have mis-read The Twins requirement but he was opting for the Bluresponse originally on the basis of a A & B rating. I've adopted the middle line. That said I was mega impressed with the Pilots on a A500 esseesse but the TA is not in the same bhp bracket.

 

[306maxi]

I'd go for the pe2's myself. Good tyre, well known manufacturer and they're a performance tyre rather than touring or eco

 

[ahmett]

When I enquired about using a cheaper size winter tyre of 185/60 R15 I got the green light from a phone call but when I asked for a follow through email it required an 'expert' to state that it was OK (Click here).

I would be curious as to what your insurance will say. Imagine that Maxi will stand by what was said before and I was appreciative of his advice.

The only reason that I can see you going for 195/50 R15 is for those 'cheap' Pilots. With 85bhp to play with I would stick with the 185/55. IMHO the Conti 5s would be a good compromise with a C fuel efficiency rating and a A for wet braking plus they're approx 1kg ligher. From the research that I did I believe that getting a B Fuel efficiency rating e.g. the BluResponse detracts from the overall performance rating (namely Grip) of a tyre which Dave has being trying to highlight. I would be a little sceptical of the comparison tests done on the Bluresponse to-date showing no downsides.

The contis have far less grip. Good if you drive slowly but if you in any way push the performance envelope, they are scary tires.

 

[ahmett]

I'd go for the pe2's myself. Good tyre, well known manufacturer and they're a performance tyre rather than touring or eco

Exactly maxi. I think the best budget performance tire on the market, except maybe some Toyos (I have never tried them so cant be sure)
I paid 280 euros for a set of 4 fully fitted. I was laughing so hard when another tire shop was offering me the Pirelli P6 for the same price, which isn't even a performance tire!!


I plan on keeping these pilots until they are worn out and then buying the same ones as a replacement unless they come up with a new one within the next 2 years (I see my tires lasting me another 18 months at least) = )

 

[ahmett]

Main reason for recommending the Contis was because I had the Conti 2s on the last 500 and the Beamer and I really liked them. Drawback with them on the 500 was the mpg penalty which the Conti 5 has addressed. I may have mis-read The Twins requirement but he was opting for the Bluresponse originally on the basis of a A & B rating. I've adopted the middle line. That said I was mega impressed with the Pilots on a A500 esseesse but the TA is not in the same bhp bracket.

Even if the bhp is not the same, if you take corners at speed you really do see the difference of performance tires. its not only the acceleration under power that gets me worried about tire performance, in fact I almost never slide the tires on the fiat 500 under power in 1st as the 1.4 has very predictable power delivery due to it being an NA and I just feed the power in slowly before going full throttle to 6500 rpm. Its the braking and the cornering that is most important for cars with small power.

 

[loveshandbags]

Even if the bhp is not the same, if you take corners at speed you really do see the difference of performance tires. its not only the acceleration under power that gets me worried about tire performance, in fact I almost never slide the tires on the fiat 500 under power in 1st as the 1.4 has very predictable power delivery due to it being an NA and I just feed the power in slowly before going full throttle to 6500 rpm. Its the braking and the cornering that is most important for cars with small power.

On the 500 1.4 with 195/45 R16 on Contis 2 I never had to worry about feeding the power. I could just floor it but it did have ASC. In the 155TB with the Hankooks it sadly is not the same particularly in 1st. Would agree that if I was buying a set now I would ideally like an A for Wet braking and would not be pushed about the Fuel efficiency rating. There is a trend now towards having slightly thinner tyres for more fun but a 55 profile is compromised in the corners.

 

[The Twins]

Thanks for all your input chaps.
I've decided. Well almost.
It's between the Mich PE2 and Conti PC5
As pointed out the PE2 is 'performance' oriented so I'm tempted to go with it. I like tyres with sharp steering response and direct feel.
Even tho the TA only has 85bhp I can still really put the tyres under pressure when 'pressing on'
Never got over having to sell my Westfield a few yrs ago due to redundancy so even the lowly 500 gets treated like a go kart at times : P

 

[arorat]

Give me a break The Twins we've discussed this 10000 times before. I am currently on the 195/50's on standard rims. They are fine and I do push the cars performance envelope. They feel much better than the 185/50's, but I guess that's the Michelin Pilots as well changing things. Only downside is the car feels a bit heavier on wider tires.

Prob a silly question but will help others as well.

Won't there be issues if a 10mm wider Tyre is fitted to the rim holding the 185 ? I note the comment about Ford Ka.

 

[ahmett]

Prob a silly question but will help others as well.

Won't there be issues if a 10mm wider Tyre is fitted to the rim holding the 185 ? I note the comment about Ford Ka.

No not at all. Don't forget 10 mm is only 1 centimetre.

 

[bluejohn125]

Check out this thread...

https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/233667-1996-fiat-bravo-1-8-hlx-ink-black-8.html

The guy Adrian went up from 185/55x15 to 195/50x15 Mich PE2s for his pampered Bravo, and he was very happy.

Of course you could by some cheapo Hankooks... I seem to recall one forum expert buying them for his Alfa following endless deliberations and discussions about all possible options.

 

[loveshandbags]

...Of course you could by some cheapo Hankooks... I seem to recall one forum expert buying them for his Alfa following endless deliberations and discussions about all possible options.

This is the thread (Click here) and there is only one page of posts. It was over a wrong speed rated tyre on a car that I had just paid €10K for.

If you are thinking of developing your sarcism into trolling I would think twice about it because I wouldn't stand for it.

 

[arorat]

No not at all. Don't forget 10 mm is only 1 centimetre.

Thanks Ahmett, I was just curious and will read the above links.. I have withheld a "like" because you think I did not go to school, bad bad bad.