Once & For All - Tyre size advice please. . . .

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:18 am

I've had a cruise through some of the threads on here discussing tyre sizes. There seems to be various lines of thought depending on 2/4WD, rim size, speedo accuracy blah, blah, blah.

I've just bought a set of 17"s for mine. I'd like to not have to experiment with different combinations (that expensive rubber don't grow on trees you know!). I'm looking for more along the lines of grip/stability & roadholding rather than "filling" the gap in the wheelarch or economy.

Is there one difinitive answer as to which width/aspect/load I should get?

Can they (prefferably) be the same size front & back?. . . .

Cheers Gurus

Post by **Bob** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:39 am

Same size front and back, yes. Definitive answer on the rest, no.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:45 am

1 Decide whether you want same gearing of higher gearing (ala Torchwood et al)

2 Use the tyre size calculator in one of the other threads to get the gearing you want.

3 Fit that size of tyre all round.

For your other requirement(s) read my post tonight in "Winter Tyres" they are great, in fact you can try them yourself when I get to collect the seats (hopefully) soon.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:57 am

Closest matches without going very wide.

Tire Size Comparison

Specification .. Sidewall .. Radius .. Diameter .. Circumference .. Revs/Mile .. Difference
215/65-15 ...... 5.5in ...... 13.0in ...... 26.0in ..... 81.7in ..... 776 ...... 0.0%
215/55-17 ...... 4.7in ...... 13.2in...... 26.3in ...... 82.7in ...... 767 ....... 1.2%
225/50-17 ..... 4.4in ...... 12.9in ...... 25.9in ....... 81.2in ...... 780 ...... -0.6%

These are the ones that did well in the wet in the Autoexpress tests.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... 0s555p8802

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:00 am

Please do Scanner, the poor seats are living outside now, under a tarp but heaven knows what the winter (or the local wildlife) is doing to them!!

All the same, always keen to check another mighty Bongo out. . . . .

madmile · Post by **madmile** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:03 am

I have put several sets of 215/55/17's on and very happy with the overall look/feel /cost.
They are a bit taller so will affect the speedo (no big issue to sort), the width is not stupid so you dont get too much tramlinning and there is enough side wall to protect the rims but still give a decent feel to the handling. Also being a little taller, they do fill the arches a bit more than standard.
Plus they are available at sensible prices (approx £65 each) in 98xl.
The make I have used is 'accelera'.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:17 am

Once again - Thanx, you really are an inspiring bunch.

215/55's it will be.

Top troop.

Hugs to all,

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:51 am

MM

When are you about/available/concious over the Xmas/New Year break?

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:11 pm

Have PM'd you Scanner.

DemonAV · Post by **DemonAV** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:31 pm

I use all 235/50/17 on 4WD, difference from 215/65/15 is 0,96% .
Recomend

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:06 pm

mikeonb4c wrote:Very nice wheels DemonAV.

How far can you go with this one. I have some 17" alloys that I might buy new tyres for and I'm tempted to get as big as poss if price not too high.

is it possible to go to 2??/60/17 or even 2??/65/17? I'm thinking of the Torchwood MPG idea plus filling wheel arches for looks

Good question, I was thinking of fitting 17" alloys with 215/65/17. Anyone done it?

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:08 pm

If you use the tyre size calculator it will show you what is possible and what is OTT.

Your also have to take into account the widths of tyre that can be fitted to a given width rim.

Mine are 7.5 and the fitter told me that 215s I fitted were as narrow as he would recommend on a 7.5 rim.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:22 pm

Next possibly daft question. . .

With 235's on the front, does the steering lock or rubbing away of wheel arches get affected?

Wide tyres look cool but holes in the arches ain't so hot.

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:28 pm

I've 245/45 18's on mine no prob's what so ever.

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:28 pm

scanner wrote:If you use the tyre size calculator it will show you what is possible and what is OTT.

Your also have to take into account the widths of tyre that can be fitted to a given width rim.

Mine are 7.5 and the fitter told me that 215s I fitted were as narrow as he would recommend on a 7.5 rim.

The calculator says yes, and as Torchwood fitted 70 profile 16" logic says there should not be a problem. But its always worth hearing from someone who has done it (just in case the calculator is wrong).

Are your rims 17"?