Tyres - does it matter?

[dunslair]

Got to go against the grain here and say that having driven both 195 front and 215 front, the 195s steered and tracked far better. The wider 215s "tramlined" too much for my liking!

Don't mention the trams I did once but I think I got away with it

Nice to be back to the traffic chaos

[Hippotastic]

Got to go against the grain here and say that having driven both 195 front and 215 front, the 195s steered and tracked far better. The wider 215s "tramlined" too much for my liking!

I put 195 on the front of mine, and the steering was much lighter and the handling for me was better. I have 215 on the back steel wheels 4WD.

[scanner]

Got to go against the grain here and say that having driven both 195 front and 215 front, the 195s steered and tracked far better. The wider 215s "tramlined" too much for my liking!

I put 195 on the front of mine, and the steering was much lighter and the handling for me was better. I have 215 on the back steel wheels 4WD.

Trouble is I find they don't like wet roundabouts then though - I didn't find it made any difference whatsoever to the steering & I'm sure Mrs S would have told me if it had of done (she hates parking!).

[dandywarhol]

But then that could be down to tyre make, type and compounds...........................

[scanner]

But then that could be down to tyre make, type and compounds...........................

Exactly - so why minimise the tyre size? We don't use Japanese spec tyres so why stick with anything else if it doesn't suit UK conditions? I decided that standardising on size made carrying a (proper) spare easier and allowed for swapping around to even out wear in case I couldn't replace the tyres like for like as I don't like mixing and matching for the reason you give above.

Same size all round just makes life so much easier and doesn't seem to offer many problems in return.

[dandywarhol]

Fair 'nuf - 205 all round would be ok too - I'd that for my first set - Goodyear GT2 reinforced but they wore out quickly. The 195 Continental Vancos I replaced them with just feel better on my van.

[David Edwards]

First thing I did when Ibought mine seven years ago now was listen to the excellent mechanic at the garage, he advised same size all round and I have stuck to it, with 215'6 all round and on the spare, space saver went up the tip this week,lol after sitting in the shed for so long. At the mo I am on Accelera 215's with a 100V rating at £36.00 each fitted. Happy with that, they are a lot quieter than the nangkangs I had on before although they were a damn good tyre as well.

[Alifriendee]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm thinking I might fit a new set of 215's all round but can anyone advise me on the profile to use i.e. 65 or 70?

I'm assuming it's 65 as per the plate on the drivers door.

195/70 R15 92S
215/65 R15 96S

[Lewy]

I have always fitted 195s and 215s as per the book but this time fitted 215s all round and I have to say the ride and handling is much better. Just been on a short trip round Cornwall picked up a beaut of new board

Cheapest I could find round here were Roadstones at £48 and I spent days looking!!!

One benefit I can see is that my 195s on the front have always been prone to castling and blocking - at least now I have the option of swapping tyres round a bit to even out the waer if needs be, although some people have said that there is less of this uneven wear with 215s all round. And I put one of the part worn 215s on the spare too so covered there.

The profile I used is a per the rears - 65.

[missfixit70]

If you don't put the same profile for the same size tyres, on the 4wd you'll have problems. That's why the profile's different on the 195s, so the rolling diameter is the same (nearly).

[Alifriendee]

Thanks

It's going to be 215/65 R15 96S (or better) all round then. I got a quote at about £50 per tyre fitted and balanced. They referred to this spec of tyre as being "van tyres". No they're not, they are BONGO tyres!

Final question - tyre pressures? Someone posted to ignore the recommended pressures on the plate on the drivers door, so are there recommended tyre pressures available? Will they be the same front and back?

I will fit a full sized spare underneath the vehicle so will keep an eye out on the forum for one.

I'll run out of tyre questions soon you'll all be pleased to hear!

[phedders]

Thats a good point - I've been meaning to ask around to see if anyone had a spare steel they want rid of in the south east recently... welll

[missfixit70]

Thanks

It's going to be 215/65 R15 96S (or better) all round then. I got a quote at about £50 per tyre fitted and balanced. They referred to this spec of tyre as being "van tyres". No they're not, they are BONGO tyres!

Final question - tyre pressures? Someone posted to ignore the recommended pressures on the plate on the drivers door, so are there recommended tyre pressures available? Will they be the same front and back?

I will fit a full sized spare underneath the vehicle so will keep an eye out on the forum for one.

I'll run out of tyre questions soon you'll all be pleased to hear!

I was using 36/38 psi front & 38/40 psi rear, on my 15" depending on loading.

[mister munkey]

Agreed.

I settled at 38 front 40 rear when I had 15's

[moonshine]

I too had 215s all round on my 4WD. It handled beautifully.