Alternative tyre size to 195/55/55

Wolfchild

Wolfchild

Wolfchild

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5 Oct 2004
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341
Location
West Lothian, well in the sticks
Seems a daft size and not much choice at a decent price. Or in other words i was expecting the size to be a lot cheaper than the 18's i was used to putting on my own cars.

Any alternative size that would offer cheaper options as we dont want to be putting cheap nasty tyres on the car

Cheers folks
 
It will make the speedo over-read a bit and ( I think) the top speed lower, as the tyre is not as high.
 
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It wont be fine at all, the change in rolling radius will be quite significant - it is recommended you do not vary the rolling radius by more than 2.5% when changing tyre sizes. Changing from 195/55/15 to 195/50/15 is a change on rolling radius of more than 50% over this recommendation.

The best size would be 215/50/15 provided the 215 tyres fit in the arch as this would be an absolutely identical rolling radius to the original 195/55/15 tyre size. Failing that, 205/50/15 would be a -1.6% change in rolling radius which 'should' be ok.
 
Yeah 3.3% when going from 195/55/15 to 195/50/15.

When your speedo reads 30mph you will actually be doing 29.0mph
When your speedo reads 60mph you will actually be doing 58.0mph

Significant on paper but in the real world not that big a change?
 
But the speedo change is not the only consideration when increasing or decreasing tyre sizes. It can affect things like ABS sensors, traction control systems etc etc :)

I made a tyre size change on my front wheels this time around and despite the increase in rolling radius being just 1% in the flesh the tyre seems noticeably larger. I dont think I'd be comfortable with more than 3% difference.
 
Would be interesting to see what affect it had on them.

I've just ordered 4 x 195/45/16 CS3's, stock size is 205/45/16.

1.5% difference but a substantial saving.
 
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I would be interested too, it is ridiculous, I need the same size, the same ( brand&model) tyres on 195/50 r15 are mostly 40% cheaper than 195/55 r15 :(:(.

That said, what fox says is only a recommendation...
 
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Tim said:
Would be interesting to see what affect it had on them.

I've just ordered 4 x 195/45/16 CS3's, stock size is 205/45/16.

1.5% difference but a substantial saving.
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In theory you have reduced the contact patch and thus reduced the level of grip your car has over that of standard. I'm not sure thats a change I'd make in the name of saving a few quid.
 
Do they do a CS3 in 205/45/16?

Edit: Can't see that size on mytyres, I must have been comparing RE050A prices in those two sizes. I'm sure it was over £10 per tyre cheaper though.

I'm sure a 205 CS3 would provide more grip than a 195 CS3, but my tyres will be replacing a mix-match of nearly bald Kumhos and ditch finders, the level of grip is definitely not going to decrease:p
 
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Aren't 195/55 R15 dirt cheap? I'm sure my Xsara VTS has this size tyre and they are like £50 for Toyo T1R fitted at my local place. Thats without shopping around or specifying a particular tyre.
 
GT3 said:
Aren't 195/55 R15 dirt cheap? I'm sure my Xsara VTS has this size tyre and they are like £50 for Toyo T1R fitted at my local place. Thats without shopping around or specifying a particular tyre.
Click to expand...

They're cheap yeah, but the same tyre is £29 in 195/50/15.
 
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