• Notice regarding image hosts and attachments. See here.

Using two different tyre sizes on a car.

Burnsy2023

Burnsy2023

Burnsy2023

Man of Honour
Joined
17 Nov 2003
Posts
36,750
Location
Southampton, UK
My V70 has 215/55/16 on all four corners. This is a problem as they are wider than the 205/55/16 they should have and therefore ever so slightly rub the wheel linings on full lock. The fronts need to be replaced but the rears have loads of life left on them. Is it ok to put 205/55/16 on both the fronts and leave 215/55/16 on the rears?
 
As far as the MOT is concerned, you only need matching size tyres on the same axle. So yes, 205 on the front and 215 on the rear will be fine.
 
Indeed, I used to have 195/55/16's on the rear of the civic and 195/50/16's on the front.
 
Will be fine. Mine has 205/55/16 all round, they are quite a bit cheaper, and are the correct size I think, as Volvo factory fit steering limiters for larger sizes to prevent rubbing, that's why you get owners with 17" plus moaning about turning circle.
 
mattyfez said:
Will be fine. Mine has 205/55/16 all round, they are quite a bit cheaper, and are the correct size I think, as Volvo fit steering limiters for larger sizes to prevent rubbing, that's why you get owners with 17" plus moaning about turning circle.
Click to expand...

It's not just people with 17s that complain about the turning circle :p
 
Burnsy2023 said:
My V70 has 215/55/16 on all four corners. This is a problem as they are wider than the 205/55/16 they should have and therefore ever so slightly rub the wheel linings on full lock. The fronts need to be replaced but the rears have loads of life left on them. Is it ok to put 205/55/16 on both the fronts and leave 215/55/16 on the rears?
Click to expand...

Yes, my Westfield has 195/50/15 on the front and 215/45/15's on the rear.
 
amigafan2003 said:
Yes, my Westfield has 195/50/15 on the front and 215/45/15's on the rear.
Click to expand...

Although these will be far closer in rolling radius than the tyre size Burnsey has in mind.

Mine has different sizes front to back as well - but the profile on the rears (265/35/18) is reduced to compensate.
 
The Volvo S60 has a comedy turning circle, on any wheel size. Everybody comments on it.

Its like turning round a steamliner.

And changing the tyre size won't stop the rubbing either. Its a common thing mentioned on the forums that the wheels rubs on lock to lock turns.
 
[TW]Fox;19306380 said:
Although these will be far closer in rolling radius than the tyre size Burnsey has in mind.

Mine has different sizes front to back as well - but the profile on the rears (265/35/18) is reduced to compensate.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think it's 0.07% difference.

However 205/55/16 and 215/55/16 is still only 1.7% difference - hardly anything to be concerned about - 11mm in height terms.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
I'm confused. If I'm only changing the width of the tyre, how is the rolling radius being changed?
Click to expand...

Because the 55 isn't an absolute figure, it's a percentage, so a 215/55 tyre has a larger circumference than a 205/55 tyre as well as being wider.
 
mattyfez said:
Will be fine. Mine has 205/55/16 all round, they are quite a bit cheaper, and are the correct size I think, as Volvo factory fit steering limiters for larger sizes to prevent rubbing, that's why you get owners with 17" plus moaning about turning circle.
Click to expand...

Apparently the recent V70 uses a different steering system to previous Volvos and it's a big step back in terms of turning circle - is that what you mean? My mum sold her V70 within a year because she hated the steering, and went to a V40 instead, which apparently didn't use the newer system.
 
vonhelmet said:
Apparently the recent V70 uses a different steering system to previous Volvos and it's a big step back in terms of turning circle - is that what you mean? My mum sold her V70 within a year because she hated the steering, and went to a V40 instead, which apparently didn't use the newer system.
Click to expand...

The phase 2 models are awful. It's much better in the phase 3 2007- models though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom