Its a N00b question but... As the subject detials, can we install wider tyres and in turn possibly slimmer tyres on our cars? (Not talking about diameter i.e. 15inch - 17inch)
I got 195/65 R15... any chance of increasing to 205/ for example?

Yes but with wider wheels & tyres be sure to check clearances lock to lock on the front & on suspension compression front AND back.

Personally I wouldnt go thinner than original for any reason...

MiniMonster said:

Its a N00b question but... As the subject detials, can we install wider tyres and in turn possibly slimmer tyres on our cars? (Not talking about diameter i.e. 15inch - 17inch)
I got 195/65 R15... any chance of increasing to 205/ for example?

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I found that if you increase the tyre size on the same wheel it alters the speedo reading ..find one of those sites where you can check and you will see what I mean..

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html

i fitted 225 mm wide tires without problems - on 17 inch though.
I don't know what's available for your rims, the outer diameter of the tire has to be (nearly) equal to the original tire.

yellowstilo said:

i fitted 225 mm wide tires without problems - on 17 inch though.
I don't know what's available for your rims, the outer diameter of the tire has to be (nearly) equal to the original tire.

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On a 17" wheel you should have a profile of 45 ..that will be nigh on the same rolling radius as a standard 195/65/15..I bet your car don't half tram line tho Gert

fortunately i never encounter tramlines where i'm driving, never experienced any negative drawback, just a lot of grip and driving fun!

MiniMonster said:

Its a N00b question but... As the subject detials, can we install wider tyres and in turn possibly slimmer tyres on our cars? (Not talking about diameter i.e. 15inch - 17inch)
I got 195/65 R15... any chance of increasing to 205/ for example?

Click to expand...

If you go up to 205, you should lower the profile to 60: 205/60R15. This will make your tire a bit too fast, making your speedometer read 100 km/h when you do 99 km/h. Minor differences. If you stick to profile of 65 your tire will be too slow, showing 100 km/h when you drive in 102 km/h.

So either way, 205 on 60 or 65 profile will work on 15" rim.

Standard is 195/65R15. To get equal sizes you should go for one of these alternatives (on larger rim than 15"):

- 195/60R16
- 205/55R16
- 205/50R17
- 215/45R17
- 225/45R17

225/45R17 is 100% accurate the 195/65R15 though 215/45R17 is the delivery standard on the 17" Stilo.

the standard tire size is stored in the configuration inside the body computer, i'm pretty sure the Stilo will use this information to calculate the correct speed + distance - so different tyre sizes between normal and Abarth versions wouldn't be a problem...

I have the standard 205 55 16 is it possible to go 215 50 16, Would doing this protect the alloys better?

I have 195/40/ 17 on 8j wheels.. no problem

coyle said:

I have 195/40/ 17 on 8j wheels.. no problem

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Hehe, that's way out.

Do you feel you are in the lead all the time? With 100 cars behind?

60 mph on your speedo and you are actually doing 55. In addition the speedo is reading a bit higher for safety reasons, so 53 perhaps?

8" is a pretty wide rim for a 195 wide tire.

coyle said:

I have 195/40/ 17 on 8j wheels.. no problem

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... outside of the problem of running on un-approved rims.

Anyone have any experience of a `disappointing incident' with tyres on un-approved rims - & the insurance consequences?

.

MiniMonster said:

Its a N00b question but... As the subject detials, can we install wider tyres and in turn possibly slimmer tyres on our cars? (Not talking about diameter i.e. 15inch - 17inch)
I got 195/65 R15... any chance of increasing to 205/ for example?

Click to expand...

The 195/65R15 size has been argued (although 2/3 years back) to be the UK’s best seller - & consequently brand competition may still remain high, & price levels low. Moving any-which-way from that size – like-for-like – maybe costly. Can’t make-out what Dunlop your running. But (say) a Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse – then 195/65R15 91H (or V) is around £63-64 fitted, in contrast to 205/65R15 94H (or V) at £80-82 … & all for +10mm of width & +6.5mm of sidewall!

.

yellowstilo said:

fortunately i never encounter tramlines where i'm driving, never experienced any negative drawback, just a lot of grip and driving fun!

Click to expand...

I'd question how much of that is imagined.

The 1st thing most peeps do with wider tyres is increase the tyre pressure to overcome steering resistance and reduce tram-lining effect as PNL commented on.

That means you then have LESS rubber in contact with the road and a fair chance of sliding (skitting) over surfaces rather than hugging them.

Argonought said:

I'd question how much of that is imagined.

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You don't get much more grip. Let's say on 195 tires you get a square grip area. On 215 you get a rectangle area which equals the 195 area. The car's wheight is still the same so you don't get more grip. The car will propably feel more stable when cornering hard though, but then you must remember to have a high load index on the tires.

Morty Mort said:

You don't get much more grip. Let's say on 195 tires you get a square grip area. On 215 you get a rectangle area which equals the 195 area. The car's wheight is still the same so you don't get more grip. The car will propably feel more stable when cornering hard though, but then you must remember to have a high load index on the tires.

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Quite so Morten, and it can be argued that a wide but narrow footprint (as a wide tyre would generate) is more easily 'broken' by the direct effect of steering compared to the oval footprint of a standard width tyre.

...and that assumes tyre pressure remains unchanged.

deleted. i was talking rubbish!!!!!

Thanks for all of the comments!!

I need four new tyres asap so, have we come to a conclusion?

My personal is you'd do far better to keep to whatever came on the car in the 1st place (based on the handbook) and simply keep to quality brand tyres.

You can be pretty sure that should return best mpg and handling

Or buy a set of 16" dynamic alloys with good tyres. Should be able to get a set for £80-£100. And your car will look better for it