I'm in the market for some new tyres for my 16v. It's currently on 185/55s, which seem to be the original size for UK cars. From what I can tell, 195/50s will also fit, and seem to be standard fit in a lot of foreign markets. Can anyone offer any advice as to the most suitable tyres for the car? thanks a lot for your help! Adam

Fit the standard spec tyres, no question...

Yes the 195/50s are an equivealent diameter but they are unnecessarily wide and heavier to spin up, you will get worse acceleration and fuel consumption.

This has been discussed often on the Brava / Bravo and 500 forums, just get some decent-ish standard rubber (e.g. nexen N-Blue or better).

Thanks very much for your advice. Adam

I doubt you will notice any difference between those sizes, the larger ones will look somewhat better, and would be my personal choice.
( But only Pirelli....!!).

Oh dear! don't make it harder for me to decide!!


I would get Pirellis if P600s were still available, but they're not, and I don't like their P1 Cincuratos. So I think it will be Continental Premium contacts

What about P7?
Although the P1 is a realy good ( looking) tire, we have them on our Fiat, , quiet and superb roadholding at a decent price...

BTW, what diam. 14, 15 or 16 Inch...??

Do you think they're good looking? i'm not so sure, but I've not seen them in the flesh. have you got any pics of them on your car?


The diameter is 15". standard tyres on the Sedicivalvole seems to be 185/55 in the UK, but I've noticed that non-UK spec cars seem to be 195/50

just checked and P7s don't fit unfortunately. thanks for the suggestion though, they would have been ideal!!

No pictures, but I think the P1 looks great!
I ran P6 before, but the P1 is as good as the P6 in my opinion..

I don't like modern asymmetric tyres, just a new gimmick I think.

On an older car stick with a traditional pattern, I think the idea of Continentals is good, they are a standard Fiat fit on new cars, even the humble 500 1.2 !!

I didn't like those asymmetric tires as well, but the P7,and specially the new P1 are so good, I don't care about the pattern anymore, roadholding, sharp cornering, and quietness are more important now...
Btw I don't see any reason why older cars should run on tires that are o.e on new cars...
You know that all "sporty" VW models are equiped with Pirelli from the factory...??

Still available from Mytyres in the UK...

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rs...rd&Label=F-E-71-3&details=Ordern&typ=R-158192

P6 was always the cl;assic performance model from Pirelli...

Thanks a lot for your input


I love the description of the P6s on My tyres:


'The advantages offered by the new tyre are minor fuel consumption, reduced emissions of CO2, not dispersion of aromatic oils into less noise, high yield mileage, longer-lasting, more braking 'short on dry and wet and stronger contact on the road, especially on a slippery.'


I still don't think Pirelli have a good replacement for the P600. I didn't realise new Fiats use Contis, so I think that's the one i'll go for.


The car did pass its MoT today without even advisories for its tyres! Think it's time for some decent new tyres though

Contis it is then...

When I bought my Alfa GT, 3 years ago (used German import car), it had Continentals all around., 225/50R17.
It felt like driving an old concrete mixer...
I changed them asap for Pirelli P7, second set now, happy ever since...

Peter Pick-Up said:

When I bought my Alfa GT, 3 years ago (used German import car), it had Continentals all around., 225/50R17.
It felt like driving an old concrete mixer...
I changed them asap for Pirelli P7, second set now, happy ever since...

Click to expand...

I had another look into it, and apparently the original 16v tyres were V-rated, which is not available for the Conti Premium Contact 5s, but is for the Premium Contact 2s and Pirelli P1s. Being a much newer tyre, I'm going to go for the Pirellis. On balance, they're probably the most appropriate tyres for the car that are available now.