Changing tyre size

Guy:Incognito

Just a quick tyre question.

I'm currently saddled with a set of 195/70 14 tyres I got for a van I might not be able to use now.

The closest I can find with people I know is my uncles Kubistar that has 165/70 14.

Is there any issues with putting my tyres onto it?

colm_mcm

yup, 70% of 195 is a lot more than 70% of 165 (i.e the sidewall size) you'll probably cause rubbing on full lock, and in the worst case problems with the transmission from the now higher gearing (dunno how likely that would be to be fair)

also the tyres may be too wide for the wheels.

Guy:Incognito

colm_mcm wrote: »

yup, 70% of 195 is a lot more than 70% of 165 (i.e the sidewall size) you'll probably cause rubbing on full lock, and in the worst case problems with the transmission from the now higher gearing (dunno how likely that would be to be fair)

also the tyres may be too wide for the wheels.

Boo urns.

Cheers.

Anan1

The new tyres will be both taller & wider, as the sidewall height will be 70% of 195mm as opposed to 70% of 165mm. This will raise the gearing of the van a bit, therefore making the speedo overread. The new tyres may also rub, either on full lock or over hard bumps.

colm_mcm

Anan1 wrote: »

This will raise the gearing of the van a bit, therefore making the speedo overread.

making the speedo underread actually

Anan1

colm_mcm wrote: »

making the speedo underread actually

Indeed.:)

Esel

There will be an increase of 86mm in height in total. Clearance may not be a problem, but the speedo would be way off.

Saab Ed

Just a thought but if the 195 tyres are un-used give them to your uncle when he is buying new tyres and see if he can get another tyre shop to take them in exchange. You wont get what they are worth and big outlets like Advance etc probably wont take them but the smaller places will.

Fey!

OP; check the B pillar inside the drivers door for a list of tyre sizes/pressures for the van, or check the owners manual (the same way you would on a car). You may find that the van will take the new tyres without any problems, or it may rule them out completely. However, it will have an effect on handling (whether it will be good or bad will depend on the tyres/vehicle), and it may effect fuel consumption.

As for the gearing/speedo read, most speedos under read anyway; take a satnav out in the van and see what the speedo reads when the satnav says you're doing 100kph/50kph/etc. Possibly write it down.

Anan1

esel wrote: »

There will be an increase of 86mm in height in total. Clearance may not be a problem, but the speedo would be way off.

If you raise a car by 21mm per corner the car is then 21mm higher, not 21mm * 4.;)

Esel

Anan1 wrote: »

If you raise a car by 21mm per corner the car is then 21mm higher, not 21mm * 4.;)

Fair enough, I did make a mistake! Not like you think though - I was not talking about vehicle height, but tyre height. The tyres will be 42mm taller, not 86mm as I said above. So, not so much of a clearance issue, and the speedo will not be way off, just off!

Anan1

esel wrote: »

Fair enough, I did make a mistake! Not like you think though - I was not talking about vehicle height, but tyre height. The tyres will be 42mm taller, not 86mm as I said above. So, not so much of a clearance issue, and the speedo will not be way off, just off!

And I made one too - I only counted the increase in tyre height at the bottom, rather than at the bottom & top.:o

colm_mcm

just don't do it!

peasant

14 inch tyres are now a bit of a rarity ...try advertising them towards classic car drivers

colm_mcm

common enough on vans too.

maidhc

peasant wrote: »

14 inch tyres are now a bit of a rarity ...try advertising them towards classic car drivers

Not really. Most Focus LXs sold until 2004 had them (although I think 185/65), I assume Golfs, Corollas, fiestas, Yariseses were pretty much the same.

colm_mcm

Corollas had them from 02 to 04, Yaris had them from 99-05, they were both replaced with 15's. the sidewalls 14's were nowhere near as big as the ones mentioned above though - such a big sidewall on a 14" rim would usually be reserved for vans.

Paddy001

13 inch wheels were still on some cars upto 2004. Are you sure it's 195/70x14 you have? 195-14 and 185-14 are the most common 14inch van tyres, aswell as 175/65 and 165/70. Is it 195/70x15 you have maybe? They are very common but I never heard of 195/70x14 van or car tyre. If there isn't a major height difference, you could probably use away two on the back, but not on the front as speedo would be way off and would rub but on the back you might get away with it

Baldie

Would having the incorrect tyres on a car cause the clutch to slip?

The original tyres on my '00 focus are 195/55/15 (I think..). I put two new 195/60/15 tyres on the front about a year ago. About 6 months ago my clutch had been slipped. I have already replaced a the clutch and bearing. This was becasue the bearing was leaking onto the clutch. Anyway that's another story.

My question is; would the bigger tyres be the cause of the clutch slipping? Should I put the bigger tyres on the back and smaller tyres on the front?