New wheels but what tyres?

Just see toyo tyres on eBay 2x for £136 sale from £190.... I think I'll but 2 this week two next :)
 
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Hi guys

I have used this site last year to get winter tyres the right size: http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/ . The good thing is all the comparisons you can make i.e. noise, grip on wet, fuel consumption.

I have Michelin Alpin 195/45/16 and got them delivered to my local garage as they could not find them. They were out of stock everywhere they asked.

I have also purchased the same type of wheels TT competition 17". I am collecting them next week.
I am still wondering which tyre size too. 205/40/17 or 215/40/17. Depending on the size, there is £31 !! difference for each tyre, in Continental.
I am in favor of the Continental. I had Michelin when I bought the car, I had the worse tyres ever, Pirelli P6000, 4 blocks of soap on each corner of my car.
The Conti have been the best so far.

Then you have to consider the mileage you do and the way you drive (like an OAP or like Stirling Moss :D)
 
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Hi thanks for sharing the site, what is the difference between the two sizes? I havnt bought the ebay ones yet because I'll be out of work on the 20'th so I need to put BIG spends on hold at the moment so the cheaper the better!
 
Hi Scott

This is my question!!
I believe the 215/40/17 fits better the 7.5J wheel. I may be wrong, someone on here is probably going to correct me.
I would prefer that the 205/40/17 be better as it is cheaper by £31 in Continental.
I can't wait to get my new wheels. The only downside is that I won't be able to buy the tyres for another few months. :(
 
205 40 17 is the standard size and recommended because of the rolling radius matching for the speedo accuracy etc.
7.5 is ok with these
215 40 17 would be slightly taller than standard

So in your case I would use 205 40 17s

Steve B
 
Thanks Steve. You just saved me £120
I thought a 215/40/17 would be wider than a 205/40/17, not taller ??
I also thought that having a little wider tyres protects your rims a little from the kerbs.

Herve
 
215 ARE wider than 205s but if you are keeping the profile the same (40) they will be taller too.
Because the "40" is the percentage calculated by using the width and tyre walk diameters.
So to keep it at 40 you need to increase the height of the tyre wall in step with the increase in width.

205 is the narrowest tyre I would use on 7.5 J wheels. But they will be fine and not looking excessively stretched.

Steve B
 
I do like the look of the wider 215's although i have four new 205 tyres on my A2.

I suppose mpg would be reduced with the wider tyres and more road noise?
 
Suzy is on 16-inch x 7J ET31 rims with 205/50 Vredestein Wintrac Xtream tyres that fill the wheelarches perfectly, don't rub, and give a superb ride.

P1020163x.jpg
 
manhattan$ said:
I do like the look of the wider 215's although i have four new 205 tyres on my A2.

I suppose mpg would be reduced with the wider tyres and more road noise?
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We are talking about a 10mm difference in width and so the reduction in MPG will be unnoticeable. A few lbs difference in the tyre pressures would have much more of an adverse effect. Also different makes of tyres give different economy and or noise, so the 10mm effectively plays not major role in MPG or noise (although mathematically you are correct of course.

The most important thing to get right in tyres is to match the rolling radius (and therefore diameter) of the wheel as closely as you can to the original design size (205 40 17 is spot on to compare against).

Get tyres that are too tall and it has an impact on the speedo accuracy and if they are much too tall they will rub (especially on the rears where the gap is slightly smaller (outside edge).

205 is ideal for 7J and perfectly ok for 7.5J (J is the same as inch and describes the width of the wheel).
215 would be marginally better for a 7.5 J but to keep the right rolling radius you would want a slightly lower profile than 40s (and less than 40 is getting in the expensive range due to the rarity)

I am sure that there are people on here that run 215s on their A2 and they are probably happy enough with that, but they also know that it does affect the speedo and they will have wheels that have the right offset to prevent rubbing, so they are fine of course.

But the safe and appropriate size for your wheels are 205 40 17s.

I hope this helps put your mind at ease?


Steve B
 
Captain059 said:
. The winter tyres are also quite noisy.
I am planning for these: http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/continental/conti-sport-contact-5/205-40-r17-84v-408969.
.
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The thing to look for is the label information, this includes the tyre noise in Decibels.
72 is the maximum I would go to before the noise can be really noticeable, anything over this MIGHT be a little noisy, anything less than this should not present you with any noise problems.
The ones you have linked to are 72Db and so should be fine.

Steve B
 
Captain059 said:
Thanks Steve
Just out of curiosity, what tyres are less than 72dB ?
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Hi, Unfortunately I am not sure if there is a way to search just by noise rating, I suppose it depends on the sellers website options,
but I would bet that they are the dearer ones!!!

Just a quick check showed the following
Dunlop and Hankook seem to be less noisy, but at around £90 a tyre (BlackCircles.com) they are not a cheap make.
Dunlop rate theirs at 68 !!! That is quiet !!!!



Steve B
 
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Black circles are doing a really good deal on Continental 185/50/R16, s at the moment. I think their decibel rating is 69 and at £80 a boot fitted its a very good price saving around £20 on national tyres price.:)
 
Special edition said:
Black circles are doing a really good deal on Continental 185/50/R16, s at the moment. I think their decibel rating is 69 and at £80 a boot fitted its a very good price saving around £20 on national tyres price.:)
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Yes,

The way they operate is that when you order your tyres they send them to a local garage to you that fit tyres. So you are doing your bit for the smaller independents in your area too.

I have used them a lot and sometimes I just prefer to have them delivered so that I can get my preferred local tyre fitters to put them on for me.

But many of the larger tyre fitting companies won't fit tyres that they didn't supply!!!!

Steve B
 
Ive just rechecked - Bridgestones are £86 fitted at 70db and continentals are £88 fitted at 69db - good prices, hope this helps.
David.
 
Captain059 said:
Hi Scott

This is my question!!
I believe the 215/40/17 fits better the 7.5J wheel. I may be wrong, someone on here is probably going to correct me.
I would prefer that the 205/40/17 be better as it is cheaper by £31 in Continental.
I can't wait to get my new wheels. The only downside is that I won't be able to buy the tyres for another few months. :(
Click to expand...

Similar problem to me! I bought the tyres without thought of the cost increase or me not having a job soon. Try and post a picture when you do get them on. I think I'll wait and not rush and buy cheap ones, I have noticed (in my experience of fitting tyres at work) cheap tyres are hard to get of with out damaging a wheel and in certain sizes impossible to get them to bead! I'll be patient and wait till I can get a decent tyre at £80 ish each. My a2 and my new wheels arnt going anywhere after all
 
I know what you mean Steve - ive ordered from "Mytyres" before, (no problems i hasten to add), and taken them to my local tyre ftter. They dont like this add will load on a hefty fitting and balancing price so in the end you dont save very much.
 
Special edition said:
Ive just rechecked - Bridgestones are £86 fitted at 70db and continentals are £88 fitted at 69db - good prices, hope this helps.
David.
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The OP (Captain) wants 205 40 17s though and Bridgestone in that size are £100 or so and 71/72 DB
The continentals in that size are also £100 or so and also 72DB. The difference of 3 db or so is not much and so as I have said 72 is fine (there are many that are over 72 too.

Steve B
 
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