can't get tyres... so....

[bye_bye_alfa]

...does anyone have any experience with going up in size with the tyre width?

I've done the math, and by my figures my TDi SE can go from 185 x 50 x 16 to 205 x 45 x16?
The ride height is only .5mm different.
I seem to be able to get a better range of available tyres, from loads of manfacturers.

Is anyone running this combo?
Will it foul any arches etc?

Help

bba

[swiv]

Well, you're right about the total tire/rim diameter: it is very very close to that of the 185/50/16.

However, I don't think that 205 width tires can be placed on the 16" SE rims. These are 6J if I recall correctly, and 205 tires don't fit on anything narrower than 7J.

There is quite a bit of tolerance when placing narrower tires on wider rims, but not the other way around (the tire will 'bulge' over the rim and the tire walls probably won't like that).
So upgrading to 205/45/16 tires will also mean upgrading your rims to a 7J or better matching width.

I've been looking around on the internet a bit but haven't found a good reference for you to prove this point. Stay tuned or wait for someone else to agree with me (or disagree, perhaps).

As for fouling: I don't think that's the issue. The 17" sport rims also have 205's on them. However, they might have a different ET-value (offset) too, to alleviate any problems. If I'm not mistaken, most info on the 16" SE and the 17" Sport wheels are on this forum somewhere...

Edit: here a thread on rim widths: http://www.a2forum.net/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=2284&SearchTerms=7J
So 16" SE are 6J and the 17" Sport are 7J.
Now if I could only find a chart that maps rim witdth to allowable tire widths...

Cheers,

Edo

--
(2003 Silver 1.4 Tdi Exclusive(SE), 95bhp/235Nm chiptuned by ABT, black interior, sport seats, heated mirrors, JVC KD-SH909RB cd-receiver, Infinity Kappa 63.1 + Vifa on-dash tweeters, 12" Subwoofer on 300w Amp)

[Killabee]

http://www.woodyg.com/fairlane/finfo/tirecalculator.html

u can use this....

_________________________
Some think I am genius,
Others just can't think...
http://www.ufuk.nl.tt

[smartboost]

http://www.michelin.co.jp/local/pc/p1116.htm

This Japanese Michelin site gives some information on matching tyre and rim.

For example, the recommended rim width for the 185/50R16 size tyre is 6" with a range of 5" to 6.5" being allowable. However, a narrow 5" rim would give squirmy handling with this size tyre.

[swiv]

That last one tells me that a 205 width tire is best on a 6.5" rim, but is allowed on anything between 5.5 to 7.5.

However, the 205/45 is not listed. If I go to the page for Michelin Pilot Sport tires (http://www.michelin.co.jp/local/pc/p1115.htm I see it is best on a 7" rim, and allowable on 6.5 to 7.5"

So a lower sidewall limits the allowable variation in width of the rim.
In this case, Michelin says that it 205/45/16 Pilot Sports can NOT be mounted on the 16", 6J SE rims.....

Do you agree with mee, smartboost? (you're the real 'tire-guy' here, IMO ;)

edit:sorry, but I keep saying 'tire' when it seems it should be 'tyre'....!

--
(2003 Silver 1.4 Tdi Exclusive(SE), 95bhp/235Nm chiptuned by ABT, black interior, sport seats, heated mirrors, JVC KD-SH909RB cd-receiver, Infinity Kappa 63.1 + Vifa on-dash tweeters, 12" Subwoofer on 300w Amp)

[Poppy1]

I can confirm that 7" is optimum. Note also that a 6" width wheel has a different offset to the 7" and that if fitting a 205 tyre to 6" this would have the effect of moving the desired camber angle and steering roll radius.

Just fit a 185/50 Conti Premium Contact - this has a wider than normal contact patch anyway. A brilliant tyre

2003 FSi SE in Ebony Black Pearlescent; Climate; DIS; Winter Pack; Sports Steering Wheel; Copilot Light and Upgraded bulbs

[smartboost]

You're on the right track Swiv ;)

205/70 5.0" - 7.0"
205/50 5.5" - 7.5"
205/45 6.5" - 7.5"
205/40 7.0" - 8.0"

You will notice that as the aspect ratio goes down, both the minimum and the maximum allowable rim widths go up.

Here's another example:

215/70 5.5" - 7.0"
215/50 6.0" - 7.5"
215/45 7.0" - 8.0"
215/40 7.0" - 8.5"