Need tyre help please.

eckythump

Hi All,
I am looking for winter tyres for my Rover 216 and think I may have to go with part worns.
At present my car has 195/55/15 front and 185/55/15 back
I can find a lot of 185/60/15,can I put these on my car?
I understand the width can change and that the 15 is the rim size but I am struggling to understand the ratio thing and wether that can change.

KillerWatt

195 is the tyre width (in mm)
55 is the profile size, and this is a percentage of the actual tyre width (55% of 195mm).
15 is the rim diameter (in inches).

If you decide to fit the 185's, your speedo will read 1.3% too slow due to the increased tyre circumference.

eckythump

KillerWatt wrote: »

195 is the tyre width (in mm)
55 is the profile size, and this is a percentage of the actual tyre width (55% of 195mm).
15 is the rim diameter (in inches).

If you decide to fit the 185's, your speedo will read 1.3% too slow due to the increased tyre circumference.

I think my car was originally supposed to have 175/65/14 so is that relevant?
I just want to know what tyres will safely fit my car and its a blummin nightmare.

KillerWatt

eckythump wrote: »

I think my car was originally supposed to have 175/65/14 so is that relevant?

Yes

eckythump wrote: »

I just want to know what tyres will safely fit my car and its a blummin nightmare.

To be honest, you'll be better off keeping your money in your pocket and paying more attention to the conditions in front of you if you want to get from A to B safely in any snow we may get.

eckythump

KillerWatt wrote: »

Yes

To be honest, you'll be better off keeping your money in your pocket and paying more attention to the conditions in front of you if you want to get from A to B safely in any snow we may get.

So are you saying Winter tyres will make no difference?
I unfortunatly have to make some essential journeys in less that great weather as O.H is disabled so walking anywhere is out.

KillerWatt

eckythump wrote: »

So are you saying Winter tyres will make no difference?

"Winter" tyres may make a very small difference in some circumstances, but driver skill is what will ultimately decide whether you make it home unscathed or not.

Hammyman

KillerWatt wrote: »

"Winter" tyres may make a very small difference in some circumstances,

You've obviously never used them.

Winter tyres make a BIG difference. Your the one driving up the hill whilst everyone else is sat there with their wheels spinning.

KillerWatt

Hammyman wrote: »

You've obviously never used them.

I have a planet killer that runs on A/T's all year round and took us anywhere we wanted without issue in last January's cold snap, so "seasonal" tyres aren't something I give much thought to.

During the last cold one, our next door neighbour could not get his car up the hill to the top of our road without spinning and sliding all over the place.
After watching him unsuccessfully follow simple instructions on how to do it, I got in his car and took it straight to the top first time - and that is the reason I believe that they may help in some scenarios but it's ultimately down to the driver at the end of the day.

mikey72

Winter tyres are well worth it, they make a lot of difference.
No matter how many superman powers you have, if the tyres don't grip, they don't grip.

The 185/60/15 will be ok, providing they are good on the rim, they're all within a few percent of each other, the speedo will under-read by 3 mph at 70.

The 185 / 195 is the width of the tread, and so the width of the tyre, the 55 / 60 /65 is the height of the sidewall, as a percentage of the width,
so a 195/55 is higher than a 185/55, and hence the tyre diameter is bigger, and a 185/60 is higher than a 185/55 so it's diameter is bigger as well, but they're all within 20mm diameter of each other.
The difference in a new tyre at 8mm and a worn one at 2mm is 12mm diameter, so it's not alot.
If the rim is too narrow, or too wide, the tyre doesn't sit properly, but as both are fitted to your rim, they may be ok, the tyre fitter can tell you.
A 195 should be on a rim 5.5 to 7" wide, a 185's range is half an inch smaller, so they're both good on 5.5 to 6.5 "

eckythump

KillerWatt wrote: »

I have a planet killer that runs on A/T's all year round and took us anywhere we wanted without issue in last January's cold snap, so "seasonal" tyres aren't something I give much thought to.

During the last cold one, our next door neighbour could not get his car up the hill to the top of our road without spinning and sliding all over the place.
After watching him unsuccessfully follow simple instructions on how to do it, I got in his car and took it straight to the top first time - and that is the reason I believe that they may help in some scenarios but it's ultimately down to the driver at the end of the day.

well thats all very well and good but how do I get this wonderful skill and experience?
I can only drive an auto(had to learn very quickly when o.h became disabled) and the only driving experience I have is 10 miles to and from work twice a week and pottering round town.
I do drive as carefully as possible and take note of advice given but I am aware that I am an inexperienced driver and I am willing to try anything that will help me to be a safer driver.
Is that a crime?

mikey72

Edited previous post.