wrong tyre size, does it matter??

red_eye

mcjordi wrote: »

it will fail its mot if you have different size tyres on each "axle" ie the front two must be the same and the back two must be the same
if you put them both on the same axle then its fine..

but if you put them on the front your speedo will show incorrect speed by something like 5-15% iirc and can also foul the arch liner with steering on full lock.

davemorton

Tucker wrote: »

Mine has 185/65/15...... I don't think you should risk it. I think it's best you donate them to someone who uses that size myself...

What a great idea Tucker, know anyone that would want them??

cyclonebri1

Daz2009 wrote: »

Do you have a full size spare ?
If you do and one of your new ones gets a puncture you're going to end up with odd size tyres on the same axle which is not only illegal but dangerous.

Not as a get you home measure, otherwise as everyone else has said, spacesavers would be illegal.

And no copper is going to ticket you if you have the flat tire in the boot and are on the way to get it repaired. Chalk "spare" on the sidewall if it happens??

Wig

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Not as a get you home measure, otherwise as everyone else has said, spacesavers would be illegal.

And no copper is going to ticket you if you have the flat tire in the boot and are on the way to get it repaired. Chalk "spare" on the sidewall if it happens??

I believe the law allows for an officially marked spacesaver with 50mph or 80kmh yellow sticker.

But as post # 20 says, I can't see how that Honda manufacturer instructions can be legal.

bigjl

If a car is designed to have different tyres back and front then that is one thing, deciding to put the wrong size on due to an honest mistake and some interent "advice" is slightly different.

What do you think your insurance co would do if you were involved in a serious accident with different size tyres, even if in axle sets?

I can say that the traffic copper would make a note of such a difference in any report.

I suspect that there may be an issue with Construction & Use regs.

OP needs to exchange them for the correct size.

davemorton

Just to update, I got in contact with the company and they are changing the tyres, and to my surprise, no charge to exchange (except the additional price of the new tyres). so will do a post praising the company when everything is swapped over/sorted, as it isnt one of the main online tyre companies, but I do find them one of the keenest priced.
Just to add to the discussion on different size tyres, do these people who but snow tyres for the drive wheels only (yes, not advised) but the same size, as I know sometimes a thinner tyre is recommended.

Joe_Horner

bigjl wrote: »

If a car is designed to have different tyres back and front then that is one thing, deciding to put the wrong size on due to an honest mistake and some interent "advice" is slightly different.

What do you think your insurance co would do if you were involved in a serious accident with different size tyres, even if in axle sets?

I can say that the traffic copper would make a note of such a difference in any report.

I suspect that there may be an issue with Construction & Use regs.

OP needs to exchange them for the correct size.

Insurance may or may not be an issue, depending on whether the different sizes were a contributing factor in the accident.

C&U couldn't care less, as long as you haven't mixed sizes on an axle or mixed construction in one of the "not allowed" combinations of construction types.

Weird_Nev

That's great news re the free swap.

Differing tyre sizes can confuse ABS ECU's and that can be quite dangerous.
IT's also a really bad idea on anything 4WD/AWD because the transmission can "wind up" and kerplode.

Really, you need to stick to the correct tyre sizes all around to prevent speedo inconsistencies, odd handling traits and other unforseen problems.

Tilt

Let me guess, you car is a Punto HGT?

Tilt

davemorton wrote: »

Cheers all for the replies. Think I will give them a shout, see how much to return/replace, but dont think I will like the answer so probably end up on the rear. Its just a bog standard everyday car, so not usually hammered. A couple bags of sand in the back should sort out the difference in height ;-)

Oh, just seen this... so no, its not a Punto HGT. Its just that I have one and its a nightmare to find somewhere that carries the right tyres for it which are 185 55 R15 82V. apparently they are like rocking horse sh 1 t. Yours must be a different load rating.