Which tyre size

flea72

How do i know what tyre size to buy? I currently have 165/65 but when contacting a local tyre company they said my car should have 185/65. The chassis plate also states 185/65, but online searches show either, when inputting my Reg no.

So which do i go with? My current tyres have worn unevenly, could this be down to tyre size?

reddwarf2002

Manufacturers usually list a few tyre sizes so it is perfectly ok to have any of the listed tyre sizes without suffering adverse effects.

The first question you need to ask yourself is do all 4 tyres need replacing. If that is the case then I would go for the cheaper tyre size. If you are not replacing all 4 then you MUST replace it with the tyre size that is already on the vehicle (165/65).

Wider tyres (185/65) will give you more grip on the road. However, your fuel consumption will go up slightly.

EDIT: Forgot to add, uneven wear won't be down to tyre sizes. Either the tracking/alignment of the wheels are out or you have some other issues.

mgdavid

what make and model is it, exactly?

the handbook will have information about tyre sizes, have you checked it?

OddballJamie

Reddwarf, only the tyres on the same axle need to be exactly the same size.

OP - get the tracking, wheel balancing and suspension checked when you get new tyres.

Iceweasel

Also what diameter are we talking about here - 15", 16", 17" or what?

165/55 and 185/55 are only partial tyre sizes.

They are in no way interchangeable.

More info needed.

photome

reddwarf2002 wrote: »

Manufacturers usually list a few tyre sizes so it is perfectly ok to have any of the listed tyre sizes without suffering adverse effects.

The first question you need to ask yourself is do all 4 tyres need replacing. If that is the case then I would go for the cheaper tyre size. If you are not replacing all 4 then you MUST replace it with the tyre size that is already on the vehicle (165/65).

Wider tyres (185/65) will give you more grip on the road. However, your fuel consumption will go up slightly.

EDIT: Forgot to add, uneven wear won't be down to tyre sizes. Either the tracking/alignment of the wheels are out or you have some other issues.

its unlikely they would list 185/65 and 165/65 for the same vehicle though as they have different circumfences if they are the same rim diameter.

Of course it could be that the rim diameters are different ie 2 different wheel sizes listed but the OP hasnt given all the details

flea72

My current tyres are 165/65/15. Fastfit said i need 185/65/15 based on my reg no. Halfords and national, both say 165/65/15

Its an 03 plate, 1.6 petrol, citroen berlingo multispace. I need to replace both front tyres. All 4 tyres were replaced about 2yrs ago, ive done about 20k since then. The front 2 are nigh on bald, the rear 2 show no wear

Thanks.

Bongles

flea72 wrote: »

My current tyres are 165/65/15. Fastfit said i need 185/65/15 based on my reg no. Halfords and national, both say 165/65/15

Its an 03 plate, 1.6 petrol, citroen berlingo multispace. I need to replace both front tyres. All 4 tyres were replaced about 2yrs ago, ive done about 20k since then. The front 2 are nigh on bald, the rear 2 show no wear.

What does your handbook say?

With the best will in the world, the car handbook is a more reliable source than what a tyre fitter or online search comes up with from your registration number, as you are discovering.

OddballJamie

Every French car I've owned has a sticker on the edge of the door or pillar with the tyre size on it, does yours still have it?

Ultrasonic

Out of interest, will 165/65 and 185/65 tyres both fit on the same wheels? I don't know one way or the other...

westwood68

I'd get it right if I were you. Changing from 165/65/15 to 185/65/15 will increase the overall tyre height and rolling circumference by 4.37% causing the speedo to under-read by the same amount. Unless of course you should have 185/65 tyres in which case it's been over-reading for quite a while...