📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

New tyres - change size or not?

Options
I need 2 new front tyres on a Mondeo Mk4 2.0 petrol. The size is 215/55R16, but I think I could fit 205/55R16 instead (standard steel wheels). I believe this is OK, legally, and also taking into account the slight change in overall wheel diameter (-1.1% according to the etyres calculator). Then, when the rear tyres needed replacing, I would also change these for 205's.
Not sure whether to stick with 215's & keep it simple, or go for 205, which are a bit cheaper. Well - if I'm going for economy tyres, the 215 are about £50 & the 205 are £45ish. Not much in it. BUT, I can get "premium" 205's for £60-75, compared to £120 for the 215's. Am also hoping the slightly skinnier tyres might make the steering a bit lighter.
What are the pros and cons? What would you do?
Cheers!

Comments

  • Iceweasel
    Iceweasel Posts: 4,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    edited 13 October 2014 at 10:25PM
    I would need more info - you're only giving the dimensions of the tyres - not the load and speed rating.

    What number and letter comes after the 215/55 16 on your current tyres sidewall?

    It's likely to be 93H, 93Y, 99W - or something similar.

    What comes after the 205/55 16 on the tyres you propose buying?

    That's likely to be 91H, 91Y, or 94W - or something similar.

    If you car has 99 or 93 as the load index and you replace them with 91 for example - then you are likely going to have problems with your insurance company in the event of any accident - you are handing them a ready-made means of rejecting a claim for damage to your car - a third party would be covered but the insurance company would be looking to claim their costs from you.

    Over-tyring (fitting stronger tyres) is no problem at all - but under-tyring as you are contemplating is against all vehicle and tyre manufacturer advice.

    Run this past your insurance company before you do anything more.

    It may be legal/permissable as far as an MOT may be concerned but I wouldn't do it.

    The roadholding with the narrower tyres is likely to be reduced too of course.

    If the cost is the main factor, then get some part-worns of the correct size.
  • force_ten
    force_ten Posts: 1,931 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    my last two mondeos both MK3 a 2.0L zetec and a 1.8L zetec both ran 205/55/16 91V tyres

    I think the standard tyre on the MK4 is a 215/55/16 93v and if that is what your car was fitted with from new then i wouldnt change them to a 205 tyre

    the tyre calculator that i use say the 205 tyre is 33 mm difference in total circumference giving a difference of 1.7% and when the speedo reads 70mph your car would be doing 68.8mph on the smaller tyre

    I would pay a bit more and stick with the 215/55/16 tyre
  • force_ten
    force_ten Posts: 1,931 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    also look in the hand book for your car and see what the recommended tyre sizes are for your car and if they don't list a 205/55/16 tyre as standard fitment for your car then don't use them

    the reason i say that is your insurance company may use it against you in the event of a claim, incorrect tyre size may invalidate your insurance
  • some sites say +/- 2.5% calculated diameter others -2/+3%...the minus 1.1% is absolutley fine...but will lower the car at the front...better this than raising which could cause front end lift at high speed.....dangerous

    tyres are funny because popular sizes like 205/55 R16 and 225/45R17 are relatively cheaper ...if not upgrading to 17" alloys which will be alot more ££££ lol then def stick with the same size and search on 'camskill.co.uk' they do really cheap Uniroyal Rainsport3 (not 2) and is a very good tyre.....check out 'tyrereviews.co.uk' for tyre tests and comparisons....'tyreleader.co.uk' is generally the cheapest when I'm searching...others are ...mytyres...lovetyres...blackcircles

    the thinner tyre will make the steering a tad lighter after checking the Uniroyals are £73-80 on camskill depending on which tyre load index you choose.

    For a bit of an outsider that done great in a recent German magazine tyre test ...the Apollo Aspire 4G is £50 on 'tyreleader.co.uk'...Apollo Alnac £62 ..or Nexen N Blue Eco £50...all have done well in German/Finnish/Russian tyre tests...and faaaar better than budget tyres...all prices 215/55R16.
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    spratley wrote: »
    I need 2 new front tyres on a Mondeo Mk4 2.0 petrol. The size is 215/55R16, but I think I could fit 205/55R16 instead (standard steel wheels). I believe this is OK, legally, and also taking into account the slight change in overall wheel diameter (-1.1% according to the etyres calculator). Then, when the rear tyres needed replacing, I would also change these for 205's.
    Not sure whether to stick with 215's & keep it simple, or go for 205, which are a bit cheaper. Well - if I'm going for economy tyres, the 215 are about £50 & the 205 are £45ish. Not much in it. BUT, I can get "premium" 205's for £60-75, compared to £120 for the 215's. Am also hoping the slightly skinnier tyres might make the steering a bit lighter.
    What are the pros and cons? What would you do?
    Cheers!
    Just go for the recommended size. At the end of the day those 4 bits of rubber are probably the most important bit of safety equipment on your car. I realise the is a money saving but why even question it for the sake of a few quid.
  • spratley
    spratley Posts: 125 Forumite
    Thanks, all. Think I will stick to 215, then. The other details are 93V.
    Rang a local tyre place today to get a price, and was told that they don't do the cheap Chinese ones, the ones they sell are "mediocre". I think they meant "midrange". But they couldn't give me a brand name. Hmmm...
  • NVRAM
    NVRAM Posts: 298 Forumite
    remember, if you change tyre size to notify your insurance.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177K Life & Family
  • 257.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.