tyres size, help pls

aggi

But wouldn't wider tyre give you more grip? Why the narrower is safer? Sorry novice to all this. Both sizes are recommended on the sticker on the car.

Fat_Walt

aggi wrote: »

But wouldn't wider tyre give you more grip? Why the narrower is safer? Sorry novice to all this. Both sizes are recommended on the sticker on the car.

More grip on dry conditions, look at a rally car they don't run on snow and ice of thinner tyres for nothing.

Iceweasel

aggi wrote: »

But wouldn't wider tyre give you more grip? Why the narrower is safer? Sorry novice to all this. Both sizes are recommended on the sticker on the car.

A wider tyre will spread the load over a slightly bigger contact area which is good in deep/unploughed snow.

In all other Winter conditions a narrower tyre will perform better giving more 'bite' on the road.

My experience of Winter driving in Germany and Austria leads me to suggest that you will see very little unploughed deep snow,

What you may well find is hard compacted snow or patchy ice - which is better tackled with a narrow tyre.

Have you see a typical rally car tyre for winter snow and ice - it's a really skinny strange thing - specifically to cut through to the surface below the snow which a wider tyres can't do.

This article might help:

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/wide-or-narrow-tyres-for-winter

Whatever tyres you decide on make sure that they have the M+S rating clearly marked and/or the 'Snowflake on the Mountain' symbol.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=snowflake+on+the+mountain&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwic982LkbjQAhXjLsAKHY4NBMkQ_AUICCgB&biw=1366&bih=662

Edit: I agree with Fat Walt who just beat me to it.

force_ten

Iceweasel wrote: »

That can't be right surely - the two sizes would more likely be 215/50 17 or 205/55 16.

But I agree if both sizes are listed then either will be perfectly acceptable - unless you intend doing track days.

sorry i typed them the wrong way around but it would need to be a 225/50/16 and a 205/55/16 to get two tyres of a near identical circumference

Iceweasel

force_ten wrote: »

sorry i typed them the wrong way around but it would need to be a 225/50/16 and a 205/55/16 to get two tyres of a near identical circumference

Good God - I mistyped the size as well. LOL

I meant the first size to be a 16" one not a 17"

Senior moment.

You're right with the two sizes you quote, to get a near exact size, but strangely the OP's door post says different.

force_ten

Iceweasel wrote: »

Good God - I mistyped the size as well. LOL

I meant the first size to be a 16" one not a 17"

Senior moment.

You're right with the two sizes you quote, to get a near exact size, but strangely the OP's door post says different.

I think if the door pillar says 205/55/16 then that is what i would fit for winter use and save a bunch of money

Strider590

Car has original wheels right?

aggi

The tyres on the car are 215/55r16. It could be oryginal but I don't own the car from new. Tried link provided by molerat but it does not say anything about tyres fitted at point of production or first reg. All your comment are helpful and will pass them onto hubby. May persuade him to get the cheaper ones;)

Iceweasel- I know they have the 3peak mountain sign not sure about the m+s. Anyone who ownes them would like to confirm maybe?

neilmcl

I believe the Crossclimates are both M&S and three peak rated.

Richard53

aggi wrote: »

But wouldn't wider tyre give you more grip? Why the narrower is safer? Sorry novice to all this. Both sizes are recommended on the sticker on the car.

Look at any off-road competition event. The big monsters on massive wide wheels are stuck in the mud while the old Land Rover on skinny tyres is dancing round them. Wide tyres look great and would seem to have more grip, but narrow tyres that bite down through the mud or slush to the road surface are better in the real world.