Tyre size question

John_Smith_2019

I recently went to get a replacement tyre for a 2008 Fiat Panda.
The original tyres fitted were 155/80/R13. That's also the size that comes up when searching online using the vehicle registration.

The guy in my local tyre garage told me the more common tyre size for this Panda is now 175/70/R13.
I wanted to have the same size on both each axle, so I've now got two 155/80/R13 tyres on the front and two 175/70/R13 tyres on the rear.

Why would the tyre size have changed since 2008?
Is there any problem with the front two tyres being a slightly different size to the rear two?
If I wanted all 4 tyres the same size, which size would be the best?

facade

People want wider tyres nowadays, some tyre sizes are more popular = cheaper and in stock.



The answer to your question depends...


Look at the sticker on the drivers doorpost telling you tyre sizes and pressures.


If both sizes are listed, fit whichever is cheapest, or whichever you prefer the look of


If only one of them is listed, fit that.


Fitting a tyre size that is not original equipment for your car could give your insurer an excuse to wheedle out of paying some of an insurance claim.


Otherwise, the diameters are within 1%, so it won't affect the speedo, and the widths are within 2cm, so they both ought to fit the wheel, unless it is extra narrow- (the tyre fitter should know if the tyre is recommended for that wheel) however the wider tyre won't bite into any of this "snow" that we never see anymore, as well as the narrow one.

daveyjp

If your car didn't leave the factory with different sized tyres front and rear all four should be the same size.

sevenhills

This site gives tyre sizes, it says the wheels are different sizes for the different tyres.


https://www.wheel-size.com/size/fiat/panda/2008/

photome

the 175/70 are slightly smaller rolling radius although not enough to make any difference as its only 1.5mm and that could be the same on any car with the difference in wear.


maybe a good idea to let your insurance company now though

John_Smith_2019

facade wrote: »

People want wider tyres nowadays, some tyre sizes are more popular = cheaper and in stock.



The answer to your question depends...


Look at the sticker on the drivers doorpost telling you tyre sizes and pressures.


If both sizes are listed, fit whichever is cheapest, or whichever you prefer the look of


If only one of them is listed, fit that.


Fitting a tyre size that is not original equipment for your car could give your insurer an excuse to wheedle out of paying some of an insurance claim.


Otherwise, the diameters are within 1%, so it won't affect the speedo, and the widths are within 2cm, so they both ought to fit the wheel, unless it is extra narrow- (the tyre fitter should know if the tyre is recommended for that wheel) however the wider tyre won't bite into any of this "snow" that we never see anymore, as well as the narrow one.

Thanks. I hadn't considered the insurance aspect.
Presumably the figures on the driver's door post will list the correct tyre sizes for the wheels that were originally fitted to the car?
Is it possible to tell from looking at a wheel, which size tyre should be fitted to it?
(ie in case a different sized wheel has been fitted since manufacture)

coffeehound

At least you got the wider ones on the back; would have looked silly the other way around..

By the way it's not a 4x4 is it? Really don't want dissimilar rolling radii then

John_Smith_2019

coffeehound wrote: »

At least you got the wider ones on the back; would have looked silly the other way around..

By the way it's not a 4x4 is it? Really don't want dissimilar rolling radii then

No, not a 4x4.

facade

John_Smith_2019 wrote: »

Thanks. I hadn't considered the insurance aspect.
Presumably the figures on the driver's door post will list the correct tyre sizes for the wheels that were originally fitted to the car?
Is it possible to tell from looking at a wheel, which size tyre should be fitted to it?
(ie in case a different sized wheel has been fitted since manufacture)

The rim width is usually stamped on the wheel, I'd expect a steel wheel for a 155 tyre to be 4.5Jx13 , which is just in the range for fitting a 175/70, and an alloy will be either 5Jx13 or 5.5Jx13, both of which will take the 175, but only the 5J should take the 155 tyre.


The number before the J is the inside width of the rim (the tyre space) in inches. The J means it is the right rim profile for a standard car tyre, pretty much all car wheels are J profile. (motorbikes are A or D, proper VW beetles are

molerat

John_Smith_2019 wrote: »

Presumably the figures on the driver's door post will list the correct tyre sizes for the wheels that were originally fitted to the car?

No, it will list the tyres that could be fitted to that model range.

John_Smith_2019 wrote: »

Is it possible to tell from looking at a wheel, which size tyre should be fitted to it?
(ie in case a different sized wheel has been fitted since manufacture)

The wheel size will be stamped on it somewhere. On steel wheels it is often stamped on the outside by the wheel bolts, on alloys generally cast inside.

Goudy

The 2008 Panda tyres should be either
155/80R13 79T for all models with steel wheels
Or
165/65R14 79T for the alloy wheels (Eleganza, Climbing 4x4 and some special editions)

They all came with the same space saver spare wheel of 135/80 13.


I have run many Panda's since their launch including a few 169 models (2003 to 2011) and I've never heard of anyone fitting 175/70/R13.

I reckon you've been sold the 13 inch tyres they had in stock, even the later models don't use this size (they run 175/65R14 or 185/55R15)