Xantia tyres, should I go up a size?

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Mark W
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Xantia tyres, should I go up a size?

Post by Mark W »

My Xantia 1.9TD 97 year is running on 185/65/15 tyres. Courtesy of the Essex car trade it is running on 2 quality tyres with little wear left and 2 very cheap brand new tyres with loads of tread.
Playing with the michelin website's tyre selector it confirmed my size as the standard choice but 205/60/15 as the optional choice. (Strangely enough the Dunlop brings 205's up as the standard choice!)Anyone gone down this route, me thinking the trade off in ride by going one aspect ratio smaller is rewarded by a footprint size 2 sizes bigger. Also reckon 195/60/15's might be an option as well. Do any spec of Xantia run on either of these tyres sraight out of the factory? Experienced enough to know we will never turn an Xantia in to a hot hatch but anything to be gained? Don't want to ruin the ride for no gain in handling/grip. Fear there are insurance implications as well,
over to the forum
Thanks
Mark W
Guru Meditation
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Post by Guru Meditation »

Hi,
Don't know the exact tyres of every Xantia model (I have a ZX!) but I'm pretty sure models like the V6, 2.0 16v and turbo petrol models etc run on 205 section tyres.
My ZX Aura TD has 175/65x14s I'm now going to fit 185/60x14s because they're cheaper, same rolling radius and hopefully will improve handling via the expedient of more grip!
185 section sounds quite skinny for a large estate like the Xantia-it certainly wouldn't hurt handling to bung on some 195's or possibly even 205s s'long as the aspect ratio is correct to preserve a similar rolling radius.
As for the insurance I don't know-technically it must be a breach of conditions due to the tyres being something other than 'factory' spec but has anybody ever heard of insurance problems because of having a different SIZE tyre fitted on a standard rim?
I'm not going to tell my insurance when I fit 185s.
Guru Meditation
Homer
Posts: 1503
Joined: 26 Feb 2003, 10:52
Location: Yorkshire
My Cars: Current:
Volvo V60 D4 180

Previous:
BX16RS (two of),
BX19TZI,
Xantia 2.0i saloon,
Xantia 2.0 Exclusive CT turbo Break,
Peugeot 807 2.0 HDi 110,
Renault Grand Scenic, 2.0 diesel (150bhp)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi 160 which put me off French cars possibly forever
x 16

Post by Homer »

From memory mine runs on 205s but has alloy wheels. It's a 2L petrol turbo. I think the Activa runs on 225s.
I'm popping down to the car in an hour or so, I'll try to remember to dig out the manual.
I read a website recently which suggested that using a wider tyre (at the same pressure) would not increase your contact area anyway. I'm sure somebody linked to it from here.
Homer
Posts: 1503
Joined: 26 Feb 2003, 10:52
Location: Yorkshire
My Cars: Current:
Volvo V60 D4 180

Previous:
BX16RS (two of),
BX19TZI,
Xantia 2.0i saloon,
Xantia 2.0 Exclusive CT turbo Break,
Peugeot 807 2.0 HDi 110,
Renault Grand Scenic, 2.0 diesel (150bhp)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi 160 which put me off French cars possibly forever
x 16

Post by Homer »

The handbook lists 185/65 R15 88T or 205/60 R15 91H for the TD on both saloon and estate. Fronts are same pressure for both sizes, rears are 0.1 bar(?) higher on the 205s for the saloon and 0.2 higher on the estate.
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