Tyres

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Gregg1100
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Tyres

Post by Gregg1100 »

Hi All,
My Xant TD 1994 has 185/65-14 tyres fitted to it. In my shed, I have a new pair of 185/60-14 tyres that I had bought for my 460 Volvo (now in great car park in sky, or a new spoon :D ). I was wondering if the small difference in height would be noticeable on the road, only giving a small difference in rolling radius. My driving is only around town, 5 mile either way to work. Be cheaper for me to buy 2 more of these than 4 of the make that is on there now. Any ideas, please.
Regards,
Greg

90 Kawa EN 500 A1- was running---now dead again
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Old Xantias- 16v 2litre 1997 VSX, 2 x 1993 TD Lx, S2 SX 1.9TD
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Post by KP »

Bit strange to see !42 wheels fitted as all the xantias ive touched have had 15"s on :)

However why not just un those two tyres on teh rims that are worn out now and then stick them on the back? Slightly softer ride at the back and your front wheels will still have the same rolling radius as well :)
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Mandrake
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Post by Mandrake »

One profile size step shouldn't really make much difference. As long as you change them as a pair so that you keep the same size tyres in pairs at the front or back it will be fine...

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Simon
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Post by PowerLee »

Smaller profile has to go on the front if your mixing them :wink:
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Re: Tyres

Post by Homer »

Gregg1100 wrote:Hi All,
My Xant TD 1994 has 185/65-14 tyres fitted to it. In my shed, I have a new pair of 185/60-14 tyres that I had bought for my 460 Volvo (now in great car park in sky, or a new spoon :D ). I was wondering if the small difference in height would be noticeable on the road, only giving a small difference in rolling radius.
I just put the figures into this calculator and this one and both warned that the difference in diameter was outside their recommendation.

If you fit them to the front your speedo will read 3.1% faster than normal.
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Post by KP »

Also newer tyres should really be fitted to the back of the car. Having slid the rear end of a xantia out on a wet slippery roundabout i can safely say if you havent got the foggiest in how to handle a rear end slipping away from you or experienced it then it could be a whole new world of fun with better grip being at the front end instead of the back :)
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Post by Peter.N. »

The most noticable effect will probably be to the ride, I know its not much of a change but I cant understand this trend for low profile tyres, they ruin the ride of a good car!
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Post by Clogzz »

Bit strange to see !42 wheels
Looks like early vintage standard fare was 14” steel wheels with floppy plastic wheel covers held by the wheel mounting bolts.
Have the same size, 185/65-14.
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Gregg1100
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Tyres

Post by Gregg1100 »

Hi Peter,
Not a trend with me, just have 2 new tyres in shed that will do a turn. To buy 2 more of same size is cheaper than 4 tyres of the same ilk that is on car now. I like to see cars in totally bog standard trim-original.
Greg

90 Kawa EN 500 A1- was running---now dead again
04 Kawa GPZ 500 E10 -alive and well.
54 Fiat Punto 1.2 Dynamic

Old Xantias- 16v 2litre 1997 VSX, 2 x 1993 TD Lx, S2 SX 1.9TD
Old Bx's--3 x 1.9 D, 1x 1.6 Auto, 1 x 1.9 GTi, 1 x 1.9 TZS
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Post by Peter.N. »

I wasn't suggesting it was Greg, just a general comment.

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Post by handyman »

Think you might find that you will invalidate your car insurance by not fitting the correct size and type of tyre. It would fail an MOT and contravene Construction and Use Regs.

In addition, the ride and handling characteristics will be totally changed. 55 profile tyres were fitted to one of my Activas, changing them to the correct size and spec restored the car's capabilities.

Why cut corners? After all, you would not wear the wrong size shoes, would you?

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Post by James.UK »

I once deliverd a car, and on the way I got a puncture, prob was the spare was the wrong size conpletely, but i put it on the back (front wheel drive car) and I cant say it made any noticable difference? :)

I had the tyre repaired and changed when I got there.. So I drove about 200 miles with an odd size tyre.. :roll:
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Post by jeremy »

Many cars including BX 16valve and some ZX including the mighty 1.9D have odd sized spares - which are of course only fitted to one wheel on an axle - with the proviso of being careful (BX 16 valve - standard - 195/60 x 14 - spare 165 x 14)

The Citroen CX in its early form had narrower back tyres than front!

Circumfrence of 185/65 x 14 tyre is approx 1810.6mm
Circumfrence of 185/60 x 14 tyre is approx 1752.45mm

Difference - approx 3.3%
jeremy
Peter.N.
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Post by Peter.N. »

I think safty is primarly down to the way you drive. If you push a car to its limits, anything out of spec is going to show up, driven sensibly, I dont think it is going to make a lot of difference. I would be quite happy on cross plies!
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Post by dnsey »

Circumfrence of 185/65 x 14 tyre is approx 1810.6mm
Circumfrence of 185/60 x 14 tyre is approx 1752.45mm

Difference - approx 3.3%
Or not much more than that between a new and a nearly worn-out tyre - i.e. not enough to worry about IMO.
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