195 mm tires want to put on 205 mm tires
10-10-2005, 05:09 PM
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195 mm tires want to put on 205 mm tires
Hi,
My 1994 Audi 90S has 195-65R15 tires (15" is about 37-38 cm if it matters). It is front wheel drive. Can I fit 205 mm tires instead of the 195 mm tires on those rims? I figure I will put 2-205 tires in the back so it won't affect the front wheel drive or steering. Some one just gave me two good 205-65R15 tires and I will need tires soon.
I think it will work cause my friend has a Nissan 240 that is suspose to have 205 mm tires in the rear, but he has 195 mm in the back and all rims are the same, I think.
Basically I want to know if putting 205 mm tires on the rim that has 195 mm from the factory can be done? And if it can be done, would it be dangerous and/or present any problems?
My 1994 Audi 90S has 195-65R15 tires (15" is about 37-38 cm if it matters). It is front wheel drive. Can I fit 205 mm tires instead of the 195 mm tires on those rims? I figure I will put 2-205 tires in the back so it won't affect the front wheel drive or steering. Some one just gave me two good 205-65R15 tires and I will need tires soon.
I think it will work cause my friend has a Nissan 240 that is suspose to have 205 mm tires in the rear, but he has 195 mm in the back and all rims are the same, I think.
Basically I want to know if putting 205 mm tires on the rim that has 195 mm from the factory can be done? And if it can be done, would it be dangerous and/or present any problems?
10-10-2005, 05:29 PM
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Get 205/60-15 tires to maintain roughly the same rolling circumference
Change in diameter would be negligble with this size, so your odometer and speedometer would still be accurage.
When you shop for tires you can see what rim widths the manufacturer says it can be mounted on. I assume you have 15 x 7 wheels, and 205/55s will fit on that fine (I have a set of 205s on my Cq right now with 15 x 7 wheels).
There are no safety issues here, you'll be fine on 205s. One thing to consider is that some people say wider tires hydroplane more and are worse for cutting through snow, but I don't think you're going to notice much difference, and the extra grip on dry pavement should be nice.
When you shop for tires you can see what rim widths the manufacturer says it can be mounted on. I assume you have 15 x 7 wheels, and 205/55s will fit on that fine (I have a set of 205s on my Cq right now with 15 x 7 wheels).
There are no safety issues here, you'll be fine on 205s. One thing to consider is that some people say wider tires hydroplane more and are worse for cutting through snow, but I don't think you're going to notice much difference, and the extra grip on dry pavement should be nice.
10-10-2005, 05:31 PM
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B4 wheels were either 15x6 or 15x7 stock - either should be fine for a 195 or 205 tire...
...just keep the aspect ratio right and he'll be set! 
)
195/65/15 = 205/60/15 = 205/55/16 = etc, etc, etc...
)195/65/15 = 205/60/15 = 205/55/16 = etc, etc, etc...
10-10-2005, 05:50 PM
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Re: You *should* keep all tires matched - the proper 205 size on a 15" wheel would be 205/60/15...
They are 205/65/15. I thought 65 referred to the sidewall height. If this is the case, I also thought width would not change this number. How does 205/60/15 match 195/65/15, if the second number is the height of the sidewall?
10-10-2005, 06:10 PM
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Research TireRack.com...On a 195/65 the 65 indicates that this tire size's sidewall height...
(from rim to tread) is 65% of its section width. <A HREF="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=46">Lookee here</A> (from the experts).
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10-10-2005, 08:42 PM
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Re: Research TireRack.com...On a 195/65 the 65 indicates that this tire size's sidewall height...
205/60/15 would have 3.75 mm less sidewall height than the 195/65/15 I have now. The 205/65/15 tires I have now have 6.5 mm more sidewall height than the 195/65/15.
More importantly 195/65/15 sidewall is 3.05% more than 205/60/165 and 205/65/15 sidewall is 5.13% more 195/65/15. Therefore, option 205/60/15 I lose about .96" in circumference and option 205/65/15 I gain about 1.61" in circumference to the 195/65/15. Neither option is seems perfect and somehow I doubt that theses numbers will work out this perfectly. Possible factors could be tire pressure, shape of sidewall, stiffness of sidewall, and maybe more.
Why is 205/60/165 prefered over the 205/65/15 only because it is slightly closer to the 195/65/15 sidewall height or is there another reason? Is it better that it has less circumference? I already have the 205/65/15, so I am tempted to go with that. What you guys think?
More importantly 195/65/15 sidewall is 3.05% more than 205/60/165 and 205/65/15 sidewall is 5.13% more 195/65/15. Therefore, option 205/60/15 I lose about .96" in circumference and option 205/65/15 I gain about 1.61" in circumference to the 195/65/15. Neither option is seems perfect and somehow I doubt that theses numbers will work out this perfectly. Possible factors could be tire pressure, shape of sidewall, stiffness of sidewall, and maybe more.
Why is 205/60/165 prefered over the 205/65/15 only because it is slightly closer to the 195/65/15 sidewall height or is there another reason? Is it better that it has less circumference? I already have the 205/65/15, so I am tempted to go with that. What you guys think?
10-11-2005, 05:23 AM
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Do whatever you want, but stop bothering the forum if you have your mind made up...205/60 is...
...proper for your car. Run whatever you want, but, putting too tall of a tire on your car will make the handling go to ****.
You car was designed for a 195/65 or 205/60. Look inside your gas cap - see the tires listed in there? They are what Audi spec'd for your car.
The speedo isn't exact for 195/65 - or 205/60 for that matter - it's close enough with either, but not exact at the same time.
As a matter of fact, the speedo is closer to accuracy with 205/60 tires than 195/65 - this was the case on both my 1993 90S and my (current) 1995 90 quattro sport.................
You car was designed for a 195/65 or 205/60. Look inside your gas cap - see the tires listed in there? They are what Audi spec'd for your car.
The speedo isn't exact for 195/65 - or 205/60 for that matter - it's close enough with either, but not exact at the same time.
As a matter of fact, the speedo is closer to accuracy with 205/60 tires than 195/65 - this was the case on both my 1993 90S and my (current) 1995 90 quattro sport.................
