tyre size 195 or 205
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Thread: tyre size 195 or 205

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    MIGClub Member scooby-KILLER's Avatar
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    tyre size 195 or 205

    looking at replacing the 4 tyres on a set of slabs i have and wanted to know what size to go with?

    they will be going on a mk2 gte i know both will fit but would like your guy's opinions as to what would be best before i go and order them

    thanks in advance

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    195, I have 205's and feel they are a bit wide with clearances and grip, esp now winter is looming

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    Quote Originally Posted by BlackBox View Post
    195, I have 205's and feel they are a bit wide with clearances and grip, esp now winter is looming
    whats the issue with grip? i would have thought wider tyre more grip no?

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    not always, you are spreading the tire over a larger contact patch, not good in the wet

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    but less tyre less contact less grip!

    i think what your getting at is weather choice of tyre? correct tyre ie winter summer etc then more tyre contact the better the grip providing the tyre is for the condition it is being used in

    i might just roll with the 195 as the car is lowwerd and dont want any rubbing issues but will hold of and see what other opinoins are put on the tabel

    cheers BlackBox

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    No mate, you have the same grip regardless of tire size, larger contact patch = less Lbs per sq inch but the same grip cos the contact is bigger.

    Smaller contact patch = more pressure per sq inch.

    Biggest enemy with wider tires is water, got to move it further to get rid of it and with less pressure it gets under the tire and stays there.

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    195 50 15s you want on slabs for the GTE. Plus your dash will read more accurate with this profile as it is closer in proportion to the original 185 60 14s.
    "When this baby hits 88 miles per hour. You're gonna see some serious s***"!!!!!!

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    Quote Originally Posted by BlackBox View Post
    No mate, you have the same grip regardless of tire size, larger contact patch = less Lbs per sq inch but the same grip cos the contact is bigger.

    Smaller contact patch = more pressure per sq inch.

    Biggest enemy with wider tires is water, got to move it further to get rid of it and with less pressure it gets under the tire and stays there.
    ah i need to do my home work re tyre's lol

    cheers for your help mate

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    The only reason for going for a wider tyre is that they run cooler. To benefit from this, you then run a softer tyre. This is where the misnomer comes about from the motorsport world with wide tyres equalling more grip, only if they are softer. A skinny soft tyre will go off a lot faster than a wider one.

    If you look at a lot of performance car tyres, you will find then running low tread wear tyres.
    The awakening gets closer. 3.5 and 11.4 here we come.

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    I think there is a bit of confusion in this thread. The best site I have found for tyre info is Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 1 of 4 which explains it all.

    But in particular, the contact patch size and pressure is basically the same whether the tyre is 205 or 195 in that as the tyre gets wider the contact patch gets shorter. Can't see why it should change running temperature in normal road tyres.

    A narrow tyre will present a smaller frontal area which will reduce wind resistance but that may not mean any extra speed.

    That site will give you the relative speedo differences for different tyre sizes/profiles.

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    Quote Originally Posted by Greydj View Post
    I think there is a bit of confusion in this thread. The best site I have found for tyre info is Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 1 of 4 which explains it all.

    But in particular, the contact patch size and pressure is basically the same whether the tyre is 205 or 195 in that as the tyre gets wider the contact patch gets shorter. Can't see why it should change running temperature in normal road tyres.

    A narrow tyre will present a smaller frontal area which will reduce wind resistance but that may not mean any extra speed.

    That site will give you the relative speedo differences for different tyre sizes/profiles.
    It's to do with tyre distortion on the basis that wide performance tyres are lower profile. If you want the indepth tech read up on Google is prob easiest.

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    i just went for the 195's, bought toyo t1r's or pxe maybe? not sure whats the difference if any?

    cheers for all your help chaps

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    Good choice. I down graded from 205's to 195's. Looks and feels loads Betta.

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    Overall, a 195 should do you well.

    Seems to be a lot of mis-information out there regarding tyre widths.
    Some have realised that a narrower tyre will tend to be better under wet surface conditions, as the higher contact patch pressure is better at 'squeezing' the moisture out from under the tread blocks.
    However, all else being equal and on dry surfaces, a wider tyre, with a greater contact patch, will give better grip than a narrower tyre for several reasons, due to a lower loading for the tyre contact area reducing things like the average shear force on the tyre to road interface, reduced wear, cooler running* (race tyre compounds are different from road, and have a fairly narrow operating range around 100C), etc.
    I've nearly doubled tyre life by going up tyre sizes - same car, driving style, pressures, tyre brand and model.

    Remember, the normal 'friction' rules don't apply - that's why you're able to use ARBs, etc, to fine tune vehicle balance.

    *In summer, it's not unusual for the tar to run, so you can imagine how hot the tyres can get.

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    NM, DP!

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    Re: tyre size 195 or 205

    195s the 205s can hit the rear arches if its lowered or suspension is on full compression .they caught on mine with slabs with 205 50 15 tires on

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