tyre sizes?

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:41 am

hey guys!

what tyre size should i fit to 6x14" alloy wheels for a mk3 (2f) polo?

thanx

polog40racer · Post by **polog40racer** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:05 am

185/50/14

55 is too big

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:18 am

cheers m8, i wasn't sure if it was 50 or 55...i suspect 50 is mega expensive then?

Gareth_GT_Hatch · Post by **Gareth_GT_Hatch** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 5:06 pm

195/45s are the same as well, but cheaper than 185/50s for some reason.

165/55/R14s are also the same size, which is perfectly adequate for a non GT or G40. They look a bit stretched on a 6x14" rim as well. Which is nice.

They were Â£30 each from mytyres but I think theyre a bit more now.

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:08 pm

will the gearing be right with 165 55 14?
dont need anymore points.

hardhitter · Post by **hardhitter** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:46 pm

185-50 14 are the correct size tyre for a 6x14" rim.

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:00 pm

cheers hardhitter, you have any idea where i can get em cheapish (quoted Â£62:50 a tyre 2day yoko's)

hardhitter · Post by **hardhitter** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:51 pm

Have a look on mytyres.co.uk I've seen yoko's for about Â£48, but prices and availability go up and down.

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:07 pm

thank you

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:59 pm

fer yer gearing, here's some rough diameters inclusive of rim and rubber...
EDIT damn html, bbcode, whatever... forgive the dots, its the only way i can space it

135 R13 (winter) ....... 21.5 inches (assuming /80)
145 R13 (standard) .... 22.1 inches (assuming /80)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . or ...... 21.6 inches (assuming /75)
145/70 R13 (my old) .... 21.0 inches
155/70 R13 (my new) . 21.5 inches
165/55 R14 .............. 21.1 inches
185/50 R13 ............. 21.3 inches
195/45 R14 ........... 20.9 inches

so any of the reccomended alternatives is going to make your speedo read higher rather than lower than actual road speed, assuming it's right-on already. And it won't be a big difference - if we take about 21.5 inches as being the size the guage is set to, then even with 195s, you'll be less than 3 mph out at the ton (reading 100, doing about 97.3). And it'll give you a slight acceleration boost at the expense of slightly more frantic cruising... you can convince your less savvy mates that your car is faster, with that combination of a tiny bit more urge and a higher speedo reading!

In any case, consider the difference that even tread wear can do to the diameter. Lets say your tyre starts off with about 8mm of tread, and you let it wear down to, hmmm, 2mm.... that's 6mm of rubber lost off of each side, or 12mm total... or a good half-inch! (do the stated tyre sizes include the tread or not? if "not" then the % differences are even more slight).
This is why the police have to allow some small measure of leeway on speed limits, as there's no practical way you can tell what exact effect a new set of rubbers will do to your guage.

Gareth_GT_Hatch · Post by **Gareth_GT_Hatch** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 5:05 pm

Altho that table is accurate is does not account for tread depth and things like that. It turns out that my 165/55/14s are marginally bigger (by 1cm) than the 165/65/R13s I had on previously. (using the tyre size calc it said they were smaller) Checked this by putting the two different setups side by side. 185s and 195s are bigger still. but not much.

Any yes the gearing will be right with 165/55/R14s, as you cant get any closer than this tyre size on 14's

hardhitter · Post by **hardhitter** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:26 pm

Gareth_GT_Hatch wrote:

You need some proper brakes behind there

Gareth_GT_Hatch · Post by **Gareth_GT_Hatch** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 12:44 am

For real. Ive got some G40 calipers carriers and discs, I just need to fit em. Think my 1400 needs em more tho...

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:39 pm

Gareth_GT_Hatch wrote:Altho that table is accurate is does not account for tread depth and things like that.

already had that warning just under the data, mate

thanks for giving the real world example though! shows just how much of a difference it can make! (as much as e.g. going from 175s to 165s of the same aspect and rim as they wear from "new" to the legal limit)

TheWhiteBeast · Post by **TheWhiteBeast** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 5:39 pm

My Types are 185/60/14

Danny