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Have any of you guys got pics of 195/45x16, 205/40x16 and 205/45x16 tyres on 16" BBS RX2's/RS764 or any 16x6.5" alloys? At the moment, I have 196/40x16 on the 16" RX2's on my Polo GTI and there isn't really enough rim protection + the profile looks a touch too small to me. Also being at standard ride height, a slightly bigger tyre would fill the arch gap a bit more. It's hard deciding what size, when you don't know what they'll look like!

Only reason I have these tyres is because they were on the previous wheels that I bought the car with and I didn't have enough money for a new set of tyres after I'd bough these 16" RX2's and got them refurbished!

Thanks!

I had 195/45 with no rim protection but putting 195/50 have me enough to bounce off curbs just a thought.

benmkiv wrote:I had 195/45 with no rim protection but putting 195/50 have me enough to bounce off curbs just a thought.

You got pics of either?

I am hoping to lower it at some point, but not by too much as I want a half decent ride quality as it's a daily!

I ran 205/45/16 snow tyres on my 16" RXII's, there was rubbing on full lock, the car was lowered 30mm.

195/45 will rub lowered
205/45 is a bit too wide and will rub lowered and on full lock
205/40 wont make any difference on rim protection as thats just a wider tyre

You are best to get a decent brand of 195/40 such as a continental or a toyo as these offer very good rim protection compared to others.

Personally, I would save your money and drop the car by 30mm. Itll look much better from a gap perspective then.

I run 195/50s on mine at the moment as I didnt want to buy another set of tyres as my RX2s were on my MK2 beforehand. Ill be going back to 45s (or 40s if I get 16s) once these are worn out.

Thanks for those. I do want to lower it a little, but no idea as to when I'll ever have the money to do that! But as I have to park up a kerb where I live and when I visit my parents, with so little rim protection, even I go up or down a kerb at slightly the wrong angle (even on a lowered kerb by a drive etc) it kerbs the rim of the wheels!

What's 195/45 like when it's lowered 30mm?

But surely if the 205/40 tyre is wider it will offer a little more rim protection compared to the 195/40? Like you say, I think 205/45 will be a bit too much if I lower it a bit.

I've got Toyo T1R's on now.

Youll get a little more on 205/40, but to be fair, it wont be that much and its not worth the scrubbing as itll burn through the arch liners pretty quickly

195/40 isnt bad lowered 30mm.

Try not to use a /45 profile as its a bit too big, can scrub, and puts the speedo out. I only use a 50 because Im not going to waste a good set of tyres lol!

Continental Sport Contacts may be a better choice for you - they have a much stronger rim protection. I can get a pic of this as its on my bros GTI.

alexperkins wrote:Youll get a little more on 205/40, but to be fair, it wont be that much and its not worth the scrubbing as itll burn through the arch liners pretty quickly

195/40 isnt bad lowered 30mm.

Try not to use a /45 profile as its a bit too big, can scrub, and puts the speedo out. I only use a 50 because Im not going to waste a good set of tyres lol!

Continental Sport Contacts may be a better choice for you - they have a much stronger rim protection. I can get a pic of this as its on my bros GTI.

Cheers! Yeah, I know that same size tyres in different brands/models can look quite different. I had Falken ZE912's on my old Mk 2 Golf GTI 16V and even with 195/40 on 7 1/2's they didn't seem much different to the 195/40's on my 16"x 6 1/2 RX2's

I had 912s for a while. They lasted for like 5000 and were bald on the insides

As Alex stated the 195/40's are the best suited for 16" rims on a 6N2, unless the wheels are 7.5/8J

Your just trying to get me to want those wheels even more

alexperkins wrote:Your just trying to get me to want those wheels even more

Haha had to be done mate, best wheels for a GTI

alexperkins wrote:Youll get a little more on 205/40, but to be fair, it wont be that much and its not worth the scrubbing as itll burn through the arch liners pretty quickly


Continental Sport Contacts may be a better choice for you - they have a much stronger rim protection. I can get a pic of this as its on my bros GTI.

Would 205/40 rub when lowered 30-40mm?

Might need to get a tyre/tyres sooner than I thought as there seems to be a prob with a valve (?) on one of the wheels as since the refurb, it keeps losing 20psi every 2-3 days, when the tyre was fine before on the old wheels (unless it's got a slow puncture). Didn't notice it for a few days, so the tyre has worn more on the corners and sod's law, I have the MOT in a few days! The main tread area is fine.

Did you manage to get a pic yet?

Thanks!

I am running 195/40/16 on my 7.5J BBS RC's and it does have a slight stretch but on your wheels they would look spot on with no stretch. Surely going to a 45 profile would make it rub loads?

Endi_GTI wrote:I am running 195/40/16 on my 7.5J BBS RC's and it does have a slight stretch but on your wheels they would look spot on with no stretch. Surely going to a 45 profile would make it rub loads?

Certainly won't rub now, as currently I'm at standard height. Would just like the tyre to come out a touch more on the corners, especially the rears which is where I need to replace one now. Even i I do get coilovers, being that the wheels are only 6.5", the rears shouldn't rub and might even need small spacers.