Car tyre size question

[Spinney]

Spare from the old car (pristine condition) - 195/65 R15

Tyres on new car - 205/55 R16

If I've got my sums right, the new ones are about 10 mm larger diameter than the old ones.

Any problems with using the old one as spare on the new car?

I know modern space saver things say 50 mph max, and maybe some mileage limit, but I'd rather have a spare that I can drive on normally (I've still also got the inflation kit thingy that came with the new car).

I'm thinking of trips to Scotland, where it's along way between places that could repair tyres, and lots are shut on Sundays (this is an observation, not a complaint). But I guess the difference in diameters means this isn't possible.

 

[Tanis8472]

Tyre size calculator gives a 2mm difference in diameter.
When you say pristine, how old is it?
There should be a lozenge shape on the sidewall with four digits in it. Thats week and year of manufacture

 

[Joffey]

I'd imagine you'd have to drive slowly with a mismatched wheel on your car just like a space saver or it may effect the handling of your car.

 

[Tanis8472]

Could be a problem for these then

 

[rich p]

This all sounds familiar!

 

[Spinney]

Tyre size calculator gives a 2mm difference in diameter.
When you say pristine, how old is it?
There should be a lozenge shape on the sidewall with four digits in it. Thats week and year of manufacture

I'll take a look later, could be 7 years.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I take it the new model requires you to Buy a spare? Pita.
Get a wheel of eBay or something , as the 250 or whatever they want is a rip off.

You may only have room for a space saver , so check under the carpet in the back before buying.
You should be able to source a spare wheel kit via breakers yard part finder?

 

[Spinney]

I take it the new model requires you to Buy a spare? Pita.
Get a wheel of eBay or something , as the 250 or whatever they want is a rip off.

You may only have room foe a space saver , so check under the carpet in the back

I've got the new one, and the old spare does fit under the carpet. Only just, but that's good enough. It came with an inflation kit thingy, which I think covers any legal/rescue requirements, but having had a flat in the past through denting a wheel rim, that an inflation kit would not sort out, I wanted a real spare.
I think it's fine to use as an emergency, I was wondering about the implications of driving it more than the absolute minimum.

 

[Tanis8472]

I'll take a look later, could be 7 years.

Not too bad then. Mine is 20yrs old. It's the original and still has those mould knobles on.

 

[Spinney]

[QUOTE 4977118, member: 9609"]what calculations are you using ? I make only 2.6mm
205/55 R16 = (205 * 0.55 * 2) + (16 * 25.4)[/quote]

That's what I was using; I get 507.75 for the old one, 519.15 for the new one.

I take it you original tyre is still on a rim ? does this rim fit the studs or holes on the hub ?

The dealers assured me it does*. It's the same make of car, just a newer model.

Therefore I need to check! But don't fancy taking the wheel off the new one at the moment.

 

[Spinney]

[QUOTE 4977164, member: 9609"]you're only measuring the tyre wall depth once, you need to double it as it goes all the way around the rim.

and yes I would check it just in case the smaller older rim fouls anything[/QUOTE]


I blame it being Friday!

With that small a size difference, it surely can't make much difference to the drive.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I'd be happy to use it in an emergency.
But it would be a get you home option only.
Don't go over 50mph etc
It's 7 yr old which is ok but it's past it's best.

 

[Jody]

If the offset is right and it doesn't foul the arch or brake caliper due to the rim being smaller then get it used!

 

[User6179]

I saw a guy up the back roads hit a pothole and puncture in a mini , he got the spare out and stuck it on, it was tiny, apparently it is a space saver spare tyre.