My wife's 1.4 Saxo will be needing a new set of tyres soon. The original fit ones are 165/65/R14H. H-rating is suitable for up to 130mph, but the theoretical maximum speed is only 106mph so S or T rated tyres would seem to be adequate. The problem is that the only H-rated tyres in that size are Michelin MXV3as which are not too great and quite expensive. Would there be any potential insurance issues with putting 'lesser' spec (although probably better grip) tyres on? There are a lot of people who use crap tyres and remoulds -- surely they can't have all invalidated their insurance?

I'm considering something like Yoko A539s or Toyos (I think the only ones that fit are E10s or Cleanproxes).

 

You'll be fine with lesser speed rated tyres if the car is not capable of that speed anyway.

What width are the wheels?

Wondering 'cos a move to 185/60 would give you a far greater range of (much cheaper) options if it's a 5.5J 14 wheel.....

 

Carl
Hi there

Re tyres, chances are that Citroen had a awful lotta the Michelins and fitted them to anything that moved, You should be able to go go S or T rated rubber. What you may find is that the H rated are similar priced as they are likely to be a more common tyre or that that size is only avaliable as a H rated tyre due to the profile or such like

Shop around for prices mind, Don't know where abouts tyou are if you are midlands try Tyres Northampton 01604 588599, Ask for Mark.

I have never found a company to better them for cost or service.

Happy hunting

Paul

Also agree with Mic's post above re going to a different size/profile - bear in mind the rim width needs to suitable to take the larger rubber



[Edited by Paul Habgood - 4/26/2002 12:46:32 PM]

 

Don't know.

165/65 means the tyre height is 107.25 mm
185/60 means the tyre height is 110 mm
195/55 means the tyre height is 107.25 mm which would look to be the best bet, if the tyre will fit on the rim. But then it might be 'overtyred'.

Paul -- TN is where I get the Scoob's tyres from (despite living in the South-East). But you can't get Proxes T1-S in those sort of profiles

[Edited by carl - 4/26/2002 12:50:35 PM]

 

Carl,

If they're 5.5J (5.5" width) rims, I'd think a 195 (7.5") width tyre would be a little too wide for a comfortable fit, even if it is the same profile height.

As far as profile height goes, rolling diameter (rim+tyre) changes dynamically with tyre wear by 5mm or more during a tyres lifecycle. You should be ok going from 107mm to 110mm profile height, since the 110mm tyres will be 107mm after a while anyway. You would gain slightly in top speed (maybe 3mph? ), and have the equivalent of a slightly longer gearing, but for those numbers it's fairly negligible.

Or if you prefer the idea of 195/55's, get hold of some 6.5J*14 rims and there shouldn't be a problem fitting the 195's to it. Tyre manufacturers normally quote "suitable wheel widths" for tyre widths or the other way around, see if you can get some info off them as to recommendations for 195/55 rubber.

 

175/60 is a possible ~ drops your gearing 0.8% (70mph > 69.4mph)
185/60 will fit 5.5" rim, raises gearing 1.3% (70mph > 70.9mph)
195/55.....not likely it will fit....even if you could just squeeze it on, you get excessive tyre movement if you squeeze the biggest size possible onto a rim.