BX wheels and tyres

[Dollywobbler]

I'm looking to get a full set of tyres for the TZD, which is equipped with 5.5J Speedlines. I may keep the wheels, I may not (depends how quickly I can get my hands on a set of steelies). However, I would like to change to summer tyres once spring (finally!) arrives, especially as I'm not very keen on the Chinese winter tyres fitted currently (to the front).

Question is, what size can I fit to the 5.5J wheels? Is that the standard BX size? If so, I guess it would have had 165s fitted originally. My investigations show that the move from 165 to 175 creates a jump in price per tyre of about £10, which I don't think is worth it. I'd rather use my budget to buy narrower but better rubber.

Later in the year, I plan to buy a set of steel wheels and fit the two existing winter tyres and a better pair to them.

The left-field suggestion is to fit a set of all-terrains. They are out there in BX sizes!

[Way2go]

You need to jump to more than 175, to 185 actually as the 5.5J Speedlines were the standard option fit for the GTi.

[Dollywobbler]

185s become a bit of a squeeze on an estate by all accounts though. I've never particularly found the 165s lacking in grip, depending on what rubber is fitted. I was wrong about 175. I was looking at the wrong profile. 175s often seem slightly cheaper than 165s so as that's what's fitted currently, I'll stick with that I think.

[Way2go]

!65's probably won't lack in grip on a diesel as the reason for wider tyres is to "put the power down" in acceleration and the BX diesels lack the power of a petrol. This is why powerful F1 cars have wide wheels and a complex aerofoil to keep the tyres in contact with the tarmac.

[Dollywobbler]

I'm not a stranger to the dynamics involved. Just pondering whether there's an noticable difference between 165s and 175s. So many variables.

[Defender110]

The thinner tyres are quieter and a more comfortable ride.

I have a set of steelies with I think Mitchelin rubber IIRC that I took off the TGD but I'm in Manchester.

[MULLEY]

The thinner 165 tyres are usually on a fat 70, rather than the 185's which sit on a 60, so thats possibly where the extra comfort comes into play. I've always fitted 185/60's to my BX's, i did have some odd tyre size on the Gti at one point (175/65's i think) which were crap as they just spun up when i was exiting corners at speed, when i changed to the wider one's, no problems at all.

With a 5.5 wheel, you could go to a 175 size tyre, thats what my tyre fitter said, i run 185's on 6j's with no issues even though normally they would be fitted with 195's.

[Defender110]

The 60 and 70 isn't the width/fat it is the percentage of the width which equates to the ride height.

i.e; The ride height of the tyre on a 165/70 would be 70% of the 165mm width = 115.5mm

185/60, 60% of the width = ride hieght of 111mm

175/65, 65% of the 175mm width = ride height of 113.75mm

Generally the taller the ride height the softer the ride and the smaller width giving a quieter ride unless squealing round the bends lol.

[Mickey taker]

but I'm in Manchester.

what the same Manchester where Ian went on the train to to collect the car last week ?

[Dollywobbler]

Aye. Doh! I'm planning a mission to the Midlands at some point fairly soon, so anyone over that way with some spare wheels would be handy!

[Defender110]

what the same Manchester where Ian went on the train to to collect the car last week ?

That would be the one!

[KevR]

I had a set of 5.5 Speedlines for a while - took them off a TGD saloon when I moved it on. They didn't fit the estate rear with 185s fitted, so I ran the rears for a while with 165/70s but the rim was really too wide for the tyre - mucked up the whole profile of it. So I wouldn't go for 165s on those rims.

[mat_fenwick]

I think it really must depend on the tyres, as I've had 195s on my estate with just a small amount of teasing outwards - completely invisible to look at. Before the adjustment there was just a faint buzzing. Yet others of the same nominal size required the wheel arch lip folding back, even after it had been pulled outwards.

[citsncycles]

Tyres of supposedly the same size can vary from make to make - I once checked a Kumho tyre against a Firestone on the GS (155 R14's), and found a 5mm difference in overall diameter!

[KevR]

I think it really must depend on the tyres, as I've had 195s on my estate with just a small amount of teasing outwards - completely invisible to look at. Before the adjustment there was just a faint buzzing. Yet others of the same nominal size required the wheel arch lip folding back, even after it had been pulled outwards.

Thinking about it, they might have been 195s - they definitely didn't fit though!