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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Leebob on 19 July 2012, 20:06

Title: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Leebob on 19 July 2012, 20:06
205's or 195's?
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: andy-gti84 on 19 July 2012, 20:27
mine r 205/40/15 better with 205 then 195
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Wayne on 19 July 2012, 20:30
195/50/15's loads of choice and cheaper then 205's
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Leebob on 19 July 2012, 20:40
195/50/15's loads of choice and cheaper then 205'2

Currently on 205's and was thinking just the same as what you posted m8.Just wondered if people thought they were better or worse in any way as regards performance etc.Am i right in thinking they will fit the rims just as well as the 205's i have on now?
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Gavv8 on 19 July 2012, 20:41
I've tried both and prefer the 195's and like Wayne says there is a better choice of quality rubber at better prices than 205's.
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Wayne on 19 July 2012, 20:50
Currently on 205's and was thinking just the same as what you posted m8.Just wondered if people thought they were better or worse in any way as regards performance etc.Am i right in thinking they will fit the rims just as well as the 205's i have on now?

I switched mine from 205's to 195's and it was fine, no real difference in how it drove and they fit fine.
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: KUR2Y on 19 July 2012, 20:54
I've just changed to 195/50/15 Uniroyal Rain Experts and they rock at £43 each.

They Did us proud in the rain at Castle Combe last week, in the wet.

Would recommend the change.
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Leebob on 19 July 2012, 20:54
Awesome.195's it is then.Cheers chaps :grin:
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: eamonnism on 19 July 2012, 21:38
I have 195/45/15s?
What difference will it make compared to 195/50?
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Ess_Three on 19 July 2012, 21:42
I've tried both and prefer the 195's and like Wayne says there is a better choice of quality rubber at better prices than 205's.


I agree...a little shorter on the gearing, a little tighter on the sidewall, and a little more adjustable on the 195s...they drive great on 195/50/15s.
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Gavv8 on 19 July 2012, 22:06
Might be just me but the 'turn in' seems slightly sharper on 195's
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 19 July 2012, 23:09
Yeah my 195's also felt better on my last mk3.
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: boneybradley on 20 July 2012, 11:55
plus with 195's you can use spacers to fill the arches! (mine had 12mm spacers and didn't rub on 195's but did badly on 205's!)
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: lars2.0 on 20 July 2012, 12:25
205/50/15 the bestttttt
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: JayNesbitt on 23 July 2012, 20:40
Depends on wheel width too....195 on a 9 inch wouldn't handle so good haha

Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 16 October 2012, 23:14
Bit of a revival but this thread seemed the most relevant after some searching on the topic.

I'm just about to start checking out some new rubber and was playing around with the tyre size calculator and wondered if anyone ran with 195/50/16?
Nobody ever seems to mention them (apart from Ess-Three as track tyres), from what I can see il gain a touch of space around the edges of my arches (I'm currently running 205/45/16 on 7j BBS RX's) which will allow for a bit more spacer poke and it'll also give me about 5mm ride height gain / arch gap loss which is welcomed tbh.

http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=205&aspect=45&diameter=16&wheelwidth=7&offset=38&width2=195&aspect2=50&diameter2=16&wheelwidth2=7&offset2=38&Submit=Submit
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 16 October 2012, 23:43
Hmm, ok so I've just discovered that albeit a tiny increase in rolling radius it's enough to cripple the acceleration without dropping the FD. That'll be a big no then and my thoughts of snatching a tad more ride comfort and clearance blown out the window.  :undecided:
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: whileoceanasleeps on 18 October 2012, 17:50
i'm running 195/55/15s. not sure if they're a little to fat though.. had 50s on before
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 18 October 2012, 18:41
I know for sure they are too big, are they mk4 wheels by any chance?
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Ess_Three on 18 October 2012, 19:13
Hmm, ok so I've just discovered that albeit a tiny increase in rolling radius it's enough to cripple the acceleration without dropping the FD. That'll be a big no then and my thoughts of snatching a tad more ride comfort and clearance blown out the window.  :undecided:

I run 195/50/16 as my road wheels too - Toyo T1-Rs.

I wanted a little more compliance in the sidewall, and a slightly narrower tyre too, as well as the option to fit super-stickies in the same size.
As you say, you need to drop a FD to keep the gearing...I went from a 3.94 to a 4.2 when I moved from 215/40/16s to 195/50/16s...but got exactly the results I was looking for  :smiley:
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 18 October 2012, 22:16
Ok cool, Il certainly bare it in mind for when the gearbox eventually comes out which probably won't be until after the new year realistically speaking.
I'm sure you've told me before but 3.94 is the standard O2A FD ratio isn't it and 4.2 was taken from a Passat box of some nature?
Apart from the narrower footprint and extra compliance were there any other pros or cons for this tyre choice, how was the speedo effected before and after the swap as from the what i've read on the tyre calculator it's very marginal yet you say the bigger FD is required?
Title: Re: Best size tyres for a Mk3 on 15's?
Post by: Ess_Three on 19 October 2012, 12:15
I'm sure you've told me before but 3.94 is the standard O2A FD ratio isn't it and 4.2 was taken from a Passat box of some nature?

3.68 is standard ABF.
3.3 standard VR6.
3.94 is available in the odd Passat 'box...and 4.2s like hens teeth!

That's twice I've changed the FD.

Quote
Apart from the narrower footprint and extra compliance were there any other pros or cons for this tyre choice, how was the speedo effected before and after the swap as from the what i've read on the tyre calculator it's very marginal yet you say the bigger FD is required?

Mainly, it was a change to a size I could get decent trackday rubber in.

Speedo has virtually no error now - according to the GPS it's spot on.
There is a noticable chance in MPH/1000 RPM changing the FD...and a noticable difference in true speed  vs indicated speed changing the tyre size.

215/40/16s were right at the bottom end of the standard wheel gearing...whereas 195/50/16 are right up at the top.
As an example, 195/50/16 gives the same overall gearing in top on a 4.2 FD as 215/40/16 did on a 3.94 FD...but the ratios have changed too - it's now approx 20 MPH/1000RPM in 6th, vs the same in 5th before.