195/65/15 tyres on a stock 8valver?

[sam j]

Sorry to do this, and I did search but all the answers I could find seemed to be more about the aesthetics than practicalities

So I need to change the tyres on my stock 8v gti. Its got the original longbeach alloys, so should be running 205/50/15s, but currently has 195/50/15s.

Now the tyres I want (Nokian WR D3) come in 195/50/15, but the 195/65/15 are over €20 a corner cheaper...

So, question is, is it worth paying nearly 40% more to get the 50 profile, or can I fit the 65s? And yes, I know the tyres will look like balloons, but I don't care, they are winter tyres on scruffy wheels which will get replaced with something much nicer in the spring

Thanks

[thai-wronghorse]

65's are huge and will look sh!t, handle worse and completely throw your gearing and speedometer out.

[sam j]

as I said / hinted at... twice... I dont care about the aesthetics... really!

But fair enough, I shall keep searching. The only winter tyres available in 205/50/15 get nowhere near as good a test results as the 195/65... so either the size / gearing has to compromise, or the tyre performance does.

[Therusterman]

I've gone for a 195/50 on my winter wheels, were superb last winter. Went for the Nankang SV-2's

[kodkod.84]

Yep I have 195/50 WinterContacts on my Longbeaches, no problems with speedo or handling in the wet- still waiting for snow to try them out properly though

[tweed]

I would get them.

The car will be 5mph out anyway so fitting a bigger tyre will bring it back up.

If your worried go for a drive with satellite navigation on and see what the speeds are.

If your speedo says 70mph and satellite navigation says 75mph then always drive 5mph under the limit.

Its not rocket science and it wont be out anyway 

[Wayne]

It will look and drive crap.

[tweed]

It will look and drive crap.

Think you missing the point here.
Its for winter and will be replaced later on
The 195/65 are a much better winter tyre than 195/50.
So how does a better rating winter tyre drive crap compared to a lesser rated winter tyre? 

Plus because of the big tyre wall if you do get stuck in snow you can lower the tyre air pressure and have a bigger contact surface area. 

Now if the op said he wants 195/65 for a summer tyre then I would strongly advise not to, but we are talking about winter and snow where a 195/65 tyre is going to be a lot better

[itavaltalainen]

Just get the proper size tyre.

This is the reason why insurance companies go mad and tell people there is premiums for fitting winter tyres as they are mods... No wonder if people don't fit the correct size...

62£ per tyre is not that much for 195 50 15 for Nokians... Doubt the 195 65 15 will be 20£ cheaper than that (actually on the website I use they are 4£ a tyre more for that size!!)

[tweed]

This is the reason why insurance companies go mad and tell people there is premiums for fitting winter tyres as they are mods... No wonder if people don't fit the correct size...

You what???
So people pay more insurance because they fit winter tyres? Winters are a mod?

Bullsh!t! How does making a car safer and less likely to crash increase insurance? 

What says the 65 wall is not the correct tyre?
What tyre comes on a mk3 1.6 with steel wheels?
So whats the difference. 
Please explain.

I can understand insurance going made when you fit a 195/40 to a 9j rim but not a bigger tyre wall thats pathetic