Tyre size question.

[@Lee]

Skoda Rapid 105PS on 215/45/ R16 tyres. Will I be OK fitting 215/55 R16s?

Thanks.

Lee.

[nta16]

No.  Big difference in sidewall height from (nominally) 3.8" ( 97 mm) to 4.7" (119 mm), 23.7% increase.

 

Your speedo will under-read (not good for your licence), you'll lose some suspension wheel to wheel arch space, OK if you don't get into too much mud or snow and your suspension isn't to soft and sagged, slight gain on ride height.

 

Edited 3 June by nta16
ETA:

[@Lee]

@nta16  cheers mate. 

Looks like I'll have to get the 215 45s then at about €40 more per corner.

Still cheaper than losing my licence though I suppose. 

[nta16]

I don't know how the prices go but near fits are 205/45 r16 - 195/50 r16 - 225/45 r16 - 205/50 r16.

 

The near widths of the tyre make very little if any odds to road grip that's all about the tyre's design, make up and compounds.  Narrower tyres on 7" width rims will sit squarer and add stiffness to the tyre walls.  As also better made tyres will will be better overall regardless of their size.

 

You can check out the differences to 215/45 r16 on the following sites for yourself.  Personally I'd have 15" wheels (if 14" wouldn't fit) and have more tyre sidewall, air and 'rubber' (pneumatic) suspension on the wheels, and slightly better feel to initial pick up of acceleration (what very little sensation you can get from modern cars that isolate the driver from what's going on with the car). 

 

 https://tiresize.com/tyre-size-calculator/

 

https://www.willtheyfit.com/

[Carlston]

On 03/06/2024 at 14:21, @Lee said:

Skoda Rapid 105PS on 215/45/ R16 tyres. Will I be OK fitting 215/55R16s?

 

In some markets with bad roads, they fit 185/60R15 6Jx15 ET38 5/100 57.1 and 195/55R16 6Jx16 ET40 5/100 57.1 to the Rapid.

 

195/55R16 is one of the cheapest 16" tyre sizes.

 

However, for the 7Jx16 ET46 5/100 57.1 rim, 205/50R16 could be considered. A 7J rim is a little wide for the 195/55R16 tyre size, with 6J and 6.5J being the usual rim widths for the 195/55R16 tyre size.

 

Here are some examples of summer tyres in the 205/50R16 87V size.

 

Hankook Ventus Prime4 K135 205/50R16 87V (Euro label C A 69dB)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s300p212192/Hankook_Tyres_Car_Hankook_Ventus_Prime4_K135_205_50_R16_87V_RPB_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_A_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_69dB

 

Michelin Pilot Sport 3 205/50R16 87V (Euro D A 71dB)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/tyre/Michelin/Pilot-Sport-3/205-50-R16-87V/R-261807

 

Uniroyal RainSport 5 205/50R16 87V (Euro label C A 71dB)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/tyre/Uniroyal/RainSport-5/205-50-R16-87V-EVc/R-402359

 

Vredestein Ultrac 205/50R16 87V (Euro label C A 69dB)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/tyre/Vredestein/Ultrac/205-50-R16-87V/R-441642

 

Unlike the 205/50R16 size, there's a good selection of all-season tyres in the 195/55R16 size. Here are some examples.

 

Continental AllSeasonContact 2 195/55R16 87H (Euro label B B 71dB)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m139b0s7952p221968/Continental_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Continental_Conti_All_Season_Contact_2_195_55_R16_87H_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_B_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_71dB

 

Michelin CrossClimate 2 195/55R16 87H (Euro label C B 69dB)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m139b0s7952p208526/Michelin_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Michelin_Cross_Climate_2_195_55_R16_87H_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_A_Noise%3A_69dB

 

Vredestein Quatrac 6 195/55R16 87H (Euro label C B 70dB)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m139b0s7952p202114/Vredestein_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Vredestein_Quatrac_6_195_55_R16_87H_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_70dB

 

For the 195/55R16 tyre size, you could look at the 6Jx16 ET35 5/100 57.1, 6Jx16 ET38 5/100 57.1, and 6Jx16 ET40 5/100 57.1 rim sizes from the Scala/Kamiq. 6Jx16 ET35 5/100 57.1 and 6Jx16 ET38 5/100 57.1 are available from the Scala/Kamiq as alloy rims, and 6Jx16 ET35 5/100 57.1 and 6Jx16 ET40 5/100 57.1 are available from the Scala/Kamiq as steel rims. I would probably go for the ET35 offset, because that is available as both a steel rim and an alloy rim...so for example, you could use four alloy rims and one steel rim as a spare...and the offsets would all match.

 

16" alloy rims from the Skoda accessory catalogue

https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/alu-kola/c/alloyWheels?sort=priceAsc&q=%3AscoreDesc%3AcarType%3AScala%2B%282019%2B%29%3ArimDiameter%3A16#

 

Edited 4 June by Carlston