Change of tyre size????

[happylad]

Hello I am getting old and grouchy with the terrible ride in my ibiza cuppra 2004. Is there any major problems involved in changing the tryre size to say 205/55/17 from 205/40/17???/ would this make the ride better??? OR make it unstable.
The car has been chipped to 192bhp so if the ride would be unstable obviousle will not do this.


Cheers The Grouch

 

[Aimez]

The wheel will scrub if fit on at all with that tyres size. My vRS rims arrived with that size tyre on and I couldn't even jack the car up high enough to get them on! I would like to know the answer to this though as 205 40 17 is too low for me my wheel are getting mullered by potholes!

 

[darkhorse]

I think the biggest that would fit without causing any problems would be 205/45/17 which would give an additional 10mm on the tyre wall height. Probably best to measure the tyre clearance to the arch at its closest point when turning the steering wheel (remember that new tyre depth is about 8mm so take this into account) and do some calcs.

I'm running 215/40/17 and would be interested if 215/45/17 fit. When it's a bit warmer I'll get my tape measure out and have a look.

Also worth mentioning that the rolling diameter should be kept within 2.5% of the original for speedo accuracy but my cupra is under reading by about 8% anyway.

 

[techie]

215/40 17 will give you a slightly higher side wall which may help.

 

[Scott-o]

That would look horrendous :|

If you are finding it uncomfortable then maybe go down a wheel size and use a slightly higher profile tyre?

 

[Hudson]

205/45/17 tyres are quite a chunk more exspensive than 205/40/17's.

the only reason why i havent done it.

 

[techie]

215/40 dont look much different and on some wheels actually look better.

 

[Scott-o]

Sorry Techie, i meant 205-55-17's on a cupra would look horrendous

 

[techie]

Agreed on that one

 

[Aimez]

215/40 dont look much different and on some wheels actually look better.

That makes no sense!lol

 

[techie]

That makes no sense!lol

How do you mean? Agreed re reading it almost contradicts itself

Depending on what wheel you have looking at it a 205/40 and 215/40 look almost the same. But if for example fitting a 7.5 wide rim the 215 looks a little better imho.

 

[Aimez]

that's what I mean!lol
I want slightly higher profile fed up with 205/40 but was told that is all that fits ibiza with 17 wheels on. Are the factory 17s on the facelift ibizas fitted with 205/40?

 

[Scott-o]

My new rims are 7.5 inches wide and ive gone for a 195-40-17 haha things we do to try and solve clearance issues!

 

[techie]

215/40 17 would be fine, 205/40 were fitted from factory on the FRs with 17" wheels.

215/40 are fitted on the MK5 (like mine) for the comfort reason.

 

[darkhorse]

I noticed no improvement in comfort when I went for 215/40 over 205/40. I got the wider tyres to protect the wheels slightly more. I'm tempted by 215/45 if the price difference isn't much more and they don't cause any problems

Edit: Just checked mytyres and it seems that the 215/45/17's are cheaper than 215/40 and some are actually cheaper than 205/40 (for goodyear gsd3 anyway)

 

[vroomtshh]

I have 205/45 17 and they fit fine but do nothing for comfort. They do protect the wheel a little more tho

 

[Aimez]

I noticed no improvement in comfort when I went for 215/40 over 205/40. I got the wider tyres to protect the wheels slightly more. I'm tempted by 215/45 if the price difference isn't much more and they don't cause any problems

Edit: Just checked mytyres and it seems that the 215/45/17's are cheaper than 215/40 and some are actually cheaper than 205/40 (for goodyear gsd3 anyway)

really?! Damn it I forked out all that money for 4 F1s a year and a half ago could have saved a bit more and got a lil more protection! Oh well!
I am guessing it is not a good idea to change two wheels to 215 leaving 2 still on 205? Or does it not really matter other than looking a bit odd but only if you really are that observant!