Changing Tyre Size - Ibiza FR on 16s

[HonestIago]

Good afternoon,

I not long ago collected my new Ibiza and am already thinking ahead to winter and possibly fitting some all-season tyres (Nokians maybe). The issue is that the 215/45/R16 size presents very little in the way of tyre choice (likewise with 205/50/R16). I am thinking of going to 195/55/R16 for which there are loads of affordable choices.

My question is, will this have much effect on the handling? It's a significantly different tyre proportion but only a 3.4% increase in rolling circumference (speedo should then be spot-on). I'd expect better ride comfort and marginally less absolute grip but is there anything else to concern myself with?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RUM4MO]

First thing to consider and check, will that narrower width of tyre still be within the range of widths of tyre that 16" SEAT wheel width is approved for use with - you can check that on a "wheels comparison" website.

Next, be careful that you are fitting a size of tyre that will not annoy your insurer, while it could be that some if not all these latest Fabia/Polo/Ibiza have not been resubmitted for type approval - which you might consider allows you to fit any wheel/tyre sizes from the previous version of these models, your insurer might not see things that way!

If you have storage space, why not buy another four wheels for winter use only, that is what I have done for all of my cars, for my wife's August 2015 Polo 1.2TSI 110 SEL, I bought a set of 15" VW alloys, in your case you could buy 15" alloys from the slightly earlier Ibiza.

Which front brake system is on your car - 288mm or 256mm, my wife's Polo does have 288mm front brakes with ATE callipers (the smaller brakes still use Lucas FS111 I think) - the 15" VW alloys do fit over these larger brakes. I've stuck with using the other approved tyre size for current Polo which is only 185/60 - really just to maximise the grip of these type of winter tyre in snow/ice and remain fully compliant with insurer, if I was not so bothered about insurer, or if they were okay about it, I would have fitted 195/?? winter tyres as that was an approved 15" width for earlier Polo, and no doubt Ibiza, and is still within the wide allowed for the alloy wheels I bought secondhand via ebay.

 

[HonestIago]

Thanks for that - really informative! I believe 195-section tyres are the minimum for 7J wheels so ok in that regard. The insurance question is another matter though.

I realise a spare set of wheels is ideal but space will be at a bit of a premium and I'm shooting for minimalism! A good few months left to make my mind up I suppose!

 

[KXL]

Assuming you are in the UK?

What about Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Generation 2? I know not cheap @ 115 ish per corner, but saves you getting extra rims (and storing them). You may be able to go down to 205 tyres on same rims if more choices, but ask your tyre shop first.

If where you are from it often snows/ice and goes below 0, then probably best to run 2 sets, summer & winters. Would also prolong your tyres life too! If it rarely even snows or goes below 0, perhaps a good all-season works bests..

If you are already running low on tyre tread, maybe try the goodyears, if your tyres still have plenty of life, perhaps 2 sets, you can even get cheap new steel rims (black ones) for winter, but of course, not so nice to look at, haha.

http://www.mrwinterwheels.co.uk/15-seat-ibiza-6j-steel-winter-wheels.html
Mr. Winterwheels seems to think 185/60 R15 will be best winter set up...but I don't know what size is correct tbh.
and you can add Nokian D4s @ about £55 ish per corner....@ this size.

 

[RUM4MO]

KXL, well I think that the car is brand new, so no joy there on the changing type of tyres next time round!

To the OP, if you are set on getting winter or all seasons tyres, if you are lucky, you might somewhere still carrying last year's supplies of winter tyres which might cheaper.

In the real world of places where people do need or like to use winter tyres, the new stocks arrive mid/late October as the factories only do a single production run of winter tyres around that time, one thing, only buy tyres manufactured 2016> onwards as these winter tyres do tend to start to firm up quicker which means after 5 or 6 years they are getting past their best in terms of being more pliable at low temperatures, so while they continue to work better than summer tyres, their winter performance will have dropped off a bit.

 

[HonestIago]

I must say I'm warming to the idea of those steel wheels and some 15" winter tyres - probably the most cost effective solution overall! I live in NE Scotland and, while this past winter was mild, weather conditions can be pretty bad and winter tyres do give a great deal more confidence.

 

[RUM4MO]

Also remembering that "winter" tyres are not just snow/slush/ice tyres, they are cold weather tyres, so might even stay on the car for 6 months, well I do things that way down in the South/Central belt of Scotland - normally change wheels/tyres Early November and change back again early May!

Maybe keep your eyes open for someone getting rid of some 6J Ibiza 15" SEAT original fit alloys cheaply as they move up a size - that is what I did with my wife's Polo for its winter set up, her previous car I bought steels with winter tyres fitted from "MyTyres" - all these winter steels end up looking nasty after a couple of years and the chances of selling them for reasonable money after you have changed cars just does not happen. Mine were handed over free with the Michelin Alpins I was selling when that car was replaced. It is Michelin Alpins that I bought again this time round for both cars, these tyres do last very well.

Edit:- my general plan is to make sure that my summer wheels/tyres are never getting road salt on them!

 

[Sonofzelda]

I must say I'm warming to the idea of those steel wheels and some 15" winter tyres - probably the most cost effective solution overall! I live in NE Scotland and, while this past winter was mild, weather conditions can be pretty bad and winter tyres do give a great deal more confidence.

I agree.