[Closed] Winter tyres q: move from 205/60R15 to 185/60R16 OK?

you're going to fit 16" tyres onto a 15" rim ?

Never again! No, I'd get some steel rims to suit.

Though the more I think about it, the more foolish it seems anyway... 😳

If you using seperate steel rims it should be fine. Slightly narrower winter tyres on seperate rims is pretty normal

I asked about putting winter tyres on to a Golf which had lower profile tyres as standard and was told it was fine with new steel wheels to suit the tyres. Not sure if that helps.

i run the same size winter tyres and summer, but that's because i needed them urgently a couple of years ago and didn't want/couldn't afford to fork out for a set of steel wheels of a different size at the time. A year later got a set of steel wheels to keep the winter tyres on, so I don't need to pay Kwik Fit £80 a year to change them back and forth.

With hindsight and more cash, I'd have gone for thinner, taller tryes for winter.

So no, If I were you, I wouldn't go for the 16" wheels. I'd go thinner 15", or maybe even 14".

They will be absolutely fine- the difference in size is in the ballpark of what you can find between 2 "same size" tyres from different manufacturers. Usual insurance company nonsense may apply, though.

oh but also- used winter tyres aren't always that much of an economy, they might have loads more than the legal tread but that can still mean they've lost some effectiveness. I was told that once the surface sipes were gone from my hankooks they'd lose most of the benefit of ice, that would take less than half wear, and still leave about twice the legal minimum.

Thanks for your input all, plenty of food for thought - particularly your info on tyre wear Northwind!

Time to ponder more!

But make sure you can buy the steel rims before buying the tyres.

As above - winter tyres only really work properly if they have at least half their tread, so used ones may not be much of a bargain.

Last year I got 2x 205/60R15 conti winter contacts on steel wheels for only about £160.

(which incidentally was about the same price as just the tyres that would have fitted my alloys, as the steel wheels are slightly smaller and narrower, although the tyres are higher profile so the diameter is the same)

I've got the same size as my summer tyres. On wor lasses car, she has 185 summer and 165 winters. They are both sizes that are approved by the manufacturer for that car, so would hopefully avoid any argument over insurance etc.

As above...

Check your cars handbook or with the manufacturer what winter tyre size is recommended for your car.

Often, on cars with wider tyres, they will state a narrower tyre with a smaller wheel size and a higher side wall profile as it is better in snow than a wide low profile tyre.

But you need to show that you have followed the manufacturers recommendation otherwise your insurance could be invalidated. You are also normally allowed to drop down one speed rating as it's expected that you won't be going as fast in winter.

If you are buying steel wheels make sure that they actually fit your car.

That is diameter wise, width wise, offset and that they are the correct size for your hub, so the wheel sits on that rather than resting on the wheel nuts/studs.

it's often easier to buy a cheap set of alloy wheels these days that definitely fit your car as steelies tend to get mixed up and left to rust. The crapper looking, smaller diameter alloys often go for the price of scrap.

it's often easier to buy a cheap set of alloy wheels these days that definitely fit your car as steelies tend to get mixed up and left to rust. The crapper looking, smaller diameter alloys often go for the price of scrap.

That too.

I used to have a Peugeot 306 Rallye which I bought a second set of "Cyclones" (the proper Peugeot alloys) for to use on track, cost me 150 quid with Toyo R888s fitted. Got a couple of trackdays out of them before they were totally shot too. A bare set would be 75-150 depending on condition.

You could pick up the more disgusting alloys from the lower spec models for sub 50 quid which would be ideal for winter use.

Again, thanks all, your advice very much appreciated.

This morning I picked up a great set of 195/65R15 Conti WinterContact 830s with under 1000 miles on them and have just found and ordered a set of steel rims... winter wheeled up for £220, sweet!

Basically, went with a tyre size used on other trim variants of my car. After reading the above I would have gone for new if I hadn't found a set of tyres with so little wear. Ace!

I think you've got your profile size wrong. If the 15's are 60 then the 16 should be a 50. Why not just get 15-inch steelies with 185 / 60's?