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Re: 96 CS Turbo - Tire size question Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Tue, 25 Oct 2005 14:48:42
In Reply to: 96 CS Turbo - Tire size question, Mary in Maine, Tue, 25 Oct 2005 14:20:00 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
First, I would be shocked if Maine would fail you for a 205 size tire. I suspect they would only fail you if the tire was so big as to extend past the wheel well.
I don't know if you were asking, but the 195 refers to the width of the tire, in millimeters. So a 205 is 10 millimeters (just under a half inch) wider than the 195. The 65 is the height of the sidewall, in percent, of the width. So a 65 tire has a sidewall that is 0.65 of 195, or 4.99 inches high. The 60 tire has a sidewall 0.6 of 205, or 4.84 inches. Pretty minor. But the lower sidewall will be a little stiffer, which means better handling, but a slightly harsher ride.
In general, a narrower tire is better in deep snow. If you are doing a lot of driving in deep snow, I'd go with the 195. The 205 will give you better handling on dry roads.
Quite frankly, the difference is pretty minor. Assuming the same brand/model, the 195/65 will probably be a little cheaper, will ride will be a little smoother/quieter (higher sidewall), and will not handle quite as well as the 205. The handling difference will be very minor, and depending on your driving style, you may or may not notice.
I've run 185 snows and 205 summer tires. The biggest difference I feel is in the tread of the tire, not in the construction.
My take - if you are a performance driver, looking to hit that on-ramp fast, you should be going for the 205 tires. If you are an 'average' driver (OK, nobody wants to be average), the 195's will probably save you some money, and will be slightly better in deep snow and water.
posted by 192.249....
, Tue, 25 Oct 2005 14:48:42 <-- Viewing This Message
, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 15:36:50
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