[schakravarthy]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Sadly enough, I will not be able to use the OE spare wheel cover, which I love, since it does not fit on a 215.

Never say can't, not when you live in the country renowned for 'Jugaad'!
Take it to any half decent cushion works fellow and a li'l cutting & stitching later the lion should be back perched over the spare wheel.

[Sawyer]

I threw away the cover - since the car is always parked in shade at home, it doesn't serve any purpose and I think the car looks better without it.

[n.devdath]

[quote=Aroy;4073043]Gypsy is not the ideal vehicle for comfortable highway journeys. The closest that you can get to a Gypsy is the Thar which comes with AC and PS and has much better Highway Ride./QUOTE]

For some reason, I could never get as excited about the Thar as the Gypsy. Also, the Gypsy is a relatively simpler vehicle, something that appeals to me.

Originally Posted by Sawyer

I have obtained 14 km to the litre on highway drives,

Do you concur that the Gypsy is not a comfortable vehicle for the highways?

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Gypsy is not at all the ideal vehicle for highway hauls from any aspect. I can vouch for this, having driven one from Pune to Bangalore. I thought you already had a Pajero Sport for mile-munching, eh?

Hmmm...this kinda of dampens it for me then.

I "had" a Pajero Sport, not any more. :(

[Sawyer]

By today's standards, it is not at all comfortable for highways - unless the surface is good and the weather gods are kind. Who ever said otherwise?

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by n.devdath

For some reason, I could never get as excited about the Thar as the Gypsy. Also, the Gypsy is a relatively simpler vehicle, something that appeals to me

Agreed! No offence to Thar owners - this is a very individual thing. After having driven a Classic for 8 years, no other Jeep comes even close. But, that said, if you intend to buy a lifestyle vehicle, 4x4, swb, open top, and (most important), a mile-muncher then look no further than the Thar. Gypsy will simply not cut it as a highway car. It can be your second or third car at best, more so if you are a family guy. I use it as my daily drive but when it comes to those market hauls, it is my good old Alto that cones to the rescue.

[shankar.balan]

When I had the choice of 'One car/ jeep' in the 90's and again in the early 2000's I chose a Gypsy.
I did take it on highway drives and all over the place.
It is really not ideal for the highway if you're looking for comfort but it always brings out a sense of 'adventure' and it certainly brings out the innate dormant 'Gypsy' in me for sure.

Our points of reference have changed over the years as have our needs for comfort and of course, our financial ability. Thats why most of us have graduated to more comfortable SUV's because some of us (me included) really cannot leave the "innate Gypsy inside of one", behind.

Saying that, even though the Yeti is there and it comes with squillions of nice things in it, there is still nothing quite like the Gypsy, as a bare bones, spartan, utilitarian vehicle with zero frills. The only reason I would want one now, is to go back to the early days and enjoy those cues while the health and physique still permit such an indulgence. I just love those vehicles and it is a complete "heart" thing and NOT a "head" thing in my case.

Hence unless you want an 'enthusiast' vehicle as a second or third car, dont go for a Gypsy.

If you go in and buy one with your eyes wide open, then know and be sure of what you're getting into!

The Gypsy is a brilliant vehicle in many ways but please be alive to its shortcomings as well! Im buying one soon just to relive my lost youth but this is being entered into with MY eyes Wide Open.

I hope to enjoy drinking at this particular "fountain of youth" for the next few years...

[shankar.balan]

So do tell, which is the right tyre size if one changes the Gypsy tyres?
Is it 215/65/15 or 205/65/15. Clearly the general preference here seems to be Yokohama Geolandar AT/S which is fine, but what size exactly?

[Sawyer]

Having used both, my vote is easily for the 215 - also I think it is a 70% profile so larger than the 205/65 on both counts.
Pros:
1. A little softer ride
2. Better highway performance because of lower engine rpm at the same road speed.
3. A little better off road
4. Can be mounted on the stock rims
5. Needs no body cutting - it is the largest size that can be used like this
6. Better looks
Cons
1. Spare wheel mounting leaves an indentation; I have no idea what this will do to the tyre, my stepney has remained unused for 5 years since I bought the tyres. I do not rotate it in for wanting to not have the other four tyres suffer this possible issue. Couple of punctures fixed without needing to remove the tyre.
2. OE wheel cover won't fit
3. Extra effort to steer while parking - barely noticeable. But the bigger issue may be the increase in the already lousy turning circle. I haven't measured that though.

Bottom line: my vote for the 215 Yoko, a no brainer IMO.

[starter]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

So do tell, which is the right tyre size if one changes the Gypsy tyres?
Is it 215/65/15 or 205/65/15. Clearly the general preference here seems to be Yokohama Geolandar AT/S which is fine, but what size exactly?

Keep in mind that it is 215/75/15 we are talking about.
My vote is also for this size. I had BF Goodrich on mine and it was an amazing tyre.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Having used both, my vote is easily for the 215

Sawyer - what prompted you to switch from 205s to 215s? I am sure the former would not have worn out enough within that time frame to warrant a change.

On my feel of the 215s - amazing is all I can say! I drove the Gypsy for about 10-15 km on the stock tyres (MRF Estate tubed) before switching over to Yoko Geo 215 and there is a world of difference b/w the two. The ride is (relatively) much more comfortable and road noise is minimal. I did not feel much diff in the steering effort while parking - maybe since I did not use the stock ones for more than a few days. Net-net, it was a good decision to go for the Yokos, worth every penny I'd say.

[Sawyer]

I changed because I got a very good deal from the dealer to exchange the 205 for the 215; he probably had a customer already. Ended up as a win win.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by starter

Keep in mind that it is 215/75/15 we are talking about.
My vote is also for this size. I had BF Goodrich on mine and it was an amazing tyre.

I too agree, this is the perfect upgrade for a stock gypsy. Will offer good ride as well as wont compromise too much on power front. Choices are Yoko, Conti, BF Goodrich and if you want to do good offroading go for Maxxis Trepadors.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

I changed because I got a very good deal from the dealer to exchange the 205 for the 215; he probably had a customer already. Ended up as a win win.

Yeah, but you were probably already looking out for a change, right? The dealer would not have accosted you in the middle of the road and asked you to change Wanted to know the reason.

[Sawyer]

Because having used the car for a year with the 205, the pros of 215 were of interest. But I would not have changed even so if the resale of the 205 would have been for silly prices, capisce?

[shankar.balan]

Guys

Thanks for all the inputs.
So is it that 205/65/15 is not recommended and is it that 215/65/15 is not available at all or generally not recommended?

I am concerned about what I just read about the 'indentation' on the rear spare tyre when mounted, in the case of the 215/75/15.