Tyre sizes

luvjascha · 21st October 2006, 14:51

Currently, I drive around on Bridgestone S322's with size 175/65R14 82T(tube-type) and wish to switch to Bridgestone Potenza GIII's (tubeless).

I looked up the Bridgestone India website, and the GIII options I got were 185/60R14 82H and 195/60R14 86H. I went to several dealers, shopping around for prices, and the best I got was Rs. 3200 per Potenza tyre for both sizes, 185/65R14 and 185/60R14.
Now, 185/65R14 was not listed as one of the options on the Bridgestone India site, and when I called up the dealer, he told me that the reason behind it was that the 185/65R14 was imported by him and the others were imported by the Bridgestone company, and aside from that fact, no difference at all.
What would be my best bet between the two sizes, cause they both are priced the same.
Kindly advise.

wolfinstein · 21st October 2006, 14:57

What the company imports will be slightly expensive and will be offered the warranty claim, What dealer himself imports could be either grey market or could be that he would have had permission from the Bridgestone company to legally import and sell the tyre in that size directly, I think you should check this with him, If he agrees on Bill and warranty no issues purchase it..!

The website in my opnion is not that informative, I remember when I was searching for new footwear for the lancer...Bridgestone did not even have the Indian Section in their website, I had to mail the company executive in India to get information and dealer..! You could also clarifiy with the company executive, I found them really nice and professional people.

luvjascha · 21st October 2006, 15:11

In the event of the dealer being unable to furnish a Bill and Warranty on 185/65R14, what then should I go with - 185/60R14 or 195/60R14?

rks · 21st October 2006, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvjascha

In the event of the dealer being unable to furnish a Bill and Warranty on 185/65R14, what then should I go with - 185/60R14 or 195/60R14?

Look at "A tyre size calculator" in:

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

I would say that 185/65 R14 is the wrong upsize for 175/65 R 14. Will introduce speedo errors and increase ride height; handling will suffer. Probably 185/60 R14 is a better upsize than 195/60 R14. But the best would be 190/60 R14, if you can get this size. Also check the dates on your tyres when you buy them -- if possible try to get fresh stock, not more than a few months old.

iraghava · 21st October 2006, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by rks

Look at "A tyre size calculator" in:

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

I would say that 185/65 R14 is the wrong upsize for 175/65 R 14. Will introduce speedo errors and increase ride height; handling will suffer. Probably 185/60 R14 is a better upsize than 195/60 R14. But the best would be 190/60 R14, if you can get this size. Also check the dates on your tyres when you buy them -- if possible try to get fresh stock, not more than a few months old.

Car tyre sizes are never made in 0's. Tyres are only available in sizes ending with 5's, only two wheeler tyres come in sizes ending with 0's.

Therefore you cannot find a 190/60 simply because no company in world makes them. As for the size both 185/60 or 195/60 is good but 195 is preferred.

rks · 21st October 2006, 16:11

@iraghava, thanks for the info. Actually the carbibles site mentions 190/60, but I think now that this is a misprint. Between 185/60 and 195/60, it is a matter of personal choice. 195/60 will give greater sidewall height and will give better grip, but lower FE/top speed as compared to 185/60. If one is satisfied with the improvement in grip that 185/60 gives, this may be preferred. The sidewall height is 111 mm for 185/60 which should be OK for bad roads; the lower ride height as compared to the 195/60 may give some improvement in handling. One more point is the stock rim width. As per the rim-width calculator, 195/60 R14 would require a minimum rim width of 5.5J, whereas 185/60 R14 would require minimum of 5J. So if stock rims are 5J, 185/60 may be better in this respect.

luvjascha · 21st October 2006, 17:48

Thanks for sharing the info, but am still a bit confused between 185/60R14, 185/65R14 and 195/60R14.
Like I said, I'm getting the first two for Rs. 3200 each, while the third is available for Rs. 3450.

If I ain't gettin' a Bill & Warranty with the 185/65R14, I shouldn't go for them, correct? I don't want top speed and FE to suffer and wish that speedo error is least. Having said that, what's my best bet?

wolfinstein · 21st October 2006, 18:11

Its a choice you will need to make..! I would suggest don't upsize way beyond the Stock profile..!

luvjascha · 21st October 2006, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfinstein

I would suggest don't upsize way beyond the Stock profile..!

...And that would be?

Vid6639 · 21st October 2006, 18:24

Hey luvjascha,

Even i was in the same situation as you sometime back when i went in for a new set of tyre for my lancer. I had OE 185/60-14. I was not at all happy with the ride quality with the 185/60 profile.
I was contemplating between 195/60 and 185/65. I was keen on going for bridgestone and realised that bridgestone does not have the 185/65 tyre size but michelin energy XM1's did.
I figured the 195/60 would be the best bet as the profile would go up for better ride and the increase in the width would compensate for the handling.
I went in for turanza ER-60 and found them really good till now for our roads. These are made in india and carry a 4yr warranty.
You can safely go for 195/60-14. My mileage also is exactly the same as before.

iraghava · 21st October 2006, 20:10

Luv what car do you have? And is the wheel 5J or 5.5J? Depending on that I would be able to narrow down your choices.

luvjascha · 21st October 2006, 22:57

Ishan, I drive the OHC VTEC with OE 175/65R14 (tube-type)

kpzen · 22nd October 2006, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvjascha

Ishan, I drive the OHC VTEC with OE 175/65R14 (tube-type)

Go for 195/60-14 Potenza GIII....

Check out Shan2nu's garage...

KP

goldsun · 22nd October 2006, 07:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by rks

Look at "A tyre size calculator" in:

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

That is a very informative article on tyres and as well as the wheel dynamics.

iraghava · 22nd October 2006, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvjascha

Ishan, I drive the OHC VTEC with OE 175/65R14 (tube-type)

Arrey Yaar itna debate faltu ke liye pehle bolna tha na. Simple, perfect upsize is 195/60 R14 no issues, go for it with your eyes closed. Since you like comfirt & less road noise go for Michelin Energy XM1's - Great tyres have them on my OHC VTEC too! Also bargain the price to about 3300/- or closest possible.

Hope this clears all the confusion!

21st October 2006, 14:51	#1
luvjascha BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: BOM Posts: 429 Thanked: 2 Times	Tyre sizes Currently, I drive around on Bridgestone S322's with size 175/65R14 82T(tube-type) and wish to switch to Bridgestone Potenza GIII's (tubeless). I looked up the Bridgestone India website, and the GIII options I got were 185/60R14 82H and 195/60R14 86H. I went to several dealers, shopping around for prices, and the best I got was Rs. 3200 per Potenza tyre for both sizes, 185/65R14 and 185/60R14. Now, 185/65R14 was not listed as one of the options on the Bridgestone India site, and when I called up the dealer, he told me that the reason behind it was that the 185/65R14 was imported by him and the others were imported by the Bridgestone company, and aside from that fact, no difference at all. What would be my best bet between the two sizes, cause they both are priced the same. Kindly advise.
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 14:57	#2
wolfinstein BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 994 Thanked: 20 Times	What the company imports will be slightly expensive and will be offered the warranty claim, What dealer himself imports could be either grey market or could be that he would have had permission from the Bridgestone company to legally import and sell the tyre in that size directly, I think you should check this with him, If he agrees on Bill and warranty no issues purchase it..! The website in my opnion is not that informative, I remember when I was searching for new footwear for the lancer...Bridgestone did not even have the Indian Section in their website, I had to mail the company executive in India to get information and dealer..! You could also clarifiy with the company executive, I found them really nice and professional people. Last edited by wolfinstein : 21st October 2006 at 14:59.
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 15:11	#3
luvjascha BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: BOM Posts: 429 Thanked: 2 Times	In the event of the dealer being unable to furnish a Bill and Warranty on 185/65R14, what then should I go with - 185/60R14 or 195/60R14?
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 16:11	#6
rks BANNED Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ?? Posts: 1,238 Thanked: 17 Times	@iraghava, thanks for the info. Actually the carbibles site mentions 190/60, but I think now that this is a misprint. Between 185/60 and 195/60, it is a matter of personal choice. 195/60 will give greater sidewall height and will give better grip, but lower FE/top speed as compared to 185/60. If one is satisfied with the improvement in grip that 185/60 gives, this may be preferred. The sidewall height is 111 mm for 185/60 which should be OK for bad roads; the lower ride height as compared to the 195/60 may give some improvement in handling. One more point is the stock rim width. As per the rim-width calculator, 195/60 R14 would require a minimum rim width of 5.5J, whereas 185/60 R14 would require minimum of 5J. So if stock rims are 5J, 185/60 may be better in this respect.
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 17:48	#7
luvjascha BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: BOM Posts: 429 Thanked: 2 Times	Thanks for sharing the info, but am still a bit confused between 185/60R14, 185/65R14 and 195/60R14. Like I said, I'm getting the first two for Rs. 3200 each, while the third is available for Rs. 3450. If I ain't gettin' a Bill & Warranty with the 185/65R14, I shouldn't go for them, correct? I don't want top speed and FE to suffer and wish that speedo error is least. Having said that, what's my best bet?
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 18:11	#8
wolfinstein BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 994 Thanked: 20 Times	Its a choice you will need to make..! I would suggest don't upsize way beyond the Stock profile..!
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 18:24	#10
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,731 Thanked: 43,490 Times View My Garage	Hey luvjascha, Even i was in the same situation as you sometime back when i went in for a new set of tyre for my lancer. I had OE 185/60-14. I was not at all happy with the ride quality with the 185/60 profile. I was contemplating between 195/60 and 185/65. I was keen on going for bridgestone and realised that bridgestone does not have the 185/65 tyre size but michelin energy XM1's did. I figured the 195/60 would be the best bet as the profile would go up for better ride and the increase in the width would compensate for the handling. I went in for turanza ER-60 and found them really good till now for our roads. These are made in india and carry a 4yr warranty. You can safely go for 195/60-14. My mileage also is exactly the same as before.
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 20:10	#11
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Luv what car do you have? And is the wheel 5J or 5.5J? Depending on that I would be able to narrow down your choices.
	() Thanks

21st October 2006, 22:57	#12
luvjascha BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: BOM Posts: 429 Thanked: 2 Times	Ishan, I drive the OHC VTEC with OE 175/65R14 (tube-type)
	() Thanks