[KiloAlpha]

Originally Posted by fazalmirza

Dear Enthusiasts,
I wrote before about my car's tire upgrade from stock to Goodyear 185/70 R14.
After 4+ months and 11,000 km of pliant ride and zero under-scrapping, I am happy to report average fuel efficiency figures of 15-16 km/l City and 18-19 km/l highway. Air-conditioning switched ON 90% of drive time.

In my opinion and experience the size 185/70 R14 is arguably the best suited for the car. I am beginning to wonder why the company doesn't use the same as standard fitment owing to the constant woes of under-belly scrapping. The ride is also much improved with the tire upgrade.

I think you need to factor in Odometer error before getting too happy about your improved mileage numbers.

Stock size is 175/65R14, rolling radius 291.55mm. Your 185/70R14 upgrade has a rolling radius of 307.3mm, which gives a difference of 5.4% over stock. Please see Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 1 of 4 (link from @Rehaan's first post in the advice section).

[fazalmirza]

5% less efficiency would mean 14-15 km/l city and 17-18 km/l highway with Air-conditioning switched ON 90% of the time.

I am 5% less happy now!

[gr8guzzler]

Guys, it's upgrade time for my tyres and I am in similar dilemma of what is the right upsize.

I am planning to switch to alloys. Since ride quality is an area that I am looking at to improve on, I have opted not to go with 15", will stick to 14". But I'm confused whether to opt for 185/65/14 or 195/60/14. The Michelin website suggests 195/60/14 as the correct upsize. Will 195 scrape the wheel wells? How is the ride quality with 195, anyone who has done this upgrade, please share your review.

And finally, which one to opt for Michellin, Bridgestone or anything else.

Please suggest.

[Prass]

Originally Posted by gr8guzzler

Guys, it's upgrade time for my tyres and I am in similar dilemma of what is the right upsize.

I am planning to switch to alloys. Since ride quality is an area that I am looking at to improve on, I have opted not to go with 15", will stick to 14". But I'm confused whether to opt for 185/65/14 or 195/60/14. The Michelin website suggests 195/60/14 as the correct upsize. Will 195 scrape the wheel wells? How is the ride quality with 195, anyone who has done this upgrade, please share your review.

And finally, which one to opt for Michellin, Bridgestone or anything else.

Please suggest.

I am using 195/60-14 XM1+ for the past one year and the size works without any issues. I am not happy with Michelins since the ride quality and grip is not great. I feel the new MRF ZLOs to be excellent compared to Michellin.

[KiloAlpha]

Originally Posted by gr8guzzler

Guys, it's upgrade time for my tyres and I am in similar dilemma of what is the right upsize.

I am planning to switch to alloys. Since ride quality is an area that I am looking at to improve on, I have opted not to go with 15", will stick to 14". But I'm confused whether to opt for 185/65/14 or 195/60/14. The Michelin website suggests 195/60/14 as the correct upsize. Will 195 scrape the wheel wells? How is the ride quality with 195, anyone who has done this upgrade, please share your review.

And finally, which one to opt for Michellin, Bridgestone or anything else.

Please suggest.

A lot of Figo owners on this forum have upgraded to 185/65R14 (if gives slightly better ride and ground clearance), although 195/60R14 is not going to cause you any issues.
Are you planning to buy standard Ford alloys (from the dealer) or are you going after-market? If you are going after-market, then take care that the ET value of the alloys are as close to stock value of -38mm, which will prevent the tyres scraping bodywork/suspension.

I am running Bridgestone Potenza G3, and would recommend it. MRF Z.L.O, if available in 195/60R14, would also be a good choice.

[Prass]

Originally Posted by KiloAlpha

A lot of Figo owners on this forum have upgraded to 185/65R14 (if gives slightly better ride and ground clearance), although 195/60R14 is not going to cause you any issues.
Are you planning to buy standard Ford alloys (from the dealer) or are you going after-market? If you are going after-market, then take care that the ET value of the alloys are as close to stock value of -38mm, which will prevent the tyres scraping bodywork/suspension.

I am running Bridgestone Potenza G3, and would recommend it. MRF Z.L.O, if available in 195/60R14, would also be a good choice.

I just changed from Potenza G3 185/65-14 to ZLOs 195/60-14 on my Verna. I was skeptical to choose ZLOs if I could get same comfort / performance levels from G3s and the upgrade to ZLOs seems to be well worth it and its cheap too in 195/60-14 size.
I wish if I could change the Michs in my Figo also to ZLOs.


How is the handling when using 185/65 since the GC is up by 6 mm compared to OEM?

[KiloAlpha]

Originally Posted by Prass

How is the handling when using 185/65 since the GC is up by 6 mm compared to OEM?

I am running 185/60, not 185/65 .
I don't think there is any appreciable difference in handling at normal road speeds (i.e., upto 120kmph) when running 185/65, but I will defer to the opinion of those who have switched to 185/65R14.

[gr8guzzler]

Thanks Prass, KiloAlpha.

Any idea what the pricing is for MRF ZLO's in 195/60/14 size? Continental CPC2 is available for 4.6K per tyre in that size. Although the reviews on the forum are good for it, the dealer was strongly advising not to go for them due to warranty issues. Anyone faced this?

[Prass]

Originally Posted by gr8guzzler

Thanks Prass, KiloAlpha.

Any idea what the pricing is for MRF ZLO's in 195/60/14 size? Continental CPC2 is available for 4.6K per tyre in that size. Although the reviews on the forum are good for it, the dealer was strongly advising not to go for them due to warranty issues. Anyone faced this?

It cost me 4100 per tyre for the Zlos. This I bought last week for my other car.

I was also told about the warranty getting void, but I really needed an upgrade due to GC issue. But after using 195/60-14 size for more than one year ( mounted on stock rims) , I dont have any issues. I think a sane upsize is unlikely to cause any suspension damage within the warranty period atleast.

[gr8guzzler]

Originally Posted by Prass

I was also told about the warranty getting void

Thanks Prass. I was not referring to the Ford warranty, I am not bothered about it. I was checking about the Continental warranty.

[Prass]

Originally Posted by gr8guzzler

Thanks Prass. I was not referring to the Ford warranty, I am not bothered about it. I was checking about the Continental warranty.

Yeah got it now. Sorry mate, I have no idea about Continentals. I was told that ZLOs carry a 5 Year warranty btw.

[Skyline GT-R]

My Figo running on 185/65R14 BS MY01 has completed 30K & due for a change @ 35K.

The tyres have performed good & i was just toying with the idea of different sizes for front & rear.

The 2 combinations in my mind are 175/70R14 for front & 185/65R14 OR 195/60R14 for rear.

I want no underbody scraping, steering to be lighter & cornering to be more stable. Will any of the above help?

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by Skyline GT-R

My Figo running on 185/65R14 BS MY01 has completed 30K & due for a change @ 35K.

The tyres have performed good & i was just toying with the idea of different sizes for front & rear.

The 2 combinations in my mind are 175/70R14 for front & 185/65R14 OR 195/60R14 for rear.

I want no underbody scraping, steering to be lighter & cornering to be more stable. Will any of the above help?

Why would you want to run different sizes in front and back? It would be a bad idea in my opinion. Consider these and then ask your wisdom:
1) what would you do if you land up with a flat tyre and you have to replace with the odd sized stand by tyre?
2) It would greatly hamper your flexibility of tyre rotation.
3) Given a situation of having suffered a major puncture and if you end up running a tubed tyre, your problems are overtly complexed.

I would strongly recommend to stay away. Listen to your brain and not your heart for this time

Otherwise, 185/ 65 R 14 is the best combo for figo as i had inferred out of all the research i had done. You can consider Michelin XM2. MRF ZLo also have been reviewed as a performer but there's only 185/ 70 R 14 in ZLO

Happy motoring

[Skyline GT-R]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Consider these and then ask your wisdom:

1) what would you do if you land up with a flat tyre and you have to replace with the odd sized stand by tyre?

Anyway my spare tyre is 175/65R14 OE Goodyears

2) It would greatly hamper your flexibility of tyre rotation.

Agreed, no front back rotations, Therefore front tyres will wear out before the rear ones.

3) Given a situation of having suffered a major puncture and if you end up running a tubed tyre, your problems are overtly complexed.

Correct.Although i don't have a spare tube type tyre i will be driving with 2 different sizes in case of front puncture which may damage the drive shaft?


I would strongly recommend to stay away. Listen to your brain and not your heart for this time

Happy motoring

BUT! I will get a lighter steering due to 175 patch on front. 70 profile will ensure that underbody does not scrape.

& what are the advantages/disadvantages w.r.t handling if i have less track width in front & slightly more track width in rear?

Or should i go for 175/70R14 for both front & rear?

[lurker]

I run 155/80/r13 Apollo front tyres and 195/60/r14 ZLo on rear for my Versa. 2000 ks done and no problems yet, and steering is still lighter as normal. Mind you Versa is a RWD.