2022 Tyre Tests.

[BikerGran]

17” wheels fitted with the correct sized tyres have the same circumference as 16” wheels fitted with the correct sized tyres. The 17” tyres will have a lower height sidewall compared with the 16” tyres.
Ride height of the vehicle will not change.
Only if you decide to fit non-standard tyres, non-recommended tyres will there be any changes eg: possible speedometer variation.

Well I guess ATs would be non standard and I thought they generally had a higher profile than standards?

 

[WelshGas]

Well I guess ATs would be non standard and I thought they generally had a higher profile than standards?

You should check with your insurance company as fitting non-recommended tyre sizes may have consequences. AT tyres can be much worse in certain weather conditions , noisier and less economical and some have poorer braking efficiency.

 

[WelshGas]

Well I guess ATs would be non standard and I thought they generally had a higher profile than standards?

Looking around the Internet the general consensus seems to be a dedicated winter tyre, used all year or a good 4 seasons tyre is the best for wet grass/mud with good all round performance .

 

[The Blue Merle]

Well I guess ATs would be non standard and I thought they generally had a higher profile than standards?

Check out Michelin latitude cross 235/55/17 m/s
Have them on my van, very pleased and always going in mud and wet grass with no issues.
Super strong side walls too, and very little loss of mpg.

 

[Californication69]

For me it's
Michelin Agilis Alpin for winter time
Michelin Latitude Cross for the rest off the year.

Sounds like a plan

 

[Kemper-van]

Isnt that the Cross Climate?

I couldn’t find these in the correct size (215/60/17 or 235/55/17)…

 

[Californication69]

Check out Michelin latitude cross 235/55/17 m/s
Have them on my van, very pleased and always going in mud and wet grass with no issues.
Super strong side walls too, and very little loss of mpg.View attachment 99858

I need them in an 18”
So the closest match is 255/60 R18 which I’m happy to have. But. The speedo at 60 is going to 10% out, which feels like the “willtheyfit” website is not right ?
If the 60 height makes the tyre 4cm taller then for a full rotation, you will have travelled an extra 4cm along the road. So if doing 60mph, then you should be doing more?
I’m confused…..

 

[The Blue Merle]

I need them in an 18”
So the closest match is 255/60 R18 which I’m happy to have. But. The speedo at 60 is going to 10% out, which feels like the “willtheyfit” website is not right ?
If the 60 height makes the tyre 4cm taller then for a full rotation, you will have travelled an extra 4cm along the road. So if doing 60mph, then you should be doing more?
I’m confused…..
View attachment 99879

Sorry didn’t realise you were after 18”
You need to make sure whatever you go for doesn’t mess up your tpms as van is only set up for for certain tyre sizes/psi

 

[Californication69]

Sorry didn’t realise you were after 18”
You need to make sure whatever you go for doesn’t mess up your tpms as van is only set up for for certain tyre sizes/psi

I didn’t go for the pressure readout, but TPMS uses the ABS sensors for wheel rotation ?
So should be ok.
I’ve found 255/55 R18 in the Lat Cross, which is better.

 

[sidepod]

Looking at those numbers in the screen shot above, I’d say, they don’t fit. Only my opinion.
Just remember when using height barriers, you’ll be 38mm taller, plus, if your van is lowered you’re negating any CofG benefits.

 

[Californication69]

The 255/55 R18
Are a better fit

 

[WelshGas]

The 255/55 R18
Are a better fit
View attachment 99893

OK, it's a longtime since I did my Maths O level, but if the Speedometer reading is based on standard wheel revolutions/ distance covered I don't see how a larger tyre with larger diameter and circumference can give a lower Speedometer reading.

 

[sidepod]

I think it means your speedo is telling you you're travelling slower than reality?

 

[Californication69]

OK, it's a longtime since I did my Maths O level, but if the Speedometer reading is based on standard wheel revolutions/ distance covered I don't see how a larger tyre with larger diameter and circumference can give a lower Speedometer reading.

Bizarre isn’t it !

 

[The Tall Luthier]

OK, it's a longtime since I did my Maths O level, but if the Speedometer reading is based on standard wheel revolutions/ distance covered I don't see how a larger tyre with larger diameter and circumference can give a lower Speedometer reading.

One Revolution of the wheel now takes the van further than it went before with smaller tyres.
The speedo doesn’t measure distance traveled it measures wheel revolutions.

If you have traveled 100cm the Speedo will think you’ve gone 98cm.

Hence the Speedo is showing you have gone slower than reality.

Every revolution takes you diameter 65cm x pi
Increase the wheel size by 1cm it goes 3.1416cm further than it did without telling the speedo of the change.

Hence you’re going faster than the speedo tells you.

 

[sidepod]

The 255/55 R18
Are a better fit
View attachment 99893

Quite a wide tyre for a 7" rim? That may distort the figures in that table by causing the tyre to "light bulb" in section, in other words, possibly sitting higher than quoted and be a bit less stable in the side wall. Just my thoughts.

 

[Californication69]

I think it means your speedo is telling you you're travelling slower than reality?

That’s what’s confusing me, if it’s showing as 60mph on the dash the physical tyre is larger thus, you will have travelled further in the same time.

 

[Californication69]

I think Palmerston is 8”

 

[WelshGas]

One Revolution of the wheel now takes the van further than it went before with smaller tyres.
The speedo doesn’t measure distance traveled it measures wheel revolutions.

If you have traveled 100cm the Speedo will think you’ve gone 98cm.

Hence the Speedo is showing you have gone slower than reality.

Every revolution takes you diameter 65cm x pi
Increase the wheel size by 1cm it goes 3.1416cm further than it did without telling the speedo of the change.

Hence you’re going faster than the speedo tells you.

But in that screenshot from that comparison website they state that the Speedometer is under reading with larger circumference tyres, by almost 4 mph at 60 on standard sized tyres.

 

[Californication69]

 

[Californication69]

The size of 7” to 8” makes no difference !

 

[sidepod]

The size of 7” to 8” makes no difference !

none of those parameters are affected by rim width, they're just static/shelf measurements.
Badly drawn but you get the idea of what happens with a fat tyre on a narrow rim.

 

[sidepod]

sorry, not strictly true. Poke and Inset are a function of rim width but they have nothing to do with how the tyre sits on the rim, they simple give an indication of how the wheel mounts relative to the bodywork.

 

[Californication69]

I’ll be keeping to Michelin Crossclimate 2.

Let’s see what they are like on the Saab.
Nice price too. 4 for £430 fitted, balanced and new valves.

 

[WelshGas]

Let’s see what they are like on the Saab.
Nice price too. 4 for £430 fitted, balanced and new valves.
View attachment 99943

Put them on my wife’s Smart for 2. It’s light but quick off the mark and stays glued to the road in all weathers. Admittedly not used in heavy snow, but frequently in heavy rain and icy conditions. She likes them and she ain’t no slouch.