TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:22 am

Will it work?
How would it handle?
Will I damage the tire in the long run?

Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:31 am

I've run 205x70x15's with stock wheels on the back many times with no issues.

Go to the tire shop and have one of the 195's mounted, and ask them what they think.

Use this calculator to make sure the sidewall height keeps the diameter close to stock - you didn't give the whole tire size in your post.

The only issue i can see is rubbing in tight turns on the fronts.

https://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:06 am

Sorry.
I'm looking at 195 65 r15

Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:51 am

I'd dew eet.

H2OSB

Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:53 am

Should be on a 5.5 rim, But sure, you can mount them on 4.5"

Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:30 am

Glenn wrote: Should be on a 5.5 rim, But sure, you can mount them on 4.5"

This is what I've heard. 195's on 5.5's
But I'm wondering how the ride quality or durability would be on 4.5's

Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:53 am

It's not a problem. At all. The only problem you might run into is the tire shop refusing to do it.

You might experience a little bit of "wallow" as you lean into a curve at speed as the side wall will flex a bit.

I'm running 215/75/15 on a 4.5" wheel.

Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:00 am

TDCTDI wrote: The only problem you might run into is the tire shop refusing to do it.
And what would be their reason?

Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:13 am

Glenn wrote: TDCTDI wrote: The only problem you might run into is the tire shop refusing to do it.
And what would be their reason?

Lack of imagination.
Mechanical dogma.
Fear of liability ... ?

Who knows how the brains of trained chimps work?

Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:17 am

Liability... can't really blame them now-a-days

Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:31 am

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Fri Jun 05, 2020 11:07 am

Glenn wrote: TDCTDI wrote: The only problem you might run into is the tire shop refusing to do it.
And what would be their reason?

Same reason most good tire shops won’t plug anymore and only patch. Raydog said it first, liability.

Fri Jun 05, 2020 11:45 am

brando90gl wrote: Raydog said it first, liability.

Hah! That proves I'm fucking invisible on this site!

Fri Jun 05, 2020 11:48 am

Dal Churchill wrote: brando90gl wrote: Raydog said it first, liability.
I agree Brando.

Fri Jun 05, 2020 11:52 am

Dal Churchill wrote: brando90gl wrote: Raydog said it first, liability.

Hah! That proves I'm fucking invisible on this site!

😄 Nope, I see you now!

Edit: Sorry! Churchill said it first.

Fri Jun 05, 2020 12:01 pm

Dal Churchill wrote: Glenn wrote: TDCTDI wrote: The only problem you might run into is the tire shop refusing to do it.
And what would be their reason?

Lack of imagination.
Mechanical dogma.
Fear of liability ... ?

Who knows how the brains of trained chimps work?

Lol. I almost spit coffee.

Fri Jun 05, 2020 12:12 pm

I've really gone off increasing tyre size, I've found the original tyre sizes give a great feel of the road and handling, better performance, I prefer to stay as close as possible to original and use the saved money to go with a really high quality tyre.
Some of the very first 911 turbos where factory fitted with only 185s on the front, as they found it gave the best overall performance, and at the time porsche had one of the best facilities for testing tyres.
I fitted 195s on my 914 and really regretted it. I lost on agility and 0-60 and overall fun.

Fri Jun 05, 2020 2:13 pm

I put 4 Nexen SB802 165/80R15's on my car a year ago. They are a great tire, and I've bought many sets of tires over the last 50 years. Great in rain and snow, take massive potholes no problem, and they stick like glue in the corners.

Seriously, I can't recommend a tire more, and they are inexpensive. They are made in a brand new factory in, I think, Korea. I called the office in California and they let me talk to one of the back house people - I don't remember what his title was. They developed this tire for our cars.

I never hesitate to call the manufactures of products I buy for more information.

Fri Jun 05, 2020 2:35 pm

Dal Churchill wrote: brando90gl wrote: Raydog said it first, liability.

Hah! That proves I'm fucking invisible on this site!

Don't feel bad, sometimes I feel the same way!!! But I'll take the credit.

Seriously though, there seem to be a lot of tire chains, as in franchises, that have to go by "allowed" tire size vs wheel size. But just think, what if some guy gets in an accident and injures or kills someone because his new tire rolled off the rim while cornering, and it was some fat tire installed on a narrow wheel.

Sun Jun 07, 2020 3:49 am

165 80 r15 tires are hard to find here in Manila.
The only option for this size is Nankang.
I've been using Nankang tires since I first replaced
the old tires that came with my car.
My current tires have been serving me for around 9 years now.
I changed rims and now running tubeless.
The front passenger tire keeps leaking air,
but the shop couldn't find any puncture.
Recently, the rear passenger tire went dead flat.
So I thought, it's probably best to get new tires.

Thanks again for the replies, guys!