Tyre Sizes

[sad old git]

MY car like me is getting on a bit, 10 years old but low mileage 26000. Because of the age I thought I should renew at least the front tyres even though they look in good condition...no cracks or lumps etc so simply because of their age....I consulted my owners handbook to check the tyre sizes and found that the tyres fitted to my car are not the same as that quoted in the handbook. The book states thus..185/60 R14 82H but the tyres fitted are 195/50 R15 82V. What I need to know is why is there is a tyre size

[Alagopus]

This explains tyre sizing: http://www.bridgestoneselect.com.au/learntyres/ReadingYourTyreSize.aspx

Maybe the wheels are not original (or were an option) as they are 15in diameter whereas your handbook quotes 14in. I think new tyres would need to match the existing tyres in this aspect. If I were you I'd get someone to check first.

[jake-the-peg]

Tyres have a date on them its a 4 digit number representing the week number and the year so this one is 0907

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LddpmZ9bh2Y/TRcJReYdZVI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/YSYEflAebwQ/s1600/IMAG0103.jpg

9th week of 2007

Manufacturers recommend a 5 year lifetime of tyres - now they'll be erring on the side of caution and it doesn't sound as if your tyres have had a particularly hard life but 10 years is probably pushing it.

If I were you I'd check the dates - you may have replaced one some years ago and forgotten. I'd probably think about replacing anything say 8 years or older

[bhg481]

I suggest you look at www.blackcircles.com. put in your registration number and it will give you your tyre size. I find them very good for price as well - I've been using them for years.

[ToraToraTora]

Looks like the book quotes the standard wheel size and your wheels have been changed for 15inch ones so to keep the overall rolling diameter the same the tyre size have been adjusted accordingly. So 185/60/14 = 577.6mm and 195/50/15 = 576mm so the gearing/speedo etc will not be effected. If you had 18 inch wheels then you could fit 200/30 tyres for a diameter of 577.2 and a very low profile look!

[sad old git]

Many thanks to you all for your answers. The car is a Proton Satria Sport 53 plates and 1.5 engine,the "sport" bit relates mainly to the body style and not the performance which incidentally is very good generally. I bought the car from a proton dealer when it was a few months old ( a demo I think) so maybe the wheels had been changed or the handbook is not that accurate. I think I will need to change at least the two front tyres but I will certainly make sure that the sizes are correct. Thank you all again for your help.

[ToraToraTora]

The book is just quoting the most common wheel size for that car. Most cars can have a myriad of wheel sizes and the tyre spec is used to get the diameter correct.