tyre size change

[stuartp]

my escort is currently on quite chunky 165 / 70 r13 tyres

 

on 5.5" 13" rs 4 spokes

 

i'd like to go much lower profile and fit say, 175 / 50 tyres

 

any recommendations?

 

or anything I might need to consider or is this a simple, normal swap?

 

i'm guessing I can get someone who knows what they are doing to make sure the speedo / odometer is correct?

[Vista]

it is a simple swap but will alter your gearing ratios giving quicker acceleration but meaning much higher engine rpm for the same road speed.

 

Speedy cables can recalibrate your speedo for you

 

http://www.speedycables.com/calibration.html

 

oh and you'll need to lower the car too or it'll look very odd with huge arch gaps

[dawesy1700]

i've always had 185/60's on my 13" rims, its lowered 2" all round and the tyres sit nicley under the arch, and i have slightly wider foot print for more grip, and 185/60's are cheap, under £30.

[stuartp]

i've always had 185/60's on my 13" rims, its lowered 2" all round and the tyres sit nicley under the arch, and i have slightly wider foot print for more grip, and 185/60's are cheap, under £30.

 

are your 5.5" though cos 185 sounds too wide to me, i thought 175 was pushing it

 

don't suppose you have a picture?

 

also, what make are the ones you have?

[Toby]

Lower profile tyres tend to let go less progressively when pushed to the edge of grip limit.

 

You might prefer the handling on the 70 profiles.

 

Keep us posted.

[stuartp]

it is a simple swap but will alter your gearing ratios giving quicker acceleration but meaning much higher engine rpm for the same road speed.

 

Speedy cables can recalibrate your speedo for you

 

http://www.speedycables.com/calibration.html

 

oh and you'll need to lower the car too or it'll look very odd with huge arch gaps

 

i like the sound of quicker acceleration

 

speedy cables thing is very useful thanks

not having changed the wheels or engine over myself i'm not sure if the car is still running as if it has the original 12" wheels and auto box on it - would be interesting to know if the speedo is currently wrong - although it seems to be correct

 

car is already lowered front and rear but it wouldn't hurt to lower it more eh!

[stuartp]

Lower profile tyres tend to let go less progressively when pushed to the edge of grip limit.

 

You might prefer the handling on the 70 profiles.

 

Keep us posted.

 

 

i tend to mostly drive like an old man so i doubt i'll ever push my car to the limit but it's certainly another useful bit of info i didn't know before

 

ta

[dawesy1700]

i've always had 185/60's on my 13" rims, its lowered 2" all round and the tyres sit nicley under the arch, and i have slightly wider foot print for more grip, and 185/60's are cheap, under £30.

 

are your 5.5" though cos 185 sounds too wide to me, i thought 175 was pushing it

 

don't suppose you have a picture?

 

also, what make are the ones you have?

 

i think the wheels on mine are just capri 4 spokes, so what ever size they are, and they do balloon over the edges very slightly, but thats what i like, lol, and will these pics do? and i have nankangs on mine, but i've just searched and cant find them anymore, but can still get other ones for around £30.

[stuartp]

they look good dawesy1700 - nice colour car too

 

not massively lower profile than mine look now though

 

good to know they are around 30 quid a pop though

[dawesy1700]

well the four i have on in the pic, i actually got off ebay, a lad with a rally car fitted them n drove to the test station then home, then sold them to me, got all 4 for £60, makin them £15 each,

[marky4]

a good make of tyre is the yokohama a539 an excellent tyre

 

i have a set of 175/50/13's and 185/60/13's both are great but as said you don't get much warning when the 175's are about to let go in the wet (no probs in the dry though )

 

i think the 175's look better as long as the car is lowered but not as good in the wet as the 185's, hope this helps

[stuartp]

looks like the 185 / 60's get the vote of confidence then