2025 16 inch tyre choices

[Tats]

Hi all,

First post on here, been a long time lurker as I always fancied a 172 / 182, earlier this year I had a rather unplanned, rather unloved one owner 172 cup come into my life.

One of the main things it needs is tyres and the speedlines need a refurb, problem is I cannot decide on tyres - first issue is 195 or 205 (seem to read conflicting reports on how they drive on 205s) frustrating as more choice on 205s such as Michelin ps5.

Then there’s the loved Michelin ps3, by today’s standards a rather old tyre, likewise the Continental sportcontact 3. I’ve ran Avon zv7 on a previous car and didn’t hate them but didn’t think they were brilliant, mixed reviews on RainSport 5s in terms of feel, I’m going around in circles!

What are you guys running? I’m open to left field options. Car won’t see a track really and will be used for spirited weekend drives and cars / coffee runs. I’ll get a set of 15s if I use it on track.

I’ve done a search several times but only seem to get 15 year old threads.

Thanks

 

[Matt Cup]

Michelin do PS5’s which @mumpy and @MLB have in 16” flavour. I’d be buying some of them 👌

PS5 205/45/R16

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s344p226023/Michelin_Tyres_Car_Michelin_Pilot_Sport_5_PS5_205_45_R16_87W_XL_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_A_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_72dB Did anyone see this? I don’t remember seeing PS5 in this size.

cliosport.net

 

[MLB]

Welcome to the forum! Yep I've gone for the PS5, one of the newest tyres available in this size, I've not done loads of miles on them but have had them on the back on track and they seem to grip and wear well.

Not sure if they do them in 195 though and the PS5 are a bit chunkier around the edges than the PS3. But unless you're running wide spacers that should be an issue. Handling wise I have no idea, never had 195 width tyres on my car but handles pretty well on 205s.

Another option if you are interested in 15s is to have a look in the for sale section, set of Evo Corse wheels for sale, usually there's some slightly worn 15 inch PS3 wheels on ebay used by different race series which would offset the cost of buying the wheels.

https://cliosport.net/threads/evo-corse-x3ma-wheels.853812/

 

[Matt Cup]

I’ve read reports of tramlining with 205’s but I reckon the difference is marginal and wouldn’t put me off buying them tbh.

 

[Darryl_1983]

As Michelin now produces PS5's in 205/45/16, I'd run these without question.

PS3 were never a great tyre to be honest, they were the best choice of a fairly limited selection of average tyres in 16" form. Personally i always ran AD08R's instead in 205/45/16, or 195/50/15 when using smaller wheels.

 

[Tats]

Wow! I did not expect so many replies.
If they drive well on 205 that leaves me in a better position to choose more modern tyres. I’ll take a look at the ps5 and other options. Thanks everyone! I’ll sort a build thread on the car soon as I’ll be doing it over winter.

 

[Matt Cup]

Wow! I did not expect so many replies.
If they drive well on 205 that leaves me in a better position to choose more modern tyres. I’ll take a look at the ps5 and other options. Thanks everyone! I’ll sort a build thread on the car soon as I’ll be doing it over winter.

Also forgot to mention Michelin sometimes do cashback deals plus look at Camskill for a place to buy them from as they are usually the cheapest on there (you do need to know a fitter though).

 

[realnumber 1]

.

 

[Tats]

I’ve spent a bit of time this evening looking at tyre reviews/ group tests, some interesting contenders that I wouldn’t have considered normally and one in particular option standing out is the Kumho ps71. Anyone run these? They ranked mid table in the tests amongst the usual Michelin ps5, Goodyear f1, Continental.. from further research they seem to be fairly popular with the mx5 owners with experience of how sensitive those can be to tyre choice it’s a decent barometer.

The kumho are also half the price of PS5, and don’t appear to be massively different in performance. I’m fairly tempted to give them a go.

 

[MLB]

Funnily enough I checked on camskill before and was going to add that here, as a budget option they should be good.

No idea how they behave on a Clio, but I have them on our X5 and I believe @Speedo Gonzales has them on his 5 series as well.

Speaking of which, how many miles did you get out of them on your car @Speedo Gonzales? Mine are down to 2mm on the rear in 14k miles. Still at that price I think I'm still going for the PS72S next.

 

[Speedo Gonzales]

My first set of rears lasted me about 8k but that's because I was just driving like a bellend at any opportunity 🤣

The fronts are still on about 5mm after 16k. I got a new pair of rears and went for the PS72S. I can't fault them at all

 

[MLB]

14k on the kids school run sounds decent then 😂