tyre sizes confuse me!

[geordieracer]

Ok people, I don't fully understand what I can and can't do when it comes to whee/tyre changes.

According to my handbook the tyres on my car are 185/55/15.

Can I keep the alloys (15" Dynamique) and fit 195/50/15 tyres without any problems or without having to do anything else?

 

[Djw John]

Yeah thats fine mate, loads of people do it

 

[geordieracer]

Ok sorry, should have also asked - how does this work ok? I understood that the first number e.g. 195 was the width of the tyre. How can you fit a wider tyre to the same rim?

Oh hang on, think I have just realised, I can fit wider tyres to my mtb rims as they are held in place by the bead of the tyre, is this the same on the car tyres?

 

[LegoHead]

first number is width
second number is percentage of first, which is the size of the profile
last is wheel diameter.

 

[Djw John]

Yeah you can go a bit wider on the same wheels, usually 10mm is no problem, some folk have fitted 205/50 before for track work

 

[geordieracer]

thanks guys!