Wheel width, speak to me.

[l33th3tr33]

I'm looking at getting some different wheels and the majority of the ones I like are 6.5J, as opposed to the 7J turinis I have now.
Is there any real reason not to use 6.5J over 7J? Will the handling be compromised over such a small change?

 

[Dan@SJM]

Means the sidewalls will be pulled in slightly, and therefore not quite perfect for optimum tyre performance.

 

[l33th3tr33]

Means the sidewalls will be pulled in slightly, and therefore not quite perfect for optimum tyre performance.

What about smaller tyres? Would it be noticeable having half an inch less?

 

[NorthloopCup]

Perfect tyre width for a 6.5J rim width is a 205 FYI. I run 205/50 15's on my 15" turinis very successfully.

 

[l33th3tr33]

Perfect tyre width for a 6.5J rim width is a 205 FYI. I run 205/50 15's on my 15" turinis very successfully.

Really? Why would the car be supplied with 195's for a 7J rim as standard then? Genuine question.

 

[NorthloopCup]

Really? Why would the car be supplied with 195's for a 7J rim as standard then? Genuine question.

In all honesty mate I don't know the answer to your question. A 195 on a 7J rim is fine, but a 215 may be classed as optimum for that width of wheel. There's a chart on the net somewhere. I'll see if I can find it again.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

I find 195 best of a 6.5j and 205 on a 7j. Although it does depend on the tyre.

 

[l33th3tr33]

Ok, so I know that the 195 is stretched slightly on a 7J, but with the same width on a 6.5 there shouldn't be any compromise in handling, am I right? Does this just give the feel of a stiffer sidewall?
Obviously you track yours @NorthloopCup so have you noticed any difference since going to 6.5?

 

[NorthloopCup]

Ok, so I know that the 195 is stretched slightly on a 7J, but with the same width on a 6.5 there shouldn't be any compromise in handling, am I right? Does this just give the feel of a stiffer sidewall?
Obviously you track yours @NorthloopCup so have you noticed any difference since going to 6.5?

No none at all mate.

 

[l33th3tr33]

Excellent, that's opened up a whole load of wheels for me to look at, thanks!

Oh and if you do stumble across that chart, please let me know. Cheers.

 

[ben lee]

a 195/205 50 15 will be fine on a 5.5j-7j rim
a 195 45 15 is 6.5j - 8j
a 205 45 15 is 7j - 8.5j

a tyre to narrow for the rim will move to much on hard cornering.
a tyre to wide will not have enough movment in the side wall to absorbe the shocks of the road e.g a pot hole/bump

 

[KevF182]

a tyre to narrow for the rim will move to much on hard cornering.
a tyre to wide will not have enough movment in the side wall to absorbe the shocks of the road e.g a pot hole/bump

Really? I've found the opposite - An overly wide tyre (for a particular width rim) will move around too much and dumb-down steering response, but it will absorb bumps better. However, when the tyre is stretched slightly on a rim it gives a sharper steering response, a similar effect to raising tyre pressures. With road tyres, choosing a rim on the larger end of the permitted width scale tends to maximise dry grip from a given tyre size. More specialised track tyres are less supple and therfore things might not be so simple. Personally I'd want a 7J not a 6.5J for both 195 and 205 widths, though I respect the views of those more experienced than me who have found different - its probably too small a difference to really matter.