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View Full Version : To those who've tried both 185/55 and 195/50



Swervin_Mervin
31-10-2005, 17:27
What you reckon?

Having driven the Xsara a few weeks now I reckon it's 195/55 profile GSD2s are better than my 195/50 GSD3s. Main reason being a slightly softer ride allowing better control on our dog turd roads.

Anyone tried 2 sizes of the same tyre (ish) on a clio?

Zollo
31-10-2005, 19:09
Yes, and I'm confused! I was more than happy with the 185s on my old Clio, and even more so once I'd driven the 195s on my new Clio, which gave a much harsher ride for not much more outright grip and precision. Then I put the 185s back on my new one, and the ride is very nearly as bad and you really can feel the sidewall flexing. I'm going to reserve judgement until my suspension is fully sorted and I can try them back-to-back (road and track wheels). :?

J o n
31-10-2005, 19:23
yeah tried both... 185's grip almost as well, give more roll but seem to be better balanced all round on give and take roads. i'd imagine 195/50 to be better on track, but would need to try them first... tbh I'd stick with 185/55 if you can justify the price as they are certainly comfier and the performance/grip you theoretically get when changing to 195/50 is arguable at best...

richy
31-10-2005, 19:30
i have both, on the road the 185/55 is better mainly due to being better at absorbing bumps/pot holes etc, when your sat in bucket seats u notice them more!. with the 195/50 on road the steering and grip do feel abit better, more precise feel on turn in, but tramlines easyier and less forgiving on bumps, were as on track then 185/55 flex to much causing alot of drifty feeling in the car, with the 195/50 onits feels so much more positive on track, bumps are not a concern as track surface tends to be alot better then road, btw these are both goodyear eagle f1 but the 195/50 are GSD3, 185/55 are GSD2, personally id have these in 195/50 over the std size, the bumps doesnt bother me so much, i sit in bucket seats all the time so still feel them lol

Daz
31-10-2005, 23:34
I didn't like the 185's on my Williams.. felt like crap.. but then, they weren't a great make.

195/50's are where it's at! :lol:

Martin
31-10-2005, 23:54
195s all the way for me....because I'm cheap! lol

185/55 are a bit floaty for my tastes...

Anders
01-11-2005, 10:14
Cheers guys, now I'm really confused.. :?

About to invest in some good tyres today...now I'm not sure what size to get...

All the websites suggest 185/55 R15 82V

But now you say I could fit 195/50's instead??

HELP

Swervin_Mervin
01-11-2005, 11:14
Well, next time mine are up for replacement I think I might try the 185/55 and keep the 195/50s for the track.

Zollo
01-11-2005, 11:19
That's my plan. Was even thinking about 195/45s for the track, if I can get hold of some cheap enough. Late Saxos VTS's use them.

2 live
01-11-2005, 13:09
i had the original pilots 185s on wen i got mine, also still had them when i had the coilovers fitted and about 6 months after. the car felt ok on the 185s, but i dont like the road scraping me mirrors under harsh cornering hence the coilovers. the 185s felt too sloppy thru the corners, car not being able to change direction as quickly as id like in some cases, and had a tendancy to oversteer, not a good thing when its a series of bends left/right/left etc.


i had the pilot exaltos fitted in 195 fitment, grip was excellent, steering more precise, bumps felt no diff tbh, turn in nice and sharp, and no more fighting with the back end on more challenging corners.

the only problem was..they only lasted about 8000 miles.....

now the pe2s take their place, 12000 mile n still good tread, altho grip has seriously diminished. cant fault em tbh, an i think if u work it thru the corners hard, the 195s the best tyre to go for, the pros far outway the cons, for my style of driving anyway. but all will be diff.

so basically.....the choice is yours.....comfort or handling.??

Swervin_Mervin
01-11-2005, 13:21
Assuming I get a weapon for track use I think the 185s would be worth a shot.

At first I didn't like teh handling of the Xsara but now I'm used to it I think I really really rate it. It seems to flow better than mine, and that may be a slightly softer sidewall. However, it could be down to more modern dampers being able to soak the bumps better whilst still providing a reasonable degree of cornering ability.

Zollo
01-11-2005, 13:34
It's because they're based on the 306, and they're great. :P

kj16v
01-11-2005, 13:46
I have standard suspension and I can't say I felt a difference. 195/50's look a bit better and were less expensive but that's about it!

Coops
01-11-2005, 20:31
can you fit 185 or 195 to standard rims then? i thought that was the rim width, or does 1cm difference fall within tolercance of fitment for standard valver/william wheels?

Justin..
01-11-2005, 21:17
iirc u can fit 205's aswell

Coops
01-11-2005, 23:05
what the hell?!!!!! how don't they fall off?!!!!!!!! :shock:

Daz.
02-11-2005, 18:17
i had the original pilots 185s on wen i got mine, also still had them when i had the coilovers fitted and about 6 months after. the car felt ok on the 185s, but i dont like the road scraping me mirrors under harsh cornering hence the coilovers. the 185s felt too sloppy thru the corners, car not being able to change direction as quickly as id like in some cases, and had a tendancy to oversteer, not a good thing when its a series of bends left/right/left etc.


i had the pilot exaltos fitted in 195 fitment, grip was excellent, steering more precise, bumps felt no diff tbh, turn in nice and sharp, and no more fighting with the back end on more challenging corners.

the only problem was..they only lasted about 8000 miles.....

now the pe2s take their place, 12000 mile n still good tread, altho grip has seriously diminished. cant fault em tbh, an i think if u work it thru the corners hard, the 195s the best tyre to go for, the pros far outway the cons, for my style of driving anyway. but all will be diff.


i'm all confused now! so what should I get when I get some new rubber at the end of november>?!?!?!?!
so basically.....the choice is yours.....comfort or handling.??

FlamingMonkey
02-11-2005, 18:46
Im getting 195s on the front on Sat, usually have the 185s they are exellent, just seem to disappear rather quickly on track :lol: resulting in it costing me a fortune in tyres.

Daz.
02-11-2005, 19:03
Im getting 195s on the front on Sat, usually have the 185s they are exellent, just seem to disappear rather quickly on track :lol: resulting in it costing me a fortune in tyres.

where you going for em mucker?

anything you should be telling me??

2 live
03-11-2005, 11:43
like i said mate. 195s give better stability imo thru the tight stuff, 185s give more comfort over the bumpy stuff.

then theres the price as rob says lol

FlamingMonkey
03-11-2005, 12:08
Im getting 195s on the front on Sat, usually have the 185s they are exellent, just seem to disappear rather quickly on track :lol: resulting in it costing me a fortune in tyres.

where you going for em mucker?

anything you should be telling me??

Going to ATS in Darwen he's doing 2 195 Michelin Exalto 2's for 108quid fitted, they wanted 122 quid at Blackburn, ha, could get them cheaper at Costco, but I don't have a card and it's miles away :P

Daz.
03-11-2005, 19:45
Im getting 195s on the front on Sat, usually have the 185s they are exellent, just seem to disappear rather quickly on track :lol: resulting in it costing me a fortune in tyres.

where you going for em mucker?

anything you should be telling me??

Going to ATS in Darwen he's doing 2 195 Michelin Exalto 2's for 108quid fitted, they wanted 122 quid at Blackburn, ha, could get them cheaper at Costco, but I don't have a card and it's miles away :P

Will you let me know what you think? i've got a couple of weeks to play with so it'd be good to hear a mini review..

Price not too bad though!

kj16v
16-11-2005, 23:31
Joined Costco the other day cuz I thought the guy said 185's for £17. Then when I went to buy them I found out they were £70! :oops:
195's are £40 which is quite good. But Khumos cost around £40 anyway. Tho, at Costco the price includes fitting. So I suppose it swings and roundabouts
Ah well, the food's cheap

kj16v
16-11-2005, 23:32
Hey on Ebay someones doing Toyo Proxys for £45 quid!

2 live
17-11-2005, 10:28
shite^^^^^^^^


ok in the dry......had these before.wasnt impressed with em at all. just a yoko under a diff name at the end of the day

smokey
17-11-2005, 14:39
Have just taken delivery of 4 195/50/R15 GSD3's, will let you know what there like once I have had them fitted.

Daz.
18-11-2005, 00:26
Have just taken delivery of 4 195/50/R15 GSD3's, will let you know what there like once I have had them fitted.

:D

Rich
18-11-2005, 01:41
iirc u can fit 205's aswell
yes you can if your rims are 7" wide not on the 6 or6.5 iirc