Tyres on standard wheels

[Jack]

I'm due to get four new tyres for the beast and have been comparing prices / looking on eBay for wheels with tyres.

As I see it, there is no reason why I cannot go for a slightly different tyre size on the standard wheels, thereby increasing the selection. Standard tyre size is 175/70-14. What is to stop me putting, say, 185/65-14 tyres on? And what is the widest width I could get away with on standard rims? 205?

Check out this site: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

You put in your tyre size and the size you want to change to and it tells you the increase / decrease in circumference. A 205/60-14 tyre is just 0.2% bigger in diameter, but will the 205s fit? I do like the idea of some chunky tyres! Any ideas?

[mgdavid]

you need to read
http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html
especially the bit on matching tyre to rim about half way down (it's a long page!)
:thumbup:

[E_T_V]

I think 205's would be a bit wide, The MG's run 185's or 195's so that is the widest I'd go.

[cavmad]

[QUOTE=Jack]I'm due to get four new tyres for the beast and have been comparing prices / looking on eBay for wheels with tyres.

As I see it, there is no reason why I cannot go for a slightly different tyre size on the standard wheels, thereby increasing the selection. Standard tyre size is 175/70-14. What is to stop me putting, say, 185/65-14 tyres on? And what is the widest width I could get away with on standard rims? 205?

I`d go 185-65-14, 185-60-14 or 195-60-14 and no wider. These are popular tyres (and therefore plentiful and cheap) and shouldn`t give you too many problems.
I`m assuming you are running a 1.3/1.6 Maestro in which case the speed rating won`t matter but if you are running a 2.0 orTurbo or heavily tweaked (petrol) car you`d want to go for `H` rated or above tyres.
Personally speaking I`d go for 185-65-14s because they`re cheap, plentiful and some Montegos were fitted with them as standard so you might find a really cheap set on wheeels ready to go.