What tyre size for wide 14"s?

[Jez]

I'm looking in to banding the standard 6 x 14" steelies on my 1991 mk3 Passat to either 8" or 9" wide.

I've not decided on width yet as that might be determined by what size tyre would suit the car best. I'm just after a nice deep wheel with a decent stretch on the tyre. I'm not insisting on widest wheel or narrowest tyre or anything, just something that will look cool. So, what would you guys recommend?

Currently running 185/65/14 tyres.

[akku]

depending on what you think looks cool anything from a BMX tyre pulled out like Stretch Armstrong or a fat circuit style tyre will physically go on. 8" is 203mm so theres your starter for 10. work wider or narrower depending on how much stretch or bulge you want in the sidewalls.

[akku]

If I remember later I'll take a couple of snaps of mine on 14s. Narrower than you are looking at but it will gve you an idea how the tyre sits on the rim for a certain proportion of rim width to tyre section.

[Jez]

Cool cheers. I meant to say actually if anybody has pictures of wide 14"s could they post them please, preferably stating the width and tyre size.

I'm not after a definitive answer, just suggestions of what is typically used.

I was wondering about using 195/45/14. Should be fine on 8" but not sure if it's too narrow for 9"?

[markbognor]

From V8 Mikes Celeste thread,
They are 13s but wheel whidth and tyre width should help, they're 7 inch wide with a 185/60 tyres. i've use these as a visual starting point for what i can do with my 7.5 wide 16's, i'm thinking 185/50s presumably the lower profile will enhance the slight stretch,

Also Wheel whidth and tyre width are very different measurements, wheels are measured to the inside of the seating lip, whereas tyres are measured at the widest point I think, which is very different and how these above are stretch but actually are wider than the metric conversion of 7" (178mm).

People with more knowlege and pics help us get our heads round all of this please.

[Jez]

Yeah that's whats confusing me. I have a set of 7x16" alloys with 195/45/16 tyres. If you work it out a 7" rim should be narrower than a 195mm tyre, but it's not - they have a slight stretch to them.

That's why I'm after pics really, so I can see how certain combinations look. Working it out mathematically doesn't seem to work. Unless I'm missing something (likely!!!)

[rmad]

175/55 on a 7x14. A little stretch, and the tyre fitter had some trouble putting them on, but also had never heard of - let alone tried to fit - too-small tyres. I found them a little too small for the car and switched to a very normal looking 195/60:

On a Lotus the wheels would have 205/60s as standard.

[rmad]

Regarding the tyre/rim width measurements, the width of a wheel is measured between the beads - not from one outer edge to another meaning that a 7" rim actually measures about 8" front-to-back.

Read about most of it here: www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

[Deleted]

You can get 175\50-14 now, actually

[suffolkpaul]

Jez, you know i was looking into similar thing - I had a conversatio with a tyre guy I trust a lot and have used him for a long time. if you use the car daily go 205/60/14 - was quoted £158 fitted for a set of Federals (ive used them lots with no problems.)

[Jez]

I doubt i'll use the car daily - or if I do it'll probably be on the 16"s, so I'm thinking of going for something a bit lower profile. Thing is, all the 'ideal' sizes don't exist as far as I know!

Like 195/50/14 or 205/45/14

[tetsujin]

My advice..

14x7/8j = 185/60/14

14x9j = 195/50/14

these are all 185/60/14 on an 8j 14inch rim

[tetsujin]

some more 185/60/14

[rob0r]

Sorry to hi-jack, what do people reckon the right rubber would be for front 15x6 and rear 15x7? I was thinking 195/50 for the rear and 185/55 for the fronts
After this thread I'm now thinking 185/55 for the rears and 175/50s for the fronts... Would this give the kind of stretched look I'm going for?

Also, is it wise to run stretch when I have some serious camber going on in the rear of my car, I mean this in the respect of grip. May a more sensible tread on the rear be better??

Cheers

[akku]

what one person reckons is right is not necessarily whats right for you. I've run 225s on 6x15s before...

Your second suggestion will certainly gove more of a stretched appearance. Whether thats your ideal look or not only you will tell. Unless anyone has a photo of the same done...

[Jez]

Tetsujin, thanks man - that's what I was after! Don't suppose you have any pics of the 195/50/14's do ya? Didn't realise that size existed.

[tetsujin]

To be honest I just though there was a 195/50/14 or was it 55??

All i have ever had on 14inch is 185/60 and also 175/55/14 on a 14x6 - they have a nice stretch on a 14x7 though.

[Jez]

I googled 195/50/14 and it came up with just one tyre - a Firestone. Would just like to see them on rims first, but I guess that's quite a tall order.

Generally though, would that tire be ok to stretch on to a 9" rim? Or would 8.5" be better?

[Deleted]

I would go wider on a 9" rim, or rather, higher profile

[Jez]

Yeah I'd ideally like a 205/50/14 or 215/45/14 on a 9" rim, but these sizes don't seem to exist. Or do they?

The 195/50/14 seems like a good size to go for on the Passat, just the right profile (not too low or too high) so I figured I could size the rim to suit the tyre - 8.5" seems about right for a good stretch without being over-stretched.