I need six studded snows for the ALCAN 5000 in February. There are no 16" studded snows, save maybe $200 Hakka's, in 195 width. Everything seems to be 205 narrowest.

I've asked TR their opinion on a recommendation for studded and they come back, nothing available. Yeah. I've since sent them a specific request for two tires I found on their site in 205 55 R16 size. As I am not too comfortable with their path of least resistance answers before, I am not too comfortable about getting a right answer now. My only saving grace is if they say it fits, they will stand behind any error if it doesn't. Of course, that doesn't help me on a 4500 mile Rally.

So, question: is anyone running 205/55 R16's on an R56? Any fitting issues? Rubbing? Dare I tempt fate and ask about studded too?

And I guess in a perfect world someone would just come back and say hey, idiot, run THIS brand of 15" wheels because they fit! (The three 15" wheels I tried didn't)

Thanks in advance

David

 

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

the difference between the 205 and 195 is minimal
i've used 215 without rubbing so the width isn't a concern.
the diameter is only half a inch larger

 

Thx Don

 

205/55/16 is tall enough to rub, I have had it rub on numerous cars. Some owners here claim they can get it to fit with no rubbing.

I do have a Firestone Winterforce in 205/50R16 that accepts studs ($15 a tire for us to add) and would fit with no issues.

Alex

 

Thx Alex, question: smaller wheel would give me 'overage' on the clock, correct? ie, 10k miles might only be 9,xxx?

Also, since the wheel is smaller would it give me a truer reading on the speedo, since speedos tend to show a slightly faster speed.

Thx

David

 

I've been running 205/55/16 for over 50k miles on my R56 with no issues whatsoever.

No idea what the studs might do. But there is still a ton of room in there, so I can't imagine they would cause a problem.

 

Actually, I just ran a calculator or two and see 205 50 is much closer tot he rolling radius of the 195 55 than 205 55 is. I am clueless as to how this works! 16" rims, 55% aspect ratio should be the same, correct? Obviously not. Alex might be righter in that the 50's seem a better fit, and will obviously have more room.

 

My understanding is the 55% ratio is relative to the width of the tire. So a 205/55 is slightly taller than a 205/50 on the same size rim.

As the circumference gets larger, it reduces the speedo error. So a 205/55 is going to be more accurate than a 205/50.

 

Oh! I thought it was relative to the diameter of the tire/wheel. That's why the rolling radius are off, and my math isn't working.

 

The second number is the profile aspect ratio represented as a percentage of the width of the tire so the profile of an 195-55 is 55% of 195, and so 195 x 0.55=107.25 mm height. Thus an 205-55 is 112.75 mm, or 5.5 mm taller than the 195-55, and 205-50 is 102.5 or 4.75 mm shorter than the 195-55. Other factors can contribute to the final result such as wheel width and tire construction.

For a tire size calculator I prefer this one:
http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi
as you can enter many sizes at once to compare at the same time.

Right now I'm just trying to figure out if I can get away with 205-55-16 on my 2005 cabrio.

 

David,!
Getting ready for Tour du Nord?
How's things on the farm?
Haven't seen/heard from you in ages. Good to see you're still around.
Cheers,
Steve/Cape Cod MINI

 

Steve, how are ya? Last I heard you had moved to one of the Carolinas maybe?

This isn't for a tour de nord. We've been doing those pretty regularly but this year Bob Vogel, David Thibid. (tried spelling that three times, each wrong) and Annette Murano are driving the ALCAN 5000. Seattle to the Beaufort Sea to Anchorage then back east.

We've had a pretty regular group for TdeN. And some absolutely great trips. A Canadian who doesn't even own a MINI has come along each time and played travel agent. Picked incredible places and adventures. I've only made it to two of them since the 2005 'Flip de Nord' but they have been greatbdriving experiences.

And you? Last time I saw you, you weren't even there! You car was in Helix shop for some work and I left a note on your dash. Maybe 2005 or so? I hope all is well and yo are still motoring. So many of the original Min folk have moved on. To what, I can't guess because I haven't found a car near as fun. I've even owned a clubman and sold it for a regular S because it didn't measure up.

Stay in touch. Better yet, clear your plate for end of Feb and come to the Northwest Territory with us.

David

 

Someone else in Graham, NC? Something I don't see every day.

 

What are the symptoms of rubbing? I'm running 205/55r16 as our track tires. I've not noticed any rubbing, no rubbing sounds, nothing obvious on the wheel arch liner.

 

Marks on the liner are the #1. A brrrrrp sound when hitting bumps (technical terms here) People really have issues with this size when they put people in the back. I have more than a few reports of rubbing in the back only with only the driver.