Club 80-90 Forums

can i fit 205 tyres on to my standard 185 rims?

The standard R14 steel rims are 5 1/2" width. You would just need to check the tyre manufacturers info to see whether the 205 width (8") tyres you're looking at are designed for a rim that size.

lodgey62 wrote:can i fit 205 tyres on to my standard 185 rims?

Yes you can fit 205's to 5.5" wide 14" wheels but not sure why you would want to as there's less choice in 205/70/14's than the standard size 185R14's?
The Carat 6"X14" alloys have 205/70/14's as standard.

I have just found this out ! Bought a California this weekend with 205 tyres on 14" steels , notice how on earth how did it make it home with the rear near side down to the canvas. Started to look already & can't find many, so have a dilemma New wheels or replacements in 185

v6lowrider wrote:I have just found this out ! Bought a California this weekend with 205 tyres on 14" steels , notice how on earth how did it make it home with the rear near side down to the canvas. Started to look already & can't find many, so have a dilemma New wheels or replacements in 185

I know I said there's less choice in 205/70/14's than 185R14's but they are still readily available if you look...

3 here:
http://www.camskill.co.uk/m4b0s390p0/Ca ... _205_70R14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

3 here:
http://www.tyretraders.com/tyresearchre ... e|All.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And...15 here:
http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/s=1 ... 205-70-r14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Less if you disregard any that don't meet the load index.

I'm not sure why you'd want to put a 205/70 R14 on - the diameter is actually slightly less than the generic 185 R14 so doesn't do you any favours in terms of your cruising speed.

If you need to move away from the 185 R14 then there's more choice in terms of van tyres at 195 R14, including summer and winter offerings from decent manufacturers like Uniroyal and Goodyear. You can even get the Yokohama Y354 that some on the forum swear by. As a plus, you'd also gain slightly in terms of diameter which will give you a little boost in cruising speed without noticeably hitting your performance on hills.

CovKid wrote:Less if you disregard any that don't meet the load index.

Agreed and apart from the Semprit the rest are far eastern rubbish.

Each to their own on wheels and tyres (I appreciate some like the lowered look) but having shifted up to tall tyres on bigger wheels, theres no way I'd go down to wheel/tyre combinations where I wasn't covering as much ground on what are increasingly precious fuels. Better to go for rufty-tufty tyres that are readily available and competitive.

CovKid wrote:Each to their own on wheels and tyres (I appreciate some like the lowered look) but having shifted up to tall tyres on bigger wheels, theres no way I'd go down to wheel/tyre combinations where I wasn't covering as much ground on what are increasingly precious fuels. Better to go for rufty-tufty tyres that are readily available and competitive.

Seconded!

Its just that there was a pair of Uniroyal's on eBay for £65, I might just buy for stock.

CovKid wrote:Less if you disregard any that don't meet the load index.

All the ones I listed do though?

The maximum axle weight of a T25 is 1300kgs...the lowest tyre load rating in the links I posted is 95(690kgs) so 690kgs X 2,naturally,exceeds that maximum axle weight?

Or are you basing your thoughts on a VW handbook that was printed 30+ years ago when tyre technology wasn't what it is today....when there were only a couple of choices of tyres at that time for a T25...Semperit and Michelin?
Oh...in that very same 30+ year old handbook VW also stated to use only leaded petrol.....

I worked for Goodyear 30 years ago and there were all sorts of tyres then, steel radials, cross ply, re enforced, commercial van 6 ply , 8 ply and I think there was even a 10 ply

These are load rated 109/107

Nah, Steve, I'm basing it on the presumption there will always be someone with way too much time on their hands.