Club 80-90 Forums

I'm after some advice on changing my wheels and tyres so the the vans rpm is lower and the gears a bit longer.
Instead of gear box work! I have fitted at the moment 205 70 14 on carat alloys.
I know it's not going to make a massive difference but little better would be great.
Has anyone done this for the same reason and it work out how you thought?

To lower gearing you need more power.
Otherwise if you put bigger tyres on all that happens is your gear changes are earlier.
A friend went from a DG 76 bhp to DJ 112bhp, and could get away with a slightly taller 4th gear dropping the revs from 3900 to 3400 at 70...rather than altering the whole spectrum of gearing

I have 205/14 on the same Carrat wheels. Note 205/14, not 205/70/14. My tyres are therefore not low profile at all. From what I have read they are 8% larger in circumference than the "70" ones. Straight away I noticed the effect of the slightly higher gearing, I don't have a rev counter, but cruising on the main roads sounds more relaxed. I also like the way they fill the arches better. I have not noticed any downside re the taller gearing, though my van is a fairly lightly loaded Tin-Top petrol DG camper, not a heavy Hi-Top Derv powered type, where the story might be different.

Pic shows the difference, my main van with larger diameter tyres on the left ;-

^^^^^

That was a genuine Photobucket "cock"-up there I'm going to leave it cause it's so funny (well to me anyway)

Lets try again =

ghost123uk wrote:I have 205/14 on the same Carrat wheels. Note 205/70, not 205/70/14. My tyres are therefore not low profile at all.

I'm sure I'm being a bit 'slow' but what do you mean by this ...... How are these different???

Are they more like 205 80 14s ?

Think it's a typo. For 205/70 read 205/80.

It's not a typo, "standard" size tyres are actually "80" profile (iirc) and, as they are not deemed low profile, they leave the 80 bit out, i.e. 205/14 is the same as 205/80/14. There is a good range in that size too as they are a common fitment to many smaller vans.

Ok, so where it says 205/70 it should read 205/14?

But yes if no profile is stated it means 80% (or 82%).
I'm running 195/14 on Atiwe alloys as that is how it came to me, but will probably go to 205/14 when the time comes as definitely low geared for the Audi 2.5.

Hi

Im running 215/80/14's on standard steels with 1.9 AEF engine (diesel skoda felecia n/a).

Rides high and tyres look fat compared to skinny originals - but I like the look and they fill the arches

Very happy with gearing, "acceleration" cruising speed and up-hill ability - and would recommend.

Best


Matt - brighton

Matt

Do you have a pic ?? I'm still thinking about what to do with mine.

Cheers

Just an apology to MidLifeCrisis, Laws1974 and marlinowner, on reading back through this thread, I did make a typo when I wrote that I was using 205/70, I should have written I am using 205/14. That post now edited. Sorry for the confusion folks

That coupled to the Photobucket link error makes this not one of my best

Mine are 80s too - but on 15" steel rims. Slowcoach and I talked about the effects on gear changes through bigger wheel diameters here: https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=135826" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Taller tyres certainly help with gearing and even top speed but can leave you more prone to crosswinds. OK on a tintop I'd say but possibly something to consider on a hightop.