Club 80-90 Forums

Hi

I am looking to purchase a set of Carat alloy wheels for my camper, I believe the typical tyre size for this wheel is a 205, would it be possible to fit 185 until purchasing 205 at a later date? I appreciate a van rated tyre is required 800Kg plus, would anyone be able to recommend a good brand model?
Thank you

Radman

The correct "carat" size is a 205/70r14, but the stock 185r14's work fine on them as the rims are only 6J. a 205R14 will be a lot taller and only really approved on Syncro models.

Aye, got 185 R14C's on my carats, no probs at all. Some say they look a bit skinny but I reckon they look spot on

I just went through all this a couple weeks ago. Bought a new set of 205/70/14s and they are perfect.

if your speedo has the number 805 at the bottom, stick with 185/R14 C other wise the speedo will be innacurate (Carats had a differently geared speedo to allow for the 70 section tyres they had fitted as std) the 205/70 commercial rated are near impossible to find in any decent brand anyway

wasserleaker wrote:if your speedo has the number 805 at the bottom, stick with 185/R14 C other wise the speedo will be innacurate (Carats had a differently geared speedo to allow for the 70 section tyres they had fitted as std) the 205/70 commercial rated are near impossible to find in any decent brand anyway

QFT

My tyres took me weeks to find.

I have fitted my 185's too and, like Mininuts said, look fine to me. I think Mocki uses 195's (not sure what wheels they are on though) and thinking of going this route myself when renewal time comes. I have three good 205's that came with the Carats and will probably never use em!

i have 195/75R14C Continental vanco's on my Carat, which are within 1.5% of the 205/70's circumerence, which they replaced, so not a deal of difference regarding the speedo accuracy, which to be honest, is pretty crap anyway when compared against the speedo on a GPS, Vanco's are damn good tyres for low road noise, handling and wear.

Been having same dilemma recently & had 205-70-14 semperits on my van with 97 load rating but not C rated & swapped to 185/14c michelin agilis @ a very cheap price (normally overpriced). It drives & steers much easier now but if you fancy wider profile i'd also suggest 195/75/14c hankook ra08 or conti vancos (dear but good.)

Hi and thanks every one for the information. I think I will stick with the 185 for the moment and probably at a later date move up to 195. I take the point about speedo accuracy with the different profiles, my speedo as the number 500 at the bottom and therefore accuracy will wander with the larger tyre size. Out of interest I recall tyre size information being recorded on one of the original German registration documents stating that the van left VW with 205 on the rear and 185 on the front!
Wasserleaker, I presume all non "Carat" vans fitted with Carat" style alloys would have had 185 tyres fitted as standard at the front end to avoid the issues raised. How much did you pay for the Continental Vanco tyres?

Sorry for my late response.

The difference in diametre between a 185R14C and a 205/70R14 is practially nothing certainly not enough that you would notice on the speedo.
The 205/70R14 is actually very slightly smaller
(how much depends on if you class the 185 as an 80 or 82 profile)
See

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html

If you were buying 4 new tyres I would definately say the 205/70's but as you already have decent 185's use them, they just look a bit skinny but will be fine (i have 185's on my Carats) but prefer the 205/70's my mate has on his.
Although becoming increasingly more difficult to get hold of they are still available, load rating 95 or over I think the GT radials are 97's so fine.
Martin

I have two 205 70 14 speed rating 97 semperits with legal tread but not loads left, you can have the pair v cheap if u can collect from N London, i'm not always here so ring if interested 07973759811 Tim