Changing to winter tires, have a ???

**palmerlaker** · 11-19-2008 06:49 PM

I bought 4 used 195/60/r15 hankook winter tires. The tires on the rims currently are 205/60/r15. What problems if any would I have if I put on the 4 winters, leave my spare a 205/60/r15 and just used it if I got a flat. Thanks Palmer

**99blueb5** · 11-19-2008 07:01 PM

nothing, they are the same profile so your speedo wouldnt be off, only difference is that the winter tires are a little more narrow

**Toyotatech** · 11-19-2008 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by 99blueb5

nothing, they are the same profile so your speedo wouldnt be off, only difference is that the winter tires are a little more narrow

Incorrect, the sidewall is 6mm taller on the 205 than it is on the 195 basicly the same as mounting a brand new tire with three with half tread. It's not recomended to have different sized tires on an AWD car due to the clutches in the diffs although 6mm isn't much.

**99blueb5** · 11-19-2008 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Toyotatech

Incorrect, the sidewall is 6mm taller on the 205 than it is on the 195 basicly the same as mounting a brand new tire with three with half tread. It's not recomended to have different sized tires on an AWD car due to the clutches in the diffs although 6mm isn't much.

i dont agree a 205/60/15 tire measures 24.21 inches tall, a 195/60/15 measures 24.68inches tall so .47 inches of difference really not that much difference, and ask anyone, when you are driving through snow the less width the tire has the less snow it has to compact thus making the tires easier to roll though the snow, i have done this exact winter tire swap to 4 a4's and havnt had any problems

**Toyotatech** · 11-19-2008 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by 99blueb5

i dont agree a 205/60/15 tire measures 24.21 inches tall, a 195/60/15 measures 24.68inches tall so .47 inches of difference really not that much difference, and ask anyone, when you are driving through snow the less width the tire has the less snow it has to compact thus making the tires easier to roll though the snow, i have done this exact winter tire swap to 4 a4's and havnt had any problems

The 6mm is on each sidewall giving it a 12mm larger overall diameter which is 1.2cm making it 0.47244094488 inch. I didn't argue that a more narrow tire will cut through snow better I said to use the spare may cause differential clutch problems. I disagreed with you because you said they are the same profile or overall size which they are not. Although they will not make MUCH of a difference on the speedometer you were also wrong in saying your speedometer wouldn't be off.

nothing, they are the same profile so your speedo wouldnt be off, only difference is that the winter tires are a little more narrow

If it was my car and I got a flat I wouldn't mount a different sized spare on even though there probably wouldn't be any problems with it in this case.

**99blueb5** · 11-19-2008 08:19 PM

Tire Width - The width of the tire tread. (e.g. on a 255/55/16 tire, the width is 255).
Aspect Ratio - The ratio of tire sidewall height to tire tread width. (e.g. on a 255/55/16 tire, the AR is 55).
Rim Diameter - The diameter of the rims. (e.g. on a 255/55/16 tire, the rim is 16 inches tall).
Tire Diameter - The total diameter of the tires. This is the height from the bottom of the tread to the top of the tread (if the tire is standing).

and yes i would'nt use the spare too but if i was in the middle on no where i would

and the speedometer will only be off 1.16mph which you would never notice

**Toyotatech** · 11-19-2008 08:33 PM

Thanks for the lesson on tire design only I already learned that in schoollong ago and didn't have to google it like you.

**99blueb5** · 11-19-2008 11:06 PM

hahaa there is alot of cocky people on this forum... i got that from a automotive calculator website that can convert sizes, pretty sad that i am teaching people on here the basics...

**dubbin.t.rex** · 11-19-2008 11:52 PM

Rule of thumb is 2-3% difference in tire size won't mess things up, so you should be fine. You guys get any snow yet? It was 70+ here in Golden on Monday. I want some snow bad, need to get the full quattro effect

**onemoremile** · 11-20-2008 12:12 AM

You will be fine.

**palmerlaker** · 11-20-2008 05:42 PM

Thanks for the info guys, I'm still looking for an additional 195/60/r15 to throw in the trunk. Everyone is selling pairs or all 4. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to tear anything up if I had to use the 205 spare at some point.