Anyone use 195/50/16 front tyres??

[Big_Martin]

I picked up a set of wheels the other week and I'm not sure what tyres to go for... My current fronts are 205/45/16 on a 7.5J rim and I think they look and feel great.

My new fronts are 7J and are fitted with 205/45/16s too, but I just think they look a bit wide on the car. The stretch of a 205 on my 7.5J works really well, and to achieve that on the 7J would require a 195. I'm happy to do this as my tyres would then be back to the original 195/225 stagger, but, on 16s, a 45 profile is much smaller rolling radius and a 50 profile is a little larger.

I'm favouring the 50 over the 45 as the roads round here aren't great so the extra wall height will be nice. And so to the question... is anyone here running 195/50/16 or 195/45/16 fronts? If so have you got any photos so I can get a feel for how they look?

Thanks in advance

Martin

[HighwayStar]

Not really sure what you're asking here as you appear to have answered your own query with your first sentence. Not much difference on a 7' rim surely. A slightly rounder sidewall so a little more comfortable and a fraction less response. Stay on the 205/45/16. Closest I think to stock RR and I cant think you'd actually see much difference surely with a 1/2 inch rim change... what do you mean when you say "I just think they look a bit wide on the car"... the wheels or tyres? What were the offsets of the old and the new?
Get some pics up of the car on the new wheels and the 205 fronts for us to judge. 205/45 on a 16x7 sounds spot on to me. Takes out that touch more understeer than the 195 too....

R.

[Rosssco]

You won't really notice much difference I would have thought, although the 205 may give you better front end grip (tyre dependant!) which eliminates a little of the inherent understeer (a good thing IMO).

195/50/16 is not an overly common size though, so you will have less choice of brands and types available vs. 205/45/16.

[Big_Martin]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm not sure I made myself clear, I have a set of 16 x 7.5J with 205/45/16 and I also have a set of 16 x 7J with 205/45/16. I don't like the 205s on the 7J, they just look too chunky. What I'm after is reviews and/or photos of 195/45/16 and/or 195/50/16 tyres on a 7J rim.

Here's a photo to illustrate...



Left:

Right:

[Johnr32]

Chunky = win, no?

195-50 will be chunkier than what your currently running so you definately wont like it, go for 195-45..

[Big_Martin]

Chunky = win, no?

195-50 will be chunkier than what your currently running so you definately wont like it, go for 195-45..

I know the 50s will give me an extra 5mm of sidewall height, but the sidewall won't be so vertical so I was hoping they may tuck under the arch a bit nicer... I've a feeling the 45s might just make the wheels look too small... Kinda why I was after photos

[59sw20]

I chose 195-55 instead of 195-50 because the Falken ZE912 has 420 treadwear on the 50, and 360 on the 55.

May I ask, where is the speedometer sensor located? front or rear wheels?

[Harold]

Speed reading is taken from the rear wheels.

[jasongtr]

I chose 195-55 instead of 195-50 because the Falken ZE912 has 420 treadwear on the 50, and 360 on the 55.

May I ask, where is the speedometer sensor located? front or rear wheels?

on the gearbox