What Is The Correct Tyre Size For A Sharan?

[turnip]

After asking on the technical section about tyres I am now a bit worried that my car was supplied with the wrong size alloy wheels. :( Can anyone help and tell me what is the correct tyre size that I should have on a 53 plate Sharan? It is fitted with 195/60 R16's.

 

Many thanks

 

Mrs Turnip

[bigdaddy]

On my gal its 215/55/16,,,,,,I had a look on the VW site and a new sharan will come with 215/55/16 or 215/50/17,,,,,,

 

 

Maybe someone fitted the wrong tyre or was trying to save a bit of dosh and fitted a cheaper smaller tyre

[NikpV]

On my gal its 215/55/16

Same here

[Guest Cepheus]

According to the VW site, the 'S' model has 195 60 R16 tyres on 6J x 16 steel wheels. All standard alloy wheels should be 215 55 16's

 

Sharan PDF brochure - see pages 44-45

 

What model is yours Turnip and does it have alloys or steel wheels with plastic trims? If it's an S model with steel wheels then you ahve the right size tyres and you can stop worrying. :( Otherwise, get them changed!!!

[turnip]

Thanks for those answers, I'm beginning to get a picture. We bought the car as an ex demonstrator from a Hartwell VW dealership. They said they had put on the alloys aftermark, and they were the ones for the 'Carat' model. Looking in the brochures they looked right. With our dealings with Hartwell (which I have documented in detail elsewhere in this site) I would rather have had the teaboy in Kwik Fit select the correct wheel and tyre size.

 

My worry is that if a car is designed for R16 tyres with 55mm tyre size, then changing to 6omm would make the tyres of 10mm greater diameter, and put out the callibration of the speedometer and milometer?

 

Any views?

[malcolm.dobell]

195/60 16 are the same diameter at 215/55 16. the "60" or "55" is a "%" not "mm".

 

I've had 195, 215, and 225 tyres on three different cars of this type (one gal, 2 alhambra) all were same diameter. Current car has 225/45 17, sith a 195/60 16 spare ("space saver" - well not very space saving!)

 

Important thing is that the tyres should be reinforced - a "94" for the load rating or a "rf" somewhere on the tyre.

[turnip]

Ok just been out to check and the tyres as far as I can make out are not reinforced. I presume this marking would be fairly obvious and not tiny. Now I am furious. The rear tyres are as supplied when we bought it and I have replaced the fronts with exactly what was on there. I have been driving around for 2 years with my family in this!

[NikpV]

What does it say in your handbook about tyre sizes. What is written on the sidewall of the tyres you have (make etc)

[turnip]

Having done some further research just found this

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...ter&f=62&t=4991

 

Now forgive me because I am not good at all with cars apart from filling the tank - but does this mean that I could fit 215/55 16 onto my alloy wheels? I can't find reinforced tyres in my original size but they must be plentiful in the 215/55 16.

 

My current tyres just say bridgestone ER30 H

[turnip]

Would the unreinforced tyre also explain the really bad wear I am getting?

[mumof4]

Um...probably...it would definately say in big letters either reinforced or extra load.

[Guest Cepheus]

Vehicles of this size and weight definitely need reinforced tyres. I would guess that your insurance company would argue pretty hard against making any payouts if you didn't have reinforced tyres and were in an accident as your car wouldn't be "as standard". I'd certainly suggest getting some 215 55 16s with reinforced sides on asap .... but at the dealers expense!

 

It is true that the tyres you have on now will do the job perfectly fine (and swapping tyre width and profile percentages is commonplace as long as it's done the right way) but you need reinforced walls and the dealer should know this. All Galaxy/Alhambra/Sharans come from the factory with them fitted.

 

Extra wear will be evident because the wall of the tyre will be being squashed more than it should be giving you an incorrect tyre profile to the road. (similar effect to underinflated tyres - probably wearing quicker on the edges??) There might be a slight increase in body roll when cornering too.

 

Complain hard and don't take no for an answer!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Extra wear will be evident because the wall of the tyre will be being squashed more than it should be giving you an incorrect tyre profile to the road.

More worryingly is that unreinforced tyres will flex more when you corner, promoting greater wear, more resistance (ie increased fuel consumption) ...and in enxtreme conditions could felx enough (if you corner very hard) ...

 

 

 

to peel off the rims. Well, that is what I have read elsewhere. This is obviously a MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE and you should get reinforced tyres fitted ASAP (but don't drive too fast on your way to get them done)

[turnip]

Thanks for all your assistance. Turns out the Bridstone 195/60 R16's we refered to were re-inforced, just not advertised as such anywhere. The load rating was provided in very small writing as 97/99. The two numbers added to the confusion.

 

We have now changed all 4 tyres to the size which seems to be more prevalent on the 16x7J alloyes which is 115/55 R16's. Having confirmed others calculations provided in a different post that will add 8mm to the rolling radius of the tyre, meaning that the speedo will read 70.26 mph when you are doing 70mph, well within margin for error anyway.

 

The 4 Firestone's we bought (load rating 98) were

[turnip]

Of course I meant 225/55 not 115, although i'm sure it would have looked great with those 'skinnies' on it.

[NikpV]

115/55 R16's

 

;) :D

 

215/55 r16

 

:D

[NikpV]

Of course I meant 225/55 not 115, although i'm sure it would have looked great with those 'skinnies' on it.

oops 45 secs difference ;) :D

[turnip]

I forgive you for pointing out my ineptitude! lol

 

;) :D

[Guest Cepheus]

i bet you feel a lot more confident driving with the better sized tyre on now! ;)