Hey Up - Anyone know what the largest tyre you can fit on a standard Rim? Nippy, the sidewinder runs with 145/78 15's and I was toying with the idea of maybe looking at some 175/65 15's instead as you can get a good selection for naff all from a number of retailers.
Would it reduce the propensity for understeering or would we have too many problems with the tyres fouling the arches etc? SSD

I have 175/65/15 Firestones on the front of Jeremy... fit fine and onl catch the exhaust because I fitted it and its fat.

think there are other pictures of my tyres on here somewhere but heres one i took earlier when trying to work out why i have such bad camber on only 1 wheell... arm off maybe tomorrow...

Can anyone explain the pro's and con's of fitting slightly wider tyres, such as the effect on the steering, or gearing changes etc? Do they increase the strain on component parts, wheel bearings TR ends?

Only in that they increase the possible maximum cornering force. The width isn't what affects gearing - that's down to the overall diameter. Mich 125s are very tall - about 90% profile, whilst the 175s that Timmy's using are only 65% - so only about a millimetre taller.

I've got a single 175/65 on a 4.5" G rim - and that was a VERY tight squeeze. Gawd knows how Timmy managed to get 'em on a 4" rim... I suspect the tyre chimp earned his peanuts that day.

I remember Roo came by my house one day and his Dyane was shod with taller profile tyres. I can't remember what they were but he swore they seemed to raise his gearing slightly, Used in racing apparently, but now outlawed. Ring any bells? My experience with wider tyres on other cars has been heavier steering, and in on instance cracked holes where the studs go through the wheel due to increased cornering forces. that's why I asked, you don't usually get summat for nowt.

Just asked, and the garage complied. Didnt say they were awkward or anything difficult.

We had your father-in-law standing on top of the tyre on the tyre machine, with both feet on the sidewall trying to force it into the well...