Show me your tires.

AUGSX

Veteran Member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Location
Miami, Fl.
TDI
2001 Jetta GL TDI 5spd
So it's about time for me to put new shoes on the car and I am trying to decide between 205/60/15s or 215/60/15s. Tire rack recommends 6.5" rim which I have for both. I am looking for some pics to see if they are going to bulge out or balloon up to much.

Lets see them...
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, Massachusetts. USA
TDI
idi: 1988 Bolens DGT1700H, the other oil burner: 1967 Saab Sonett II two stroke
Go to the tire store with a tape measure. Measure the width of the bead on some different 205 and 215 tires. If the tape shows 6 1/2 that's about what the tire will look like. If the tape reads 7 then the beads will be pinched a bit when mounted on a 6 1/2.

Honestly? The 10 mm tire 'width' difference may be only 1 mm. This number is rounded up or down to the nearest x5 mm. From 200 to 210 are '205', From 211 to 220 are '215'. And besides, the 'width' when mounted will be determined by tread width and rim width. A 215 on a 6 1/2 rim might be narrower than a 205 on a 7.
 

coalminer16

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Location
Central Wisconsin
TDI
Golf 2004
I am thinking of tires soon as well and would like the tallest tires for a 15 inch OEM rim. I will do some searching when I get closer to that time.
 

52172

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2007
Location
Buellton, Ca
TDI
2001 Golf TDI GLS
I am thinking of tires soon as well and would like the tallest tires for a 15 inch OEM rim. I will do some searching when I get closer to that time.
You could run a 195/70/15 or go to a 205/65/15. How much height to the tire do you want to gain? I know the 205/65/15 is 1/2 inch taller. I'm gonna go that route to correct the speedo. I wonder how much it will hurt my gas mileage? Shouldn't be to significant.
 

AUGSX

Veteran Member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Location
Miami, Fl.
TDI
2001 Jetta GL TDI 5spd
I don't want to go higher just wider. The 2 sizes I posted are stock height just wider. Actually the 205 is .3" shorter than stock that is why I am more inclined to go with the 215. I really just want to see them mounted on a 6.5" rim to see what they will look like.
 

KITEWAGON

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Location
Seacoast, NH
TDI
2014 Touareg Exec, 2014 JSW
I don't want to go higher just wider. The 2 sizes I posted are stock height just wider. Actually the 205 is .3" shorter than stock that is why I am more inclined to go with the 215. I really just want to see them mounted on a 6.5" rim to see what they will look like.
I honestly don't think you are going to be able to tell the difference in a photo. I had a set of mounted 215/55/16's and 205/55/16's side by side last week (on identical rims, not on the car) and absolutely could not see a width difference. I ended up tossing the 205's because I saw a slit in on of the sidewalls so I never put them both on the car.

If you just want wider and not higher then I think 205/55/16 is the stock 16" size for this car. Not 205/60/16. OEM's are 195/65/15 and the 205/55/16 is the closest match that you can get and the 215/55/16 are very close as well.

http://www.kermatdi.com/servlet/-strse-template/tirecalculatorandcomparator/Page

Doh! - I just saw that you are talking about 15's. Disregard the second part of my post.
 
Last edited:

Seatman

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
Scotland
TDI
2014 Skoda rapid elegance 1.6 cr tdi
195 on 6.5j rims is fairly tight, I think 205 is pushing it a little bit, check it out on a ruler, 6.5inches against 195 mm but as for which ones the uniroyal rainsport 2's are pretty superb for grip in all weather and that's what I use.:)
 

AUGSX

Veteran Member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Location
Miami, Fl.
TDI
2001 Jetta GL TDI 5spd
Recomended rim size for a 195 is 6" according to most tire manufactures. What are you checking to base this on?
 

Seatman

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
Scotland
TDI
2014 Skoda rapid elegance 1.6 cr tdi
My wheels, they're 6.5j and I run 195 tyres but 6.5j is 6.5 inches so check it against 195 mm and you can clearly see that 195 is like 7.5 inches.:)
 

AUGSX

Veteran Member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Location
Miami, Fl.
TDI
2001 Jetta GL TDI 5spd
yes but the 195mm is measured to the outside of the side wall not the bead were the tire meets the rim.
 

Seatman

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
Scotland
TDI
2014 Skoda rapid elegance 1.6 cr tdi
Yeh I know but there's no advantage to 205's on the 6.5j rims, the 195's actually look good on 7in rims, that's what was on my old Mk1 toyota mr2. I get 195/50/15's for a really good price but to go the extra to 205's would cost to much, maybe they're cheaper where you are because they're more popular. The other thing is you just end up with more of an angle on the side wall.:)
 
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