India Broadband Forum

just4kix · 08-02-09, 12:49 AM

You may have occasionally seen a car with oversize tyres and wondered:

Is it a fad?
Is it good for the car?
Does it improve the ride quality?
What effect does it have on fuel consumption?

And a visit to many website on Cars and Bikes would tell you - the manufacturer always fits the best/optimum spec'ed equipment to the product; don't change it.

So what is the truth, especially about tyres? Here is a comparison:

Suzuki Swift: India=165/80 R14 and 185/70 R14, UK=185/60 R15
Hyundai i20: India=175/70 R14 and 175/65 R14, UK=185/60 R15

What is the deal behind larger tyres?
Larger tyres help in the following:

better grip due to larger contact area with ground
better traction
improved response to steering
better control
reduced braking distance
looks good (especially with chrome-steel alloyed rims)

So why this difference?
Car manufacturers reduce the size for many reasons that especially make a difference in India:

smaller tyres = reduced cost
reduced cost = lesser excise = lower price
smaller tyres yield better fuel efficiency - very sensitive for the Indian buyer
Indian road are narrow and average speeds are not great - large tyres do not necessarily make a difference

Should you upgrade?
Definitely not if the tyres are brand new. It will cost you a lot to change rims and tyres. It is pointless to do so for new car or new tyres. A full set change of 5 tyres/rims will cost anything from 30K to 70K.

If your car tyres are up for changes then it may make sense if you do a lot of highway driving. But do consult the authorized service center on the best possible size upgrades. After all, you cannot fit a Swift tyre to an M800.

Please rate and comment on this article.

strider · 08-02-09, 01:38 AM

nice post! real informative. repped.

Freddie · 08-02-09, 02:10 AM

Good information. rep'd and rated.

just4kix · 08-02-09, 10:27 AM

Thanks strider and Freddie.

(Freddie, welcome back after some absence

)

Freddie · 08-02-09, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just4kix

Thanks strider and Freddie.

(Freddie, welcome back after some absence

)

thanks Kix. Freddie will be my serious, mature and reasonable poster.
unlike the wacky ones

08-02-09, 12:49 AM	#1
just4kix Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 8,899 Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 19	Tyre sizes: India vs. USA/Europe You may have occasionally seen a car with oversize tyres and wondered: Is it a fad? Is it good for the car? Does it improve the ride quality? What effect does it have on fuel consumption? And a visit to many website on Cars and Bikes would tell you - the manufacturer always fits the best/optimum spec'ed equipment to the product; don't change it. So what is the truth, especially about tyres? Here is a comparison: Suzuki Swift: India=165/80 R14 and 185/70 R14, UK=185/60 R15 Hyundai i20: India=175/70 R14 and 175/65 R14, UK=185/60 R15 What is the deal behind larger tyres? Larger tyres help in the following: better grip due to larger contact area with ground better traction improved response to steering better control reduced braking distance looks good (especially with chrome-steel alloyed rims) So why this difference? Car manufacturers reduce the size for many reasons that especially make a difference in India: smaller tyres = reduced cost reduced cost = lesser excise = lower price smaller tyres yield better fuel efficiency - very sensitive for the Indian buyer Indian road are narrow and average speeds are not great - large tyres do not necessarily make a difference Should you upgrade? Definitely not if the tyres are brand new. It will cost you a lot to change rims and tyres. It is pointless to do so for new car or new tyres. A full set change of 5 tyres/rims will cost anything from 30K to 70K. If your car tyres are up for changes then it may make sense if you do a lot of highway driving. But do consult the authorized service center on the best possible size upgrades. After all, you cannot fit a Swift tyre to an M800. Please rate and comment on this article. __________________ * Never argue with an idiot * To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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08-02-09, 01:38 AM	#2
strider Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minas Tirth, Middle Earth Posts: 1,093 Rep Power: 5	nice post! real informative. repped.

08-02-09, 02:10 AM	#3
Freddie Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Good information. rep'd and rated.

08-02-09, 10:27 AM	#4
just4kix Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 8,899 Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 19	Thanks strider and Freddie. (Freddie, welcome back after some absence )

India Broadband Forum

Tyre sizes: India vs. USA/Europe

Tyre sizes: India vs. USA/Europe

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