Came across a couple of photos on the French Forum that highlight the difference off vehicle. Appreciate it's now the time to be considering a switch back to summer rubber but an interesting comparison non the less.

For those not familiar, the OEM alloy on the left is the Moon design now used on the GreenLine II SE and Elegance.

TP

the 215's look so much better proportioned, and they fill the wheel arches better.....

Mike

My winter tyres are 205/55/16's and you could really see the loss in ground clearance compared to the standard factory supplied alloy/tyre combo. :'( 215's on 16's bring that clearance back by the look of things.

I want 215s too now. The 205's look terrible in my view. Like someone put Ford Ka wheels on an SUV. Can't stand the look of them. But only until Wednesday! Yippee. 4x4 day on Sunday on the winters and then track day the weekend after... so summers have to come back on!

But now I'm worried about my car being too low................. Should I change to summers before Sunday's jaunt?! Is the risk of undercarriage damage high or is better to safeguard the alloys in my shed!?!?

As far as Im concerned the 205s on 16s are there to do the winter job and do it well. Who worries about appearance if you are stuck in a blizzard at - 20 ?. My original 17s on summers will go back on in a few weeks.

I been driving since september with 205/55 on 16 rims. Winter tyres. I encounter no problems with clearance what so ever. And I dont think it look so bad on the car but then 100 people 100 tastes. I think I posted pic here of 205/55 on my car.

Nope, I searched no picture.

Anyway the car went around 2cm down with this tyres. This is not a big deal....

Can also add that a smaller tyre = less rolling weight = less fuel used

Edited 24 March, 201115 yr by ju3

With dirty wheelarches, the sun shining into these........ awful, awful, awful looking wheels I have to say:

And that is MY car! Grrr. It really looks as if someone stole my alloys and I put some tiny baby car's wheels on to get by...

And somehow it looks even worse when you zoom out and look from afar:

But now I'm worried about my car being too low................. Should I change to summers before Sunday's jaunt?! Is the risk of undercarriage damage high or is better to safeguard the alloys in my shed!?!?

Johann, go and read my thread about taking it off road on the summers... I changed mine before and was very glad of the added ground clearance.

Johann, go and read my thread about taking it off road on the summers... I changed mine before and was very glad of the added ground clearance.

Thanks FocusZtec. I saw your thread. It is difficult to judge though since you did not do the day on the winters as well! (For comparison). So of course the summers did the job but without doing it back to back on the winters no-one would know how well they'd have performed! Conundrum. I've asked James to comment since he has already done the route we will be taking on Sunday.

Thought the 205/55 were OK, although I used the full 'E' spec wheel trims which visually might make a difference :wonder:

TP

With dirty wheelarches, the sun shining into these........ awful, awful, awful looking wheels I have to say:

And that is MY car! Grrr. It really looks as if someone stole my alloys and I put some tiny baby car's wheels on to get by...

And somehow it looks even worse when you zoom out and look from afar:

Makes it look like a Roomster.(Who are the guys on stilts.)

Thanks FocusZtec. I saw your thread. It is difficult to judge though since you did not do the day on the winters as well! (For comparison). So of course the summers did the job but without doing it back to back on the winters no-one would know how well they'd have performed! Conundrum. I've asked James to comment since he has already done the route we will be taking on Sunday.

I see your point but what Im saying is that if I wasnt on the summer tyres the car would have been grounded through lack of ground clearance.

Johann - It looks as though someone has pumped your car up in a gangsta fashion. Can you make the car kangaroo as well?

Did you take the picture with sun behind you, you + friend 6m tall, deliberately so that people could make witty comments, Have I Got News For You style? I was never very good at the round unfortunately. Where is Paul Merton when you need him?

I see your point but what Im saying is that if I wasnt on the summer tyres the car would have been grounded through lack of ground clearance.

It got me worried enough that I'm now seeing if my friends are in with the proper jack and huge flat driveway to change the wheels before Sunday. Grrr.

Did you take the picture with sun behind you, you + friend 6m tall, deliberately so that people could make witty comments, Have I Got News For You style? I was never very good at the round unfortunately. Where is Paul Merton when you need him?

No, we are both 10' 6" tall. I thought you lot knew that?! :giggle:

In my email back to you I'd suggest putting your alloys and summer tyres back on. The terrain won't especially call for M&S tyrs but will require ground clearance.

See you Sunday!

And somehow it looks even worse when you zoom out and look from afar:

Pssst, Johann, with that get-up you're running the risk of sombody calling you Berlingo Benny

Thought the 205/55 were OK, although I used the full 'E' spec wheel trims which visually might make a difference :wonder:

TP

You're right; it doesn't look too bad with the silver wheel trims; although you can see the difference in size looking at the white sticker on the front suspension strut.

Johann's unfortunately, I have to agree, looks pretty terrible.

You're right; it doesn't look too bad with the silver wheel trims; although you can see the difference in size looking at the white sticker on the front suspension strut.

Johann's unfortunately, I have to agree, looks pretty terrible.

HeHeHe