Tires 175/70R14 driving characteristics-experiences

[935Baby]

Hello,

 

do any of you drive 175/70R14 tires on Rapid (generation from year: 2012) in winter (or summer)? What is your experience?

 

I have a Rapid liftback with a 1.2 66kW engine.

 

I have the impression, that it floats a lot and brakes poorly. And when starting off, it doesn't manage to transfer power very well - it spins easily. And it's not very stable on the highway. It seems to me, that they are good for deep snow and that is rarely the case in my location (Czech Republic). I've had the car for a short time (approx. since April), driven only a few thousand km.

 

I will probably buy at least 185/60R15 for the winter.

 

I tested the 175/70R14 winter tires in the summer, so it is clear to me, that it had worse properties due to the temperature and the type of tire tread. I didn't test them in the winter, because they are quite worn and old (the tires were on the car when I bought it in late April, as the only set of wheels).

 

I recently sent my car sharper with the 175/70R14 at slow corner and village and it almost strip off the left front tire from the disc :-)

[Ootohere]

Welcome.

 

Good plan to get tyres with a bit more tread on the road.

175's might be good as a studded tyre for use on ice. 

 

I have Fat Bikes with tyres about as wide as that.

[Carlston]

See this thread, where I suggest 195/60R15 on standard 6Jx15 ET38 5/100 57.1 rims for the Fabia MK3 and Rapid.

 

However, you might want to try 185/65R14 on your current 5Jx14 ET35 5/100 57.1 rims.

 

I've tried both 185/65 and 195/60, and although the 195/60 has more grip than the 185/65, the 185/65 rides better and still has plenty of grip. Because of the better ride, I prefer 185/65 to 195/60.

 

Compared to 175/70R14, 185/65R14 is not just 10mm wider but has a 5% lower aspect ratio, giving quite a big improvement in performance. I'm not surprised you are a little disappointed with the performance of the rather narrow and high profile 175/70R14.

 

Another option for the standard 5Jx14 ET35 5/100 57.1 rims, is 185/70R14. Part of the problem with your current 175/70R14 tyres is that they might just be past their best, and perhaps not particularly good in the first place.

 

The big advantage of 185/70R14 over the high performance 195/60R15 is the ride quality and to some extent a small improvement in fuel consumption. Wider tyres do increase the drag, hence the increase in fuel consumption.

 

185/70R14 is even a standard tyre size on the latest Fabia MK4, although most markets seem to be choosing the 185/65R15 tyre size as the entry level for factory ordered Fabia MK4 cars.

 

Vredestein Quatrac 5 185/70R14 88T

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m137b0s7981p144829/Vredestein_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Vredestein_Quatrac5_Vredestein_Quatrac_5_185_70_R14_88T_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_D_Wet_Grip%3A_C_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_69dB

 

Edited 29 August, 2023 by Carlston