Avon 195/50VR15

[Radar]

Would these be suitable for an Excel or are they just too narrow?

[amarshall]

I'm running Avon 205/50/15s (ZV5s) and they seem fine to me. The rears don't last too well with the sort of milage/driving I do, but they fit and don't seem to affect the speedo much at all.

I was a bit reluctant to go down a size, but since I just couldn't get 215s and HAD to replace the tyres, I bit the bullet - and at less than £55 each, more frequent replacement doesn't hurt too much.

195s would probably fit - but be a bit marginal for width. I think a 195 on a 215 rim is right at the limit for fitting.

[Luke]

I think a 195 on a 215 rim is right at the limit for fitting.

yeah but the 'euro' look is in right now

[Lotus-e-Clan]

See this site for a good wheel and rim calculator

Tyre and rim calc clicky

195/50/15 = 3.36% too slow which means @ 70 mph speedo reads 67.7 mph.

195/55/15 is 0.08% slow and would be same as std rolling rad.

Rim width for 195/50/15 would be 5.5j to 7J so the excel rims are OK for 195 section.

Those with long memories or have read the history of the Elcat will know that the Eclat "Sprint" used steel rims and 185 section tyres.

The reviewer in a 70s/80s edition of MOTORSPORT preferred the narrower 185 section to the standard 205 section because you could get the rears let go earlier so you could exploit the brilliant handing of the Eclat.

So my view would be that 195 would be a good choice if you want more lively handling in terms of using the throttle to provoke a bit of fun and rear wheel spin. The front-end grip would not suffer IMHO on modern compounds as there is little difference in the final road contact patch with a 195 compared to 205 or even 215 section tyres (BTW see the on-line tyre bible is a good read and blows the myth about real world grip v tyre section).

Oh yes and Ozzy Captain Bob (I miss his forum contributions! ) used 195 section on his Excel and he knew a thing or two about Excels and cars in general IIRC.

[Radar]

Some great feedback there folks, I am very tempted by these 195. My local tyre centre is doing four for £160 fitted!

[amarshall]

I think a 195 on a 215 rim is right at the limit for fitting.

yeah but the 'euro' look is in right now

Only amongst a class of motorist known as "accidents waiting to happen".

[Luke]

I think a 195 on a 215 rim is right at the limit for fitting.

yeah but the 'euro' look is in right now

Only amongst a class of motorist known as "accidents waiting to happen".

whatever do you mean



dont think i'll ever get the 'rat look'

[Lotus-e-Clan]

I've got 205s on 8J rims on the rear of the Clan and they are not far off looking like the VW above.

Surprisingly they work OK though I wouldn't like to go any narrower for safety as Angus points out.

[lambert.john]

I noticed an Excel at Donington last year (or it might have been the year before) on Dutch plates wearing 195/55*15s. As already stated, these are spot-on for total wheel/tyre radius.