Tyre size 205/65/16 - would they fit instead of 225/55/16?

[KingyMAK]

As title says really!
Got 4 new Michelin tyres for nothing & want to know if they'll fit without rubbing before I go splashing cash out for fitting!

Cheers

[insanitybeard]

The difference in tyre width (20mm) is a bit too big for my liking, I don't know how well the tyre beads would seat against the rim. Also, what's the load rating of the narrower tyres as that's important? Can't see any reason why they would rub as the tyre is narrower overall and the looking at the aspect ratios the overall diameter of the tyre won't be much different to the 225/55's you say are currently fitted.

[KingyMAK]

I've found this?
I'm bothered about rubbing on lock, that's all?

[KingyMAK]

The tyres themselves are off transporters; it's the spares they have before conversions to campers.

[insanitybeard]

Being that some of the Mk2's were fitted with 17" rims from the factory (Mirez is even running 18"s on his) then I can't see rubbing on lock being an issue, at all- especially as the tyres are narrower. But personally I would be bothered if the tyre load rating is different (which if they're a size fitted to a Transporter they probably won't be anyway) and if the wheel rims they were intended to fit are narrower at the beads due to the decreased tyre width. Is 20mm enough to make a difference? I honestly don't know, but your insurance company may have something to say about it in the event of an accident.

[KingyMAK]

The tyre width isn't 20mm difference is it?
Unless your counting near & off sides?

It's .4" per tyre so about 10.2mm, sorry if I've got confused on the 20mm.

[johnnyroper]

My understanding is 205/255 refers to width of tyre in mm then the 65/55 bit is a percentage of width.
So if that is correct then inflated width will be 20mm difference.

[insanitybeard]

I'm not sure if tyre width is measured at the tread or the beads, but as above, a 205 tyre is 205mm wide, whereas the 225 is 225mm wide, so yes, the difference in width per tyre is 20mm, but it depends on which point of the tyre sidewall the width measurement is taken from!

[KingyMAK]

It has inside the petrol flap, that I can fit 205/55/16's?
So surely adding the 65% instead of the 55 would be fine I'd of thought?

But I guess I'd have to check for stretch as it's the last thing I'm wanting ideally.

[KingyMAK]

Also! Made a boo-boo;
The wheels fitted currently are 215/55/16, must of done a typo! Sorry!
That's where I've got the 10mm from!

[insanitybeard]

I just saw that and was about to post but you beat me to it. Yeah, 215/55 16 is a standard fitment on the Mk2 and is what my '54 plate Galaxy is running. So the narrower tyres are only infact 10mm thinner. 205/55 16 is also a listed/ fitted size to the Mk2 like you say but I don't know if those tyres would have been fitted to narrower rims, even though they are both 16" diameter. If they were both fitted to the same rims then you should have no issue I would think, although the caveat about insurance still applies if it's not an original 'factory fitted' size/ aspect ratio combination. Not likely to make any difference in the real world, but worth being mindful of.