The width isn't the problem. The problem is that the 205/50-15 is
definitely taller than a 205/55-14 (stock size).
But by less than 5mm, about 3/16" (assuming the tires are
sized exactly, which they're not)
This may be ok on a stock
height suspension but i still think it will rub on a lowered suspension.
Your car seems to be an exception...how much have you lowered it, what's the
offset on your wheels?
The wheels are 15x7 Borbet Type H, don't remember the exact
offset, but the wheels look to sit 'normally', not pushed out, or
tucked in. I have Neuspeed Sport springs, which supposedly only lower
the car 1.25". I've only rubbed a couple of times, when I've hit a
_really_big_bump; the kind of bump that would bottom out a stock
suspension, or tear the airdam off a Corvette!
My Golf is lowered 2" and rubbed extremely bad with
a 195/60-14 (on stock 14" teardrops) which is virtually the same rolling
diameter as the 205/50-15.
That extra amount of lowering eats up more tire clearance
than the difference between any of the tires sizes discussed here.
That's one reason I chose not the lower the car that much.
I've seen a 205/50-15 mounted on a 15x6.5 rim and sat there
and pushed the car around and watched the sidewall jiggle. Yes you do feel
it while driving.
What kind of tire was it, and how much pressure was in it?
The _design_ rim width for that size PZero is 6.5". I think that
Pirelli know more than anyone else the proper size rim to mount thier
tire on to get the best performance. However, the PZero is an
'all-out' performance tire (first introduced as original equpment on
the the F40, and comes standard on many of the world's fastest cars)
The sidewalls are _extremely_ stiff. For a more moderate tire, a
wider rim might be better.
It's not as crisp as a 195/50-15 on the same rim.
The 195/50-15 is what was spec'd for the car from VW.
The tire I really wanted (PZero) was not available in 195, so
I didn't have that choice. I would have considered the 195 had it
been available. Remember that all tires are not sized exactly to
their measurements, The 205 is the smallest PZero made, and as such
may be a little small compared to 205s of other models, where a 195
is also available. Pirelli actually doesn't make teh PZero in a
205/50-15 anymore, so when it come time to replace them, I'll have to
make the decsision again, and I may go with 195s.
I know it fits
without problems, handles well, and won't throw the speedometer off.
I'm not saying the 195 is a bad choice, but the 205 has
advantages and disadvantages that anyone making the decision should
be aware of. With the A3 cars, VW decided to go with 205's.
The speedo error is only ~3%: about 2mph at highway speed.
That's not an issue, since no VW speedo is anywhere near that precise!
Lee
W. Lee Hendrick
[email protected]
http://soliton.ucsd.edu/~hendrick/
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