Limited Tyre Choice - Options?

[MikeB444]

It seems my car (Mazda 2 GT Sport) is fitted with a particularly rare tyre size:185/60 R16.

I was toying with the idea of fitting all season tyres but I can only find one choice (Falken) when looking online. The choice for Summer tyres isn't exactly huge either.

If I dropped down to 15" wheels and 185/65 R15 tyres, the choice opens up massively and the cost (for the same model tyre) is also a fair bit less.

Mazda did originally spec this model with both 15 or 16" wheels, so if I were to fit some Mazda 15 inchers do you think the insurance company would throw a major wobbly?

It's got Toyos on at the moment, which I'm not particularly impressed with for either grip or noise.

[roscopervis]

I’m guessing that 195/55/16 will fit. You don’t always have to fit the exact same tyre size, provided the rolling radius is equivalent and the tyre won’t foul.

[Smint]

What does your handbook or the tyre label on the car itself specify as correct sizes, if the handbook/label lists them as options then can't see any reason why you shouldn't change...enjoy the better ride as well as the cost saving.
If not listed then worth a call to your insurer, you might be pleasantly surprised particularly as you're going down in wheel size where the yoof would be going up to 18"+.

[sixor8]

Does seem an unusual size. My local stockist has an online check, and they do 185/60 x 16 by Yokohama, Dunlop, Goodyear and Bridgestone. As well as Toyo, Nankang and some cheaper 'budget' alternatives. But absolutely nothing in 185/65 x 16!

[The spinner of plates]

I'd go for 205/55/ R16, it's about the most numerous tyre size in the world so loads of options from budget to performance and only 0.6% variance to your current rolling radius.

[MikeB444]

Yeah, I was wondering if it was sizes ending in '0' e.g. 60, 70 rather than '5' that makes them unusual.

The car's at work (I'm in the pool car) so I'll take a closer look at the tyre panel when I get back to it.

I guess I need to put the tyre sizes into one of those comparison charts and run it by the insurance before committing £££s