Tire v's rim width rules?

Post by **scot850** » 29 May 2017, 18:58

I have tried to find information on what width of rim I can fit my new 185/65/15 winter tires to. Most information I have found is either very vague or would tend to say the maximum is a 5J (5") wide rim. I think one even said 4.5J. That is nuts as a 185 tire has theoretically a contact patch that is 185mm wide or approx. 7.5" (7.5J) equivalent. There is some one locally selling a good set of Bridgestone summer rims off a S70 which are on Volvo alloys and the tires are a 185/65/15. I believe one of the alloy wheel sets I have is the same rim type supplied with the car and fitted with 195/60/15 tires and they are on (IIRC) a 6J or 6.5J rim. Again I'm sure the sited that were specific about tire width v's rim width said that a 195 tire should be on a 5.5J rim max. Have Volvo got it wrong all these years??? If someone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it!

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **yair** » 29 May 2017, 23:05

We run 185/65 r15 winter tires on our 850, Volvo steel rims. Didn't had any problems.

Post by **scot850** » 29 May 2017, 23:24

Hey, how are you doing?

I am fine with the Volvo steel wheels, that is what the tires are fitted to already. They are horribly rusty and really not worth the effort of sand blasting and painting. I have to check what width they are, but I have a feeling they are 5 or 5.5J width (so narrower) than the alloys which I wanted to use which are 6.5J which is either 1-1.5" wider than what they are fitted to now. I'll take the wheels off in a few days to fit the summer tires and rims and will check that it says on the rims then. In fact I think the steels wheels have the info on the center flange on the outside where the lug-nuts fit, so can be checked just by removing the hub caps.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 29 May 2017, 23:34

Stupidly never thought to check Vida as I didn't expect it to list wheel widths in the description, but it does. Steels wheels apparently come in either 6J or 6.5J in a 15" steel wheel, so need to check what I have now.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 30 May 2017, 23:36

Been e-mailing with the guys with the wheels for sale. He has confirmed he has a set of alloys the same as one of mine and they are fitted with the 185/65/15 tires on a 6.5J wide rim and they are fine. Looks like I will be ok as long as one of the 2 sets of alloys is straight on all rims.

Neil.

Post by **Clemens** » 01 Jun 2017, 14:49

6J or 6.5J x15 is correct for 195 or 185 width tires according to my pink slip (they list every possible tire combination you may legally run).

Interesting side note: my 94 T5M already has the Titan rims used on the T5-R listed as possible option

Post by **scot850** » 01 Jun 2017, 15:23

Thanks Clemens for your reply! That really puts my mind at rest. I can no look later in the summer at which set of spare alloys I have is the better ones and if I keep the car I will have them re-finished in time for winter. Otherwise I will sell the rims and new winters and fit an old set of winter I have to the other set of alloys and sell them also. Too many tires and too many rims! Time for a garage clear out!

Neil.