7 replies to this topic

[radgator1]

I need tires and they are expensive and hard to find in the US but I can get 165/70/12's for reasonable. It seems hard to believe the 1cm increase in diameter over 165/60/12's would cause rubbing but just wondering if anyone has run this size and if so if there was any problem? I know it will have a small effect on speedometer and odometer readings but pretty negligable.

Thanks

[Bungle]

clicky

if they rub you could always get some hilo's and lift the suspension a bit

[cambiker71]

165/60r12 diameter is 503mm whereas the 165/70r12 diameter will be 536mm so quite a bit larger really, the 70 part is not in mm like so many think but it is a percentage of the section width.
Hope this helps

[Bungle]

but still smaller than a 13 inch wheel and tyre

[xrocketengineer]

I have an unmounted set of Yokohamas Y372 165/70 12 (yep, the ones from The Tire Rack) that came as extras last year with my Mini. They look huge compared to the 145/70 12's on the car.
My concern is that due to the large diameter they will contact or come very close to the mounting bracket of the rear radius arm.

Ivan

[cambiker71]

but still smaller than a 13 inch wheel and tyre

Nope, 175/50r13 is 505mm diameter so the 165/70r12 is huge really, personally i wouldn't use them, the handling will be awful on a tyre that large, would be better with 145/70 if the 165/60 is difficult to obtain.

[cambiker71]

I have an unmounted set of Yokohamas Y372 165/70 12 (yep, the ones from The Tire Rack) that came as extras last year with my Mini. They look huge compared to the 145/70 12's on the car.
My concern is that due to the large diameter they will contact or come very close to the mounting bracket of the rear radius arm.

Ivan

They would be really close at best, never mind the clearance problems at the front when steering!!

[radgator1]

Okay folks, thanks for the quick and excellent replies. I realized the 70 is a ratio but I misread the online tire calculator I was using (Doh!). I thought the diameter was a little more than a cm greater on the 165/70's but it is in fact a little more than an inch larger. It looks like I'm stuck with 145/70/12's since I can get them locally unless anyone has a lead on a decent price for 165/60/12's in or shipped to the US.