Tyre Type and Wheel Size options (again)

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
So yet another thread on tyres...
I need advice on wheel sizes and winter swapping options.

I'm about to upgrade from a QPV 4.2 to a 4.7 and I don't know what to do about wheel sizes, rim styles and tyres. Especially as my current car is on almost new Sottozeros, and I have 4 P-zeros (spit) in the shed. (I also have one Goodyear Eagle, but that's another story.)

Wheels
My current 4.2 has 19-inch wheels, but I'm just now replacing it with a 4.7 with 20-inch wheels. So which is 'better'?
I have sometimes found it hard to find tyres for R19, and R18 and R20 seem more plentiful. Have others experienced this?
The ride is harder with lower profile tyres, so 19s might be more comfortable, would I really notice worse handling than 20s?
MrsMarkMas always thinks low profile tyres are flat, so I have to check all the time.

Style
Currently I have the rims below, which are cute and unusual, but stick out a bit and are hard to clean. (The current ones are a bit scuffed up, but could be refurbished).
84701

The new car will have the rims below, which are also quite nice, but I don't like as much. (But they are in pretty good condition.) - also the tyres are reasonable-condition P-zeros (spit)

84702

I have noticed a lot of cars have spokes where when they are moving it looks like they are transparent. What are those?

And how do we feel about 'wire' wheels.
84704


Winter
I usually put on winter tyres, and I love the Pirelli Sottozeros (which are on the 4.2 at the moment). I get a local place to swap the tyres on the existing rims, but would it be better to invest in some winter rims to save wear and hassle? Does it matter what size they are? Any reason to have 20 in summer and 19 (or 18) in winter? Some people talk about having alloy in summer and steel in winter.

Transition
If someone wants to buy the 4.2, I could just give them the P-zeros in the shed as well (and the Eagle). But if it is hgoing to We Buy Any Car, then the Sottozeros are nearly new, and I have 4 P-zeros in the shed (2 nearly new, 2 quite old). I'm tempted to pay to have the P-zeros put on the car before I take it to We Buy Any Car. But then I will have 4 R19 Sottos lying about and be £100 pounds poorer.


So, what should I do, as I make this transition? Is the answer:
  • take the R19 Sottos off the 4.2 and put on the P-zeros so that WBAC get those
  • buy four new R19 rums in the autumn and put the Sottos on them
  • replace the R20 P-zeros with something better eventually
  • try to sell the one Goodyear Eagle
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
Those wire wheels look foul (IMHO). Some garages are awkward about taking cars on winter tyres so prepare for that at WBAC if you do not change them.
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
The second pic are 20" so you may notice a ride difference to your existing 19's even after you have binned the pirellis.

Wire wheels. Buy an effing MG!
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
So yet another thread on tyres...
I need advice on wheel sizes and winter swapping options.

I'm about to upgrade from a QPV 4.2 to a 4.7 and I don't know what to do about wheel sizes, rim styles and tyres. Especially as my current car is on almost new Sottozeros, and I have 4 P-zeros (spit) in the shed. (I also have one Goodyear Eagle, but that's another story.)

Wheels
My current 4.2 has 19-inch wheels, but I'm just now replacing it with a 4.7 with 20-inch wheels. So which is 'better'?
I have sometimes found it hard to find tyres for R19, and R18 and R20 seem more plentiful. Have others experienced this?
The ride is harder with lower profile tyres, so 19s might be more comfortable, would I really notice worse handling than 20s?
MrsMarkMas always thinks low profile tyres are flat, so I have to check all the time.

Style
Currently I have the rims below, which are cute and unusual, but stick out a bit and are hard to clean. (The current ones are a bit scuffed up, but could be refurbished).
View attachment 84701

The new car will have the rims below, which are also quite nice, but I don't like as much. (But they are in pretty good condition.) - also the tyres are reasonable-condition P-zeros (spit)

View attachment 84702

I have noticed a lot of cars have spokes where when they are moving it looks like they are transparent. What are those?

And how do we feel about 'wire' wheels.
View attachment 84704


Winter
I usually put on winter tyres, and I love the Pirelli Sottozeros (which are on the 4.2 at the moment). I get a local place to swap the tyres on the existing rims, but would it be better to invest in some winter rims to save wear and hassle? Does it matter what size they are? Any reason to have 20 in summer and 19 (or 18) in winter? Some people talk about having alloy in summer and steel in winter.

Transition
If someone wants to buy the 4.2, I could just give them the P-zeros in the shed as well (and the Eagle). But if it is hgoing to We Buy Any Car, then the Sottozeros are nearly new, and I have 4 P-zeros in the shed (2 nearly new, 2 quite old). I'm tempted to pay to have the P-zeros put on the car before I take it to We Buy Any Car. But then I will have 4 R19 Sottos lying about and be £100 pounds poorer.


So, what should I do, as I make this transition? Is the answer:
  • take the R19 Sottos off the 4.2 and put on the P-zeros so that WBAC get those
  • buy four new R19 rums in the autumn and put the Sottos on them
  • replace the R20 P-zeros with something better eventually
  • try to sell the one Goodyear Eagle
Keep the sotto and buy an old set of 19's for winter.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,114
The picture not the wires just looks wrong but some period Borani rims could look nice.
I remember as a young teen my mum's Jaguar 420 Stype had chrome wires and they took some cleaning especially in the winter weather.
Looked Great on that car but wrong on a XJ saloon.
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
Actually, I think what I really like is not 'wire wheels when stationary' but that effect where when the wheel is moving it looks like the spokes are transparent, and you can see the brake callipers. I've recently noticed this effect on BMWs with rims like these:

84720
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
Actually, I think what I really like is not 'wire wheels when stationary' but that effect where when the wheel is moving it looks like the spokes are transparent, and you can see the brake callipers. I've recently noticed this effect on BMWs with rims like these:

View attachment 84720
You will be needing gts wheels then. Or Trident design like mine (avatar)
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Agree that 20" tyres are more plentiful and similar pricing to 19" tyres. It is all supply and demand - people in the UK like their BIG RIMS

Keep the winter tyres and swap them onto a used set of 19s for winter.

Use the P Zeros on the 20" rims over summer until they are toast and swap a better tyre onto it - Michelin PS4S Bridgestone Potenza Sport or Goodyear Engle F1 Supersport
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
Use the P Zeros on the 20" rims over summer until they are toast and swap a better tyre onto it - Michelin PS4S Bridgestone Potenza Sport or Goodyear Engle F1 Supersport

PZeros are perfect for summer and there is no point in throwing them away. The haters just want them / expect then to work in conditions that they were not designed for .... a bit like me moaning that my winter tyres don't provide enough grip on 30 degree C days.
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
I use PZeros May (ish) to October (ish) and they work great. Sottos for the winter (bloody brilliant).
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
PZeros are perfect for summer and there is no point in throwing them away. The haters just want them / expect then to work in conditions that they were not designed for .... a bit like me moaning that my winter tyres don't provide enough grip on 30 degree C days.
Agreed, but why put them on a uk car that rarely sees 25°c. They are bound to get negative feedback.