New Wheels - choosing tyres

We are considering white alloy EMPI by SSP  5x112 5.5" diameter 15" 20 mil offset from coolair or other supplier.

Staying with the standard ride height I want to go in to National Tyres (Simon recommended them) and get them to order and fit the wheels with new tyres.

I have read the posts about tyres that were suggested in the past so I just need to be told what to ask for. We want bog standard good quality tyres which look and work ok on the van and which are the correct commercial rating. Not driving in snow, general summertime driving including long distance.

Any help will be much appreciated.

185x55x15 or 185x65x15 are the sizes suggested by coolair.

what is rating 88H seen on another post ? is that the commercial rating? I can get this rating in National Tyres
eg: 85/60 R15 tyres rated at 88H
My current tyres have 99 / 97 N on them . Michelin do not do tyres of that rating

thanks

ps: the originals say 185r14c (as you know), should I retain the old wheels and tyres ?

Ian

Tyres for our Kombi Sleepover need to have a load rating of at least 88 (560kg) but should ideally be XL (extra load) rated, at least at the rear.

Max runs on Michelin Energy Savers - really smooth quiet tyres - 185/65/15 (88) - going for the 65 tyre wall on a standard height BraziBay makes the wheels fill the arches better.

We've got 185/60/15(88). If either 55 or 65 would be alright, I don't see why 60 wouldn't be. All of the 88 rated tyres seem to be XL rated anyway. I don't worry about speed rating, we're not going to go that fast! Ray Collier, who is a tyre expert, advises against having too low a profile on alloy wheels, they seem to be prone to failure. We get our tyres from Black Circles, their prices are great, their website will show you an excellent range of tyres with plenty of information, and we get them fitted by the local garage which services our van. I have had previous bad experience with using a tyre centre which wasn't familiar with our vans.

@Voyager your BraziBay is lowered hence the gap between the wheel arch and the top of the tyre is less - which makes fitting 60 height tyres more appropriate. Fitting 60s on a standard height Kombi can make the wheels look like a Matchbox car!

TimV wrote:

@Voyager your BraziBay is lowered hence the gap between the wheel arch and the top of the tyre is less - which makes fitting 60 height tyres more appropriate. Fitting 60s on a standard height Kombi can make the wheels look like a Matchbox car!

That's just a hint to get the lowering stick out!

The wheels are here and they look lovely. Tyres are on order.

Just need to source VW stickers for centre caps. I know they have been discussed here but all my searches draw a blank so I will go search some more.

sundialsoft wrote:

The wheels are here and they look lovely. Tyres are on order.

Just need to source VW stickers for centre caps. I know they have been discussed here but all my searches draw a blank so I will go search some more.

ebay

dazdub wrote:

sundialsoft wrote:

The wheels are here and they look lovely. Tyres are on order.

Just need to source VW stickers for centre caps. I know they have been discussed here but all my searches draw a blank so I will go search some more.

ebay

Yep, thanks Das, got some Wolfsburg ones which match the window winders and gearstick knob.

TimV wrote:

Max runs on Michelin Energy Savers - really smooth quiet tyres - 185/65/15 (88) - going for the 65 tyre wall on a standard height BraziBay makes the wheels fill the arches better.

Glad i read this @TimV just had two hubcaps fall off and only found one so given the tires are the same as when we got Sulley and not matching i'm thinking it's time for alloys . . .

Dee James wrote:

TimV wrote:

Max runs on Michelin Energy Savers - really smooth quiet tyres - 185/65/15 (88) - going for the 65 tyre wall on a standard height BraziBay makes the wheels fill the arches better.

Glad i read this @TimV just had two hubcaps fall off and only found one so given the tires are the same as when we got Sulley and not matching i'm thinking it's time for alloys . . .

Smart move!

TimV wrote:

Dee James wrote:

TimV wrote:

Max runs on Michelin Energy Savers - really smooth quiet tyres - 185/65/15 (88) - going for the 65 tyre wall on a standard height BraziBay makes the wheels fill the arches better.

Glad i read this @TimV just had two hubcaps fall off and only found one so given the tires are the same as when we got Sulley and not matching i'm thinking it's time for alloys . . .

Smart move!

I think so @TimV, who knows how long the current tires have been on there and I reckon the alloys I'm looking at will suit Sulley.

I'm going for 185/65/15 as advised but as I'm usualy loaded up I'm thinking 92 XL rather than 88

Plan.

We're also using Michelin Energy Savers on the front. I'll change the back ones too when they are due. I was originally advised by Ray Collier when I was having problems with uneven wear on the front tyres. Ray's business is in tyre testing, so he really knows his stuff. He explained the reasons for his recommendation, but most of it went over my head. Suffice to say, the uneven wear problems went away. We've got a lowered van, so we went for 185/60R15 88H. That's more than enough load rating for us, but then we are only ever travelling with two on board.

Voyager wrote:

We're also using Michelin Energy Savers on the front. I'll change the back ones too when they are due. I was originally advised by Ray Collier when I was having problems with uneven wear on the front tyres. Ray's business is in tyre testing, so he really knows his stuff. He explained the reasons for his recommendation, but most of it went over my head. Suffice to say, the uneven wear problems went away. We've got a lowered van, so we went for 185/60R15 88H. That's more than enough load rating for us, but then we are only ever travelling with two on board.

I'm looking at Nankang's because of the load rating and I've had them before and found them to be pretty good for the money. I could step down to 88 but for us with 4 on board and everything else we pack 92 is a better bet

TimV wrote:

Max runs on Michelin Energy Savers - really smooth quiet tyres - 185/65/15 (88) - going for the 65 tyre wall on a standard height BraziBay makes the wheels fill the arches better.

Tim I want to get new tyres but think i should boost to 92 weight This means I need to go to 65 height They are currently 60 height Do you think they would fit under Bella's arches?
Also. Would you change the tyres now as they are 9 years old?
Thanks
Si

simonnat wrote:

TimV wrote:

Max runs on Michelin Energy Savers - really smooth quiet tyres - 185/65/15 (88) - going for the 65 tyre wall on a standard height BraziBay makes the wheels fill the arches better.

Tim  I want to get new tyres but think i should boost to 92 weight  This means I need to go to 65 height  They are currently 60 height  Do you think they would fit under Bella's arches?
Also.  Would you change the tyres now as they are 9 years old?
Thanks
Si

Yes x2