Different Tyres - will these fit?

[Liquid Tuna]

I have a spare set of wheels that currently have 205/55/r15 tyres fitted as standard with the car. I want to replace them with some winter tyres this winter, but the nearest available size for the tyres I want is 215/65/r15. Is it ok to fit these to my spare set of wheels or will they explode into a ball of flames!

[Liquid Tuna]

In fact, what would be the safest size you could go up to if 205/55/r15 tyres were fitted as standard? (sorry I don't know the width of the wheel)

[Classic Grad 98]

It'll work but they'll have a much larger rolling circumference, which means your speedo will read inaccurately and if you are tight on wheelarch clearances anywhere, you might bet rubbing (unlikely unless lowered)
On the plus side they'll roll more comfortably and break traction more progressively being taller in profile.
You'll also need to declare that you have changed tyre size to the insurance company- which they may not take kindly to at all...

[Liquid Tuna]

No they're not tight (you could park a volvo between the wheel and the arch lol).

Thanks for your reply.

[rallycross]

my main cars run on 195/55/15's and 205 50 16's last year when I put winters on them I went for 175/65/15 and 225/65/16 because that was what was available to me, they were fine, check clearance to make sure wont rub but unlikely to with a small change.

[RDB]

I would go a size narrower for winter tyres, so try 195/60/15. They're only 1.3% larger diameter than what you've got on there now.

http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator.htm is a useful web page to work out the difference between tyre sizes and profiles.

[Classic Grad 98]

RDB said:

I would go a size narrower for winter tyres, so try 195/60/15. They're only 1.3% larger diameter than what you've got on there now.

http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator.htm is a useful web page to work out the difference between tyre sizes and profiles.

Those calculators are useful. Just for the sake of clarity, I just thought I'd say that the difference between the OP's old size and his/her proposed new size is 8.9%, which is not insignificant. Both the width and the section ratio going up means the rolling circumference will be increased quite a lot
I do agree wrt narrower tyres being preferable, but really we need to know the wheel width to be sure the tyres aren't going to be too narrow.