205 tyres on 8j rim

[dan5oclocksmith]

Is it a silly stretch, or will it work?

[DanielJames]

Not a silly stretch, but you want 225 ideally.

[kambites]

Tyre manufacturers generally list the safe range of rim sizes for their tyres on their websites. I think you need to know the profile and rim diameter too.

[dan5oclocksmith]

The full details are that I've got a set of 205/55/16 winter tyres and I've got a set of 16x8 alloys.

I'd like to stick the tyres on the rims and use them if we get bad snow. I'd prefer not to buy more wheels or tyres.

So, although not ideal, if it'll work then I'll do it.

[kambites]

That seems to be outside of the recommended ranges, but I can't see it actually doing much harm on such a relatively high profile tyre.

[AndyT77]

I'm no expert, but seeing as though 205mm is near as dammit 8" what could possibly go wrong?

[TonyRPH]

These are the recommended tyre sizes vs. rim width.

I wouldn't do it myself.

Rim width	Minimum tyre width	Ideal tyre width	Maximum tyre width
5.0 Inches	155 mm	165 or 175 mm	185 mm
5.5 Inches	165 mm	175 or 185 mm	195 mm
6.0 Inches	175 mm	185 or 195 mm	205 mm
6.5 Inches	185 mm	195 or 205 mm	215 mm
7.0 Inches	195 mm	205 or 215 mm	225 mm
7.5 Inches	205 mm	215 or 225 mm	235 mm
8.0 Inches	215 mm	225 or 235 mm	245 mm
8.5 Inches	225 mm	235 or 245 mm	255 mm
9.0 Inches	235 mm	245 or 255 mm	265 mm
9.5 Inches	245 mm	255 or 265 mm	275 mm
10.0 Inches	255 mm	265 or 275 mm	285 mm
10.5 Inches	265 mm	275 or 285 mm	295 mm
11.0 Inches	275 mm	285 or 295 mm	305 mm
11.5 Inches	285 mm	295 or 305 mm	315 mm
12.0 Inches	295 mm	305 or 315 mm	325 mm
12.5 Inches	305 mm	315 or 325 mm	335 mm

ETA: Added nice PH stylee table (yes I'm bored)

Edited by TonyRPH on Wednesday 12th October 15:53

[Classic Grad 98]

They'd stretch to it but it'd be awkward and look silly!

[300bhp/ton]

TonyRPH said:

These are the recommended tyre sizes vs. rim width.

I wouldn't do it myself.

Rim width Minimum tyre width Ideal tyre width Maximum tyre width
5,0 Inches 155 mm                 165 or 175 mm         185 mm
5,5 Inches 165 mm                 175 or 185 mm         195 mm
6,0 Inches 175 mm                 185 or 195 mm         205 mm
6,5 Inches 185 mm                 195 or 205 mm         215 mm
7,0 Inches 195 mm                 205 or 215 mm         225 mm
7,5 Inches 205 mm                 215 or 225 mm         235 mm
8,0 Inches 215 mm                 225 or 235 mm         245 mm
8,5 Inches 225 mm                 235 or 245 mm         255 mm
9,0 Inches 235 mm                 245 or 255 mm         265 mm
9,5 Inches 245 mm                 255 or 265 mm         275 mm
10,0 Inches 255 mm                 265 or 275 mm         285 mm
10,5 Inches 265 mm                 275 or 285 mm         295 mm
11,0 Inches 275 mm                 285 or 295 mm         305 mm
11,5 Inches 285 mm                 295 or 305 mm         315 mm
12,0 Inches 295 mm                 305 or 315 mm         325 mm
12,5 Inches 305 mm                 315 or 325 mm         335 mm

I'm not sure this list is correct, as it's not taking into account profile or rim diameter.

[dan5oclocksmith]

These are the tyres I'd fit when there's snow on the ground and I'd be doing no more than 20mph.

Don't care what it looks like.

Will try one to see if it seems ok.

[braddo]

Was it S3 Graham on the Thread who has a 130i where he kerbed a front wheel? I seem to recall the tyre was only a 205 but the M-Sport wheels might have been 8 inches. If so, BMW do 8J/205 as a factory fit, in a very low profile, even....

[GC8]

I agree - more of an opinion thats represented as fact.

For performance a slightly stretched tyre will be worked harder, which is better. Unfortunately peoples aversion to 'Euro stretch' sillyness causes them to mistakenly presume that any stretch is bad.

These will be fine, Im sure. One further point: without all of the tyre data we dont know how wide they are - 205 is a nominal size after all, not a measurement. There could easily be 5mm wider than 215s from another manufacturer, or less.....

[Classic Grad 98]

dan5oclocksmith said:

These are the tyres I'd fit when there's snow on the ground and I'd be doing no more than 20mph.

Don't care what it looks like.

Will try one to see if it seems ok.

Great until you lightly nudge a curb and bugger your rim and/or suspension components. The tyre will also be easily unseated from the rim, and that's not what you want in those conditions.
They will stretch but it's not to be recommended.

[v8will]

It'll be a little stretched but just about acceptable as the tyre profile is a 55.

[dan5oclocksmith]

Classic Grad 98 said:

Great until you lightly nudge a curb and bugger your rim and/or suspension components. The tyre will also be easily unseated from the rim, and that's not what you want in those conditions.
They will stretch but it's not to be recommended.

Why would I nudge a kerb? I'm not a girl.

[Classic Grad 98]

Neither am I, but I have nudged a curb while taking evasive action on an icy road once- and if I'd had the wrong size tyres, I would probably have damage.
I have 205/50 on 7j rims and I can't see them working well if the wheel was an inch wider.

[shakotan]

I have 185/60R13 on a 8" rim, and they are not very stretched at all, you'll be fine on a 205.

[shakotan]

Here's a 205/40R16 on an 8" rim.

[TonyRPH]

300bhp/ton said:

I'm not sure this list is correct, as it's not taking into account profile or rim diameter.

I found this data in a Continental Tyre guide, which can be downloaded here (it's a 2mb pdf but downloaded really slow for me..)

If that's slow to download, grab it here

Edited by TonyRPH on Wednesday 12th October 16:25

[Chapppers]

Sounds fine to me, barely any stretch at all. I'm an expert of making do with tyres, I'd definitely do it to save some money/time finding other wheels.