Hey, all.
It’s winter and I’ve not driven my NB much, but I’d like to since it’s due a tyre change as the old ones have stared cracking a bit from age as bought from previous owner.
I have Potenza T005s or similar on (they’re mismatched back and front with some kind of other Potenza). These are a mediocre summer tyre from what I understand. I have the stock 15x6 wheels.
I am planning on going to 15x7 or wider in the future, somewhere between 7 and 8 inches wide, probably something like Rota Grids etc.
At the moment, Michelin CrossClimate 2s look very appealing, people say they feel like a summer tyre, are super grippy, not noisy and last forever, and they are summer biased, so that sounds up my alley since I live in rainy and cold Scotland.
However, I am torn about the choice - would it make the car feel dull? Also the size - I am considering either 195/55 or 205/50. This is because the speedo is slightly out of touch with reality and I read that 195/55 has it very close to accurate. That, and potentially some comfort gotten back from taller sidewall should I upgrade to 7.5 or 8 inch wheels which will have a straight wall or bit of stretch with 195, and fills up the wheel arch better.
However, I currently have the 15x6 wheels until at least May most likely, so I am worried that a 205/50 tyre will be too wide. The stock 195/50 already look droopy on the sides of it. But then if CC2s are so grippy, then a 195 is probably fine on a 7-8 inch wheel and I won’t need 205s? Looks do matter as well.
I’d appreciate some thoughts on my above self-implicated predicament. CC2s are an expensive tyre (100 quid+) so this is a longer term decision, I won’t be driving in absolute snow, I just want some reliability in wet and cold conditions, I don’t drive the thing out of its mind, just the usual spirited driving around the fun roads outside town.
Thanks!
