Tyre profile of EX model

[guest2992]

The tyres of my 2009 1.4 EX Jazz will soon require replacing (3600mls). I would prefer to have a more comfortable ride by increasing the tyre profile from 55 to 65 by buying new wheels and tyres. Should I move to 175/65R15 or 185/65R15 and is the speed rating of 83H necesary/essential for the EX model?

[dg]

EX, that should be on GE board I guess
check out some tyre calculator to get closest alternative, like:
http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator.htm

using lower tyre speed rating may invalidate ur insurance, check with insurer

[guest3250]

If you replace your 185/55/16 tires with 195/55/16 this makes a slight improvement to the ride but no substantial change to the speedo reading - in fact it is slightly better.
Also - these tires re about 5% cheaper for any given tyre and the choice is greatly increased.
Never downgrade the speed rating though - it could invalidate insurance.
Insurance company should be quite happy about the 195's - mine was.

[chrisc]

There were some comments about tyre sizes in previous posts, and I thought to ask my insurer about tyres.  They obviously had never been asked this question before and said that unless I was going to use the car for racing or rallying, they could not care less what I fitted.  But this is South Africa and often you reach someone whose home language is not English and they make the best guess.  Our call centres are notorious for this, especially telecommunications and satellite television when you battle to make out what they are saying.

[stiggysawdust]

The tyres of my 2009 1.4 EX Jazz will soon require replacing (3600mls). I would prefer to have a more comfortable ride by increasing the tyre profile from 55 to 65 by buying new wheels and tyres. Should I move to 175/65R15 or 185/65R15 and is the speed rating of 83H necesary/essential for the EX model?

Aren't your wheels 16" on a 2009 EX? If so then see Geof777's post. This is the way I will be going.

[bill ericay]

My ES has H speed rated tyres fiited as standard, but the decal on frame states either H or T rated tyres may be fitted, this was confirmed by a local tyre fitters, although I played safe and had H rated tyres fitted.
T is rated to 118 mph, and H is rated to 130mph--in my dreams!

[bill ericay]

Just remembered -- this is a good site for comparing tyre/wheel sizes for your car http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator.htm  .
Also, one of the reasons I bought my ES was because I test drove an ES with 175/65  15 wheels and an Si with 185/55 16 wheels, and the 16 wheels transmitted more noise on rough dual carriageways , although I found all cars I test drove became noisier as the wheels got bigger and the tyres became lower profile.

[guest3250]

That will always be the same with any car - but the lower profile tires will result in a tighter response
although with a little thing like a Jazz it is barely necessary - I do like the positive handling on mine ...
195's feel marginally nicer I must say - I have swapped the fronts back and forth and I am kicking out
(using up) a pair of 185's - but preferred the whole feel with the 195's - its a small but noticeable ride improvement
but they are also cheaper and there is a greater choice. So I feel it's win win all round.
 

[Rory]

You definitely shouldn't use a non-standard size such as the 195's in the UK without checking with your insurance company.

The obvious change for the EX is, as mentioned, to go for 15" wheels and 175/65R15 tyres - as on the ES model.  We have that size on our EX running winter tyres and the ride is much better, with no obvious downside.  Tyres were way cheaper too.

[bill ericay]

Sorry. I've just noticed I've repeated the link for tyre sizes. Doh!!!
It must be an age thing- I'll have to get a Honda Jazz !
 

[guest3250]

I checked with my insurance - they said the 195's were fine - I asked about the 15 inch wheels and they said no
Why?? It's not the standard EX size and it is going down in contact area (they know nothing!!!)