Kumho tyres for Pinin

[some bloke]

I've been reading lots of good things about Kumho KL71 tyres - but cant find a standard Pinin tyre sze of 215/65x16. I wont be driving it over 90MPH so a "Q"speed rating is sufficient for my needs.

Using a tyre size calulator here: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html (Don't know how to post links on this forum like I can on some others?)

It seems these: http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m26b464s233p14903 
MODEL NAME: KUMHO TYRES / 4X4 / KUMHO KL71 - 205/80R16 104Q PRICE: OUR PRICE £58.00 will fit. Free postage too

I've put a 28 mm wide piece of steel strapping on top of my tyre at the inner edge of the tread and it does not contact the spring base on the front struts directly above it. Further: I can wrap my hand over the top of the tyre up to my big knuckles which are about 1.5" thick to the palm of my hands Yeah - funny way of measuring a clearance I know but it suggests that we could use a tyre over an inch larger on the radius.

There are also 225/75R16's available but these might place the inner edge of the tread against the inner lower part of the spring base, being both taller and wider.

Given that an inch is sometimes as good as a mile any ground clearance gain is better than none. Any comments or advice welcome chaps.

[some bloke]

Well I had a mooch around some local tyre fitters but found none with Kumho's in stock that I could try on so to speak... "but we can order them for you sir". Further travels around Leicester found me at TYRES AND EXHAUSTS GALORE, MAYFIELD ROAD, LEICESTER. Yup thats a shout out loud mention for some real helpfull guys. 

They did'nt have any in - but indicated they were willing to order a pair and send them back if they would not fit. A pair of 205/80R16's were ordered and arrived next morning. They fitted the front near side first and the "new tyre bristles" were all that contacted the suspension spring base And they only cost £65 each fitted and balanced with new valves. Whoopy

The off side inners contacted the spring base.

Subsequent examination has revealed that both off side wheels are about 30mm further in than the nearside.  I'd spotted a couple of signs that the car had been front ended at some time but it looks like it was much more than that now - but the car passed an HPI enquiry. Now't to be done about it as it was an Ebay special sold as seen. I've temporarily put some plate washers on the off side wheel studs to shift the wheels out 10mm further which clears the strut ok.

Given the wheel offset I cannot guarantee this would work for you guys without adding spacers because I dont know which side is correct - if any - as the whole suspension looks like it may have been re-jigged. Bearing in mind my old tyres were about half worn - my car now sits about 30mm higher at the front and I is a 'appy chappie. I'm going back for the rears when they arrive in stock. The car now has a more "muscle" look.

[paulesc]

good to see your plan worked. are they mud tyres or all terain?
are you gonna put some more pics on when you fit the other tyres. i would like to see the look.
i am going to need 2 new tyres for the back of mine soon:)

[some bloke]

Thems mud-uns them is 

Christened em overnight while clearing a few wabbits and stuff. I'm in the doghouse though 'cos "her" says they look stupid - and they are at their noisiest between 30~40mph... y-know, hairdresser speeds

[some bloke]

Another view - the wheel arches look much fuller with over two inches on the diameter of the wheels

[paulesc]

they're hard core

[Jamie Pinin]

They look great. I thimk they all soumd loud.

[bob_oz]

do you have any issues with the tyres contacting the chasis at the front on full lock?

the stock size on my front clears the chasis by about 5mm on full lock - to run larger rubber reliably i'm having to offset the rims outward or limit the steering with a weld-on pad to reduce the lock

[Jamie Pinin]

My wheels just touched but not that much. I found the best option was to buy wheel spacers. 30mm, 1 and quarter inch. I had made some steel spacers of 5mm and fitted them before I got the larger spacers. Jamie

[some bloke]

Can't say that I've noticed Bob, but with them being 205mm width the inner is 5mm further away from the chassis and strut than the 215's. Then lose a tad with the tyre being about 30 mm larger diameter that would probably put it a couple of mm closer on full lock, so your 5mm and the remaining 3mm would put them about 8mm from the chassis (at a guess mate)

[some bloke]

I've just checked the clearance while on full lock - there's about 20mm clearance between the tyre and chassis.

[bob_oz]

sounds like my 225/75-16 tyres will fit then

[some bloke]

Well worth a try - it's not like we need full lock every day anyway mate.

Paul - looking back over this thread, I'd not recomend fitting tyres with a different rolling diameter to only one axle of a 4wd car -  as both axles will be getting the same amount of drive.