Quick question about tyres

[DamonB]

Hi, I currently have a seat ibiza 1.2tsi sportrider with 215/40/17 tyres and to be really honest the ride is awful i feel like i need to see a doctor after every small bump i hit (Maybe not that bad but you get the picture) its like im driving a skateboard.

What i would like to know is, would changing my wheels to a 16'' rim and having 215/45/16 or even 15''rim and 185/60/15 tyres make the ride more comfortable? And if so would the extra comfort be worth the money?

Its probably a silly question but this is my first car (i bought it just after i passed in august)

Thank you in advance for any answers!

 

[guari]

Yes, the smaller the rim, the more rubber you'll have to compensate and thus, a more comfortable ride.. No doubt

 

[DamonB]

Would it be worth it though? I've heard that the suspension is rock hard anyway

 

[guari]

I'm not familiar with the ibiza suspension, somebody else will help you there. But surely if you put more rubber it will soften..

Hope you get it to your likin

 

[G.P]

Also different brands of tyre manufactures differ between sidewall strength..

 

[DamonB]

any recommendations on a 215/45/16?

 

[G.P]

any recommendations on a 215/45/16?

Not many options in that size, but Mich./Conti & Toyo have very soft sidewalls. Our Ibiza on 16" rims runs on 205/45 16"..

 

[farrar]

What i would like to know is, would changing my wheels to a 16'' rim and having 215/45/16 or even 15''rim and 185/60/15 tyres make the ride more comfortable? And if so would the extra comfort be worth the money?

It won't make a great deal of difference, certainly not worth spending that amount of money on.

 

[hellooo]

I have a 2013 1.2 FR DSG and a 2014 1.6 FR TDI. Both have 215/45 16s. The petrol has Bridgestone Turanza with an H rating whilst the derv has Conti PC2. The latter are massively softer, which makes a difference to ride quality over small bumps. Whilst the Turanzas are stiff and noisy, the fronts still have over 4mm of tread after 22,000 spirited miles. That's a compromise I can live with!

 

[Yorkie911]

Hi, I have the same model sportrider as OP that came with the 215/40/17 Bridgestone Potenza tyres. Although I found these tyres reasonably grippy, they were rather uncomfortable and wore out faster than expected. (I do a lot of motorway miles so expected a decent amount of mileage from the tyres) After swapping the front and back wheels for even tyre wear at around 13,000 miles, my tyres failed the MOT at just 23,000 showing 1-1.2mm tread left all round. (legal limit is 1.6mm).

After changing the tyres to Continental ContiSport 3's, the comfort has been increased. As well as this, the grip has massively increased, as expected, but I would say it exceeds that of the original Bridgestone tyres. The tyres have night and day between them, but this is probably due to the fact I ran the Bridgestone tyres so low into the tread

 

[G.P]

my tyres failed the MOT at just 23,000 showing 1-1.2mm tread left all round. (legal limit is 1.6mm).

The tyres have night and day between them

I consider 23k excellent. Which model were they, ER300 or RE050A?

Between Conti & Bridge. I'd go for Bridge everyday as you say, night and day between them..

 

[Yorkie911]

I consider 23k excellent. Which model were they, ER300 or RE050A?

Between Conti & Bridge. I'd go for Bridge everyday as you say, night and day between them..

I do hope you mean you'd rather the Conti's.
I'm not 100% sure but I think they were the RE050A.
If you factor in the minimal wear whilst I ran them as back tyres, say 1.5k miles worth each. That's about 10k miles on each tyre whilst on the front. I wouldn't say that's good for a 105hp car at all

 

[HFStuart]

I have a 2013 1.2 FR DSG and a 2014 1.6 FR TDI. Both have 215/45 16s. The petrol has Bridgestone Turanza with an H rating whilst the derv has Conti PC2. The latter are massively softer, which makes a difference to ride quality over small bumps. Whilst the Turanzas are stiff and noisy, the fronts still have over 4mm of tread after 22,000 spirited miles. That's a compromise I can live with!

The same is true of the 215/40 Contis I've got on the front. Noticeably softer (ie better) that the OE Bridgestones.

Ref the OP moist of the harshness is from the suspension I'm afraid. Moving to 16s WILL help but not get rid completely.

 

[garybuttle]

Had a 1.6tdi sport on Bridgestone E300 and got 41k out of a set of fronts and the backs had done 62.5k when we sold it and still had 4mm left. Only problem we had with them was the fact that they are very noisy.