Tyre size

[Crasher]

I hope this is the correct place for this.

Can anyone confirm the correct OE spec for a 95 S2 with air con? I get it as 205/55 16 91 W but my local tyre centre says that is for none AC and this needs 94 W.

[hashluck]

I have not come across this before as I would not consider the S2 heavy by today's standards even with AC. Kerb weight is 1525kg. Gross weight is not specified but let's assume 2025kg so payload less than 2000kg. I would think either 91 or 94 is perfectly fine.

91 load index corresponds to a maximum load of 615 kg per tyre, a 94 load index corresponds to a maximum load of 670 kg per tyre. 91 would seem well within limits.

I personally went with 91W on my S2s (both with AC) as I wanted a less stiff sidewall than perhaps a 94W would offer.

I cannot find specific data for the S2 but I have E46 BMWs and the spec for those tyres is 91W even my Alpina. No way the S2 is heavier than those.

[Crasher]

My judgement was 91 and the owner wants the Pirelli Cinturato P7 205/55 R16 91W AO but when I went to order with ETS West Bridgford, Lynda questioned the 91 saying her system said 94 and I trust her judgment as she has been doing this for decades and knows rubber inside out...

[Crasher]

The car came with 225/55 16's that are 13 years old and rub the track rod end when the camber is correct plus they look terrible. The spare is a 2005 Pirelli P6000 91 W, made in the UK!

[hashluck]

I went with Dunlop Sportmaxx A0 205/55 R16 91W AO - interestingly I do not think 94W was available as AO.

[hashluck]

Confirmed - all AO tyres currently available in that size are 91W

[Crasher]

No, I couldn't find a 94 AO, I will go will the P7's.

[LHD_Kid]

Can I ask why you actually want AO?

There are much better tyres out there than the AO versions, in a better choice of specification and size...

[hashluck]

In my case, it was not so much I was adamant to have AO but just that there was plenty of choice I was happy with that also happened to be AO so why not? In general though my nature would always point me to star marked, N marked, AM marked etc as specific to the vehicle make. I was chatting to Michelin UK about this at the weekend. If they don't have a specific tyre size with a brand mark they often recommend sticking with the other brand(s) that do.

[Crasher]

Can I ask why you actually want AO?There are much better tyres out there than the AO versions, in a better choice of specification and size...

It just seemed the thing to do and I am quite obsessive. Normally I run RainSport (5 currently) on everything and the S2’s owner has them on his type 8A 2litre Limited Edition we also have in and is nearly done, just some paint on Monday.

[sal_s2]

The alternative size for 16inch ronals is 225/50/16. They will have a higher weight rating

[K Simmonds]

I always used Uniroyal Rain Sports on my 3B, 91 rating, stock 205/55/16 size, fantastic tyre's for the money.

ABY rims are 7.5J as opposed to the 3B's 7J wheels so they take a 225/50/16 really nicely, only downside is they're considerably more expensive.

[JayCab]

If it matters to anyone;
16" Cab Final Edition: 205/55/R16W (OE 8 spoke 7J Fundo's "Made in Norway")
17" Cab Final Edition: 225/45/R17W (OE 10 spoke 8J Ronal Bolero's)

I can't find a tyre load spec for any of the rims specified for my Cab. Running Continental UltraContacts rated 91W.
It seems a 2.8 V6 Auto Cab w. A/C is rated 1445 unladen weight. S2 is 1525? Can that really be?

I'd have assumed a 7.5J would have 215 profile rubber from factory?

The 94 rating might well be right, even compared with the Beemers, assuming the Beemers are 50:50 ish and the S2 is nose heavy with most of the lump in front of the wheels..?

[K Simmonds]

Those weights look correct to me, the Cabby has a load of extra steel in the floors and sill's plus the auto box is pretty heavy so I'm not surprised the S2 Coupe is only 75kg heavier.

You could fit anything from a 195 up to probably a 235 at a push on 7.5J rim, it depends on the profile, I have seen an S2 Avant with 215/55/16's which seemed to drive just fine but the factory size remained 205/55/16 despite the 1/2" wider rim.

My TQS has the optional 10 spoke 17 X 7J Bolero's and the stock size for those rims is 225/45/17.

The entire AC system weighs no more than 40kg's, so I really don't see why 91 rated tyre's aren't fine.

[Crasher]

I always used Uniroyal Rain Sports on my 3B

we have habitually used Uniroyal for decades, onto the RS5 now but for this one I wanted something more specific, time will tell if that was a good idea.