Tyre size 195/80/15 or 215/80/15

Hello!

I am researching about maximum tyre size for an unlifted Jimny. I found several topics about tyre sizes on this forum, but most of them are about mud tyres or remould tyres, which are significantly bigger than regular tyres due to very thick threads.

As far as I know, the factory tyre size on all Jimny and SJ models is 205/70/15.

I would like to have some "AT" tyres. I drive about 70% on road, and about 30% off road , what consists mostly of (very) bad gravel roads.

I am considering to buy either Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA, General Grabber AT, General Grabber TR or Continental CrossContact AT tyres.

The only reason to get taller tyres would be to "cheaply" gain higher ground clearance.

However, taller tyres can rub on the wheel arches. If I am correct, taller tyres also introduce additional strain on the mechanics (gearbox, transfer case, wheel linkage elements), don't they?

A was considering sizes 195/80/15 or 215/80/15.

Compared with the factory size of 205/70/15, the size of 195/80/15 gives 12 mm of additional ground clearance, but increases wheel circumference by 3.75% (important for gearing load).

On the other hand, compared to 205/70/15, the size of 215/80/15 increases ground clearance by 28 mm, but increases wheel circumference by 8.5%.

The size of 215/80/15 would be significantly better than 195/80/15, if looking only at the ground clearance gain. However, would 215/80/15 rub on the wheel arches, and would it hurt the gearing, drivetrain and wheel linkage elements?

Also, would 215/80/15 significantly hurt the fuel consumption? It is 20 mm wider than 195, and wider tyres mean higher fuel consumption (as far as I know).

P. S. :
Radius of a 205/70/15 tyre is 668 mm, 195/80/15 is 693 mm, and 215/80/15 is 725 mm. This is important for the wheel arch fitness.

Also, is the wheel arch/bumper fitness criteria dependent of the year when the car was made?

as far as i'm aware 215/80r15 wont fit a standard arch without cutting it,

the sizes you should be looking at are 215/75r15 and 195/80r15

both will reduce mpg slightly but the all terrains your looking at are very light all terrains so shouldnt effect it much,

also in terms of strain there will be no noticable difference on componants when talking about such a small increase, it tends to be larget tyres, 235/75r15 or 30"+ that effect the gearing greatly and then your looking into transfer box modifocations,

but for the sizes listed you should be fine

Do you mean 215 75 15, not heard of people fitting 215 80s?

Do you really need the extra ground clearance as you only drive on gravel tracks?

You should be able to fit 215 75 15s with no problems regarding rubbing or gearing, anything bigger and you start to have issues with gearing.

I run 195 80 15 mt's with no problems and get on average 100miles to £20.

Bigger tyres/wheels are the only way to gain ground clearance other than a axle swap.

I am running 215/80 and you will have to do some trimming and probably lift as mine rubbed like mad before trimming and that's with a 3inch lift and body lift fitted

Thank you all very much for your replies and information.

Those gravel roads which I drive on are usually much eroded by heavy tree-hauling trucks and tractors (they "pound" the surface along their wheel tracks), as well as by water streams. Sometimes the surface is so uneven that I would really benefit a differential locker.

I rarely touch the ground with the belly of the car, but I usually have to sweat a lot in order to avoid doing so!



I am aware of the existence of size 215/75/15, but my reasoning was: if I am going for a width of 215 mm, I might as well get the tallest tyre for that width, and that is the size of 215/80/15.

Size 215/75/15 provides 18 mm more ground clearance than the stock 205/70/15 size. However, it increases the tyre diameter by 5,30%.
Therefore, in those two terms, size 215/75/15 comes just short of half-way between 195/80/15 (12 mm extra ground clearance) and 215/80/15 (28 mm extra ground clearance).

Compared to 215/75/15, size 195/80/15 has an advantage of being 20 mm narrower (better for fuel consumption and for snow). But 215/80/15 gives 10 mm more ground clearance. Now the question is, do those 10 mm extra pay off the hassle.


If I got all of your suggestions correct, size of 215/75/15 should not rub at all (even in off-road conditions), correect? And it should not wear down the gearing, drivetrain and wheel linkage elements?

On the other hand, the size of 215/80/15 definitely requires arch trimming. But would 215/80/15 fit if I just trim the arches - would it also require a body lift (not a suspension lift - too expensive!)? And would 215/80/15 hurt the gearing much?


If arch trimming is not enough, and lift IS required, plus if it would hurt the gearing, than those extra 10 mm compared to 215/75/15 are not worth it.

The other special issue is that most of the tyre models that I am interested in are NOT available in 215/75/75, but ARE available in 215/80/15 ...

i wouldnt personally want to run 215/80r15 without a gearing change such a sj 410box instead of the jimny box, will strain the engine to much and the use of low box for descents would be rubbish, and in all fairness it may need a body lift and and trimming to fit, i cant confirm that as i jumped from 215/75/15 to a 4" lift and 30" tyres

in terms of the width i high doubt you'll be able to notice the difference on mpg between 215 and 195 most of the mpg loss will be in the boxiness of the jimny and the underpowered engine for the car,

what age is your jimny as i know the facelift bumper (2005+) may have rubbing on the 215,

i also caught on the fullest of flex (2000 reg) but i think my springs had sagged over the 12 years of usage, but it was only a very minimal amount

if your really bothered about gaining hight, you'll need a lift and most likely gearing changes to claim the extra few mm, but really its pointless

i could get nearly everywhere i can now when green laning on 215's as i can on my 30"'s it really makes the difference on a p&p site or the most extereme of lanes, but by the sounds of it if the lanes passable now it doesnt need the extents your thinking?