Comments for
Substituting 205/65 R15 tires for 215/65 R15

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Clarification please...
by: Fridge Magnate

You said " the biggest difference you may notice is the ride comfort and noise"

Why would a slightly narrower and shorter tire be noisier and have a rougher ride? My experience is the opposite

Editorial Comment:

When you use a tire which has less volume of air because it is either narrower, shorter or both, you need to increase the air pressure so that it has the same volume of air in it to carry the load which the vehicle carries. If you don't you will either shorten the tire life through too much flexing or have poor (even unsafe) handling compared with the original tire. Increasing the air pressure may result in a noisier or less comfortable ride than you had before.

TG
Don't forget Load Carrying Capacity
by: Pat

While most of your advice is spot-on please remind people to consider the load carrying capacity when downsizing tire sizes! A 215/65R15 is rated to carry 1510 lbs at 35 psi; if the mini-van is normally loaded to its capacity, you cannot use the 205/65R15, as it can only carry 1400 lbs at 35psi. Therefore, your smaller tires will be short 440 lbs and may unexpectedly fail.(Many Dodge Caravans specify for the 215/65R15s to use 35 psi for all wheel positions.)

LandRover Defender TD5
by: Anonymous

would these tires be suitable for a Land Rover Defender TD5

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