re: Ford Ecosport : Tyre & wheel upgrade thread OK I got Goodyears - Ecosport AT - 205/60/R16 from the factory.
Have run about 28,000 kms.
Will change between 30-35,000 kms - though possibly the tyres can last till at least 40,000 kms.
I have added the Rogers Suspension / Shocks kit to soften the ride. It cost Rs. 8500 and was worth it. The car does not hit the potholes with that hard a recoil and is in general a lot lot more comfortable.
Am looking for/ can live with:
1) Better Looks - Wider, Sportier
2) A feeling of greater stability while cornering - Reducing the slightly twitchy feel of the steering. Looking for more of an on Rails feel. Read "Wider shoes".
3) I tend to rev the engine a fair bit and like the roar and the urgent acceleration of the 1.5 ltr engine. It is fun, though the efficiency when driven hence drops to just 9 kmpl instead of the very possible 10.5-11 kmpl. It's all about the mood and also the traffic. Rarely use the sport mode though. Do use the kick down mode a fair bit. So don't want too much of a drop in power due to too big a tyre.
4) Want to keep the Km / ODO counter more or less 100% accurate for fun drives like the blind man car rally etc, else with a tyre upsize that significantly increases ODO error such fun rallies loose a bit of the fun element due to the hassle of additional back of the hand calculations.
5) I can live with the slush and mud thrown up on the side body of the vehicle due to a wider tyre. That is not too much of an issue though is some kind of plastic add-ons could make the fenders / wheel arch wider it would be great.
6) Lesser Punchers / No blowouts. My current Left side has 10 punchers while the right has none. The rear left infact has 8 holes (4 were sadly a single incident where I possibly drove the car a bit too long before realizing that I had a nail in the Tyre). But still since I tend to drive on the shoulders of the road to wiggle out of traffic at times I do pick up a lot of nails. And a tyre that resists that and has stronger side walls would be appreciated. That said the current Goodyears have had decent tyre walls but are average in all other aspects. So will not repeat them.
7) Even if I change tyre size I will probably keep the totally new spare in the current size itself as I have done this previously and for short drives a spare of a slightly different size does not matter and secondly I have a spare wheel cover and that may not take a larger tyre.
8) The Original Alloys are 16" they look very good (best this side of 20L cars) and I see no need to spend a big amount to change them so the R16 specification will remain as is. I could later look at repainting them in the Dark Titanium shade but that is not critical at this point of time.
Now am looking at validation / disagreement on the above & below lines of thought. Pls feel free to dispute my logic. I am NOT an expert on Tyres and yet have changed a lot of them over the years and like almost anyone have a biased view about them:
Options with tyre Diameter remaining same + Not going any narrower:
Plan to keep changes below the permissible 2-4% at max.
Original: 205/60R16 - Bored will change, am kinda ok with possibility of loss in warranty with change of tire size and hence have as yet not extended car warranty beyond the current 2 year basic. But may still extent to 4 yrs.
1) Option1: 225/55R16: 0.23% greater circumference - as good as no change in Diameter. So ODO will remain accurate. But this will imply a wider more stable tyre? With greater traction and friction hence should expect up to 5%? drop in efficiency. Wider should look better. But this should be as comfortable if not more than the current if I select a similar or better quality brand / model. This is currently my most preferred change and there are tyre models available in this size but I don't think any of them are SUV / AT tyres. RANK I
2) Option2: 225/60R16: 3.7% more circumference - borderline or slightly beyond the limit size, may foul with the fenders. Significant ODO error. But should be more comfortable in terms of handling potholes for which I am NOT prepared to try R15 nor 65 profile in 205 or 195 width. RANK II
3) Option3: +1.9% greater circumference - Within limits of size change and greater dia makes this attractive but this may not make it too much wider in looks or stability and the ODO error of about 2% will be present. Is it worth considering this. RANK III
4) Option4: 215/60R16: 215/55R16: -1.5% lesser circumference - Within limits of size change but lesser dia may mean a harsher ride that I certainly do not want. So then only for a very slightly wider tyre I loose all other aspects that I am looking for so am NOT likely to go for this change . RANK IV
As seen above my mind and heart seems to suggest that I go for Option 1 Rank I, else through caution to the wind and go for Option Rank II at the cost of ODO / Trip meter error.
Availability of SUV / AT tyres in Option II or III could tend to tip me in favour of that path.
Any thoughts? I do know that conventional wisdom would say that EcoSport is not really that high powered to require a 225 width tyre and better quality tyre is what matters first. I do intend to go for better quality tyres for sure but this is about which size do I search for those tyres in.
By the way I have used 225/55R16 Yoko ES 501 in my Laura (factory 205/55/R16) L&K AT PD which was 105 bhp vs the 115 of the EcoSport.
I am tending towards Michelin, Yoko, Bridgestone in that order as far as the brands are concerned right now.
I would be buying in July start, suggestions appreciated. |