 Can I fit 195/55 on my R15 wheels?
After hours of reading the FAQ on this site as well as other sites (tirerack.com and tire manufacturers sites) I'm a bit confused. My Cooper has the 15'' wheels (the 8-spoke ones) with OEM 175/65 tires which I want to change. I'm thinking of replacing them with wider tires, so I'm going for 195.
Tirerack as well as Michelin recommendations (indirectly) say that I can't put 195/55 on my wheels, but 195/60. Why?
I'm doing my math:
175 * 0,65 = 113,75
195 * 0,6 = 117
195 * 0,55 = 107,25
what this shows is that fitting 195/60 makes the height BIGGER than the OEM, while 195/55 makes it slightly smaller. Both percentages though still fall in the 3% area.
So the question is: what's the big difference between 195/60 and 195/55? Can I fit the second? Personally, I don't really mind if it's 55 or 60, but after hours of reading about tires, the candidates I've chosen seem to only come in 195/55 and not 60. I'm thinking of one of the following:
- Michelin Pilot Exalto (PE2?)
- Bridgestone Potenza RE050
- Bridgestone Potenza ER750
Thanks a lot  | 
