Snow Tires how much narrower makes a difference?

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Hello

I am looking for a set of snow tires for my 2006 VW Jetta 2.5L

The sock size is 205/55R16 and I am thinking of putting 195/60R16 on it.

The 195's are .4" narrower (diameter is .3" bigger)

Is the .4" enough to see a difference in the snow?
 
that was OE size on my 2001 wolfsburg jetta BUT the base jetta used 195-65-15 basically same OD + cheaper + narrower but taller sidewall. my jetta was GREAT in Pa winters with 4 REAL snow tyres!!!
 
The closest diameter narrower size seems to be 195/65-15

using 195/60-16 has a 1.3% difference, which is more than 3x that of 195/65-15 (0.4%)
 
that was OE size on my 2001 wolfsburg jetta BUT the base jetta used 195-65-15 basically same OD + cheaper + narrower but taller sidewall. my jetta was GREAT in Pa winters with 4 REAL snow tyres!!!
mine are 16" not 15"
 
The closest diameter narrower size seems to be 195/65-15

using 195/60-16 has a 1.3% difference, which is more than 3x that of 195/65-15 (0.4%)
sorry there seems to be some confusion or typos.

we are talking 16" wheels here, I see mentions of 15"
 
Last edited:
195/60/16 has lower load carrying index than your stock tire. Plus winter tire selection is rather limited in that size. If I were you, I would stick with 205/55/16 for winter.
 
The 195/65-16 is 5% narrower and 1.2% taller compared to the 205/55-16.

Is 5% narrower enough to make a difference?
 
Would 185/65/16 be a better fit? Although, a 205 on a car that size would not be that terrible in winter.
not sure they make that size?

they make a 185/60R16 which is 10% narrower compared to the 205/55-16.

The 185/65/16 is not listed on this chart?
 

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Hello

I am looking for a set of snow tires for my 2006 VW Jetta 2.5L

The sock size is 205/55R16 and I am thinking of putting 195/60R16 on it.

The 195's are .4" narrower (diameter is .3" bigger)

Is the .4" enough to see a difference in the snow?
Go with 195/65r15 with 15" steelies from the Base model Jetta or Rabbit.

It's a factory size, and tires will cost less than 205/55r16
 
Go with 195/65r15 with 15" steelies from the Base model Jetta or Rabbit.

It's a factory size, and tires will cost less than 205/55r16
thanks but the 195/65r15 is the same with as the 195/60r16 and this way I can use my current wheels.

what might be better is to run 185/60r16 which are even narrower.
 
forget what I said about 185/60r16, they don't make snow tires in this size
 
IMO, no. Specific tire model/tread pattern and rubber compound will make more of a difference in snow traction than 5% difference in width.
well say it is the same tire model/tread pattern and rubber compound?

I am talking snows vs snows, same tire just different sizes with 1 being .4" (5%) narrower?
 
the 195/65r15 and 195/60r16 are both 7.7" wide so I don't see a need to buy a set of 15" wheels, yes the tires are a bit cheaper but not worth the cost of a second set of wheels etc.
 
the 195/65r15 and 195/60r16 are both 7.7" wide so I don't see a need to buy a set of 15" wheels, yes the tires are a bit cheaper but not worth the cost of a second set of wheels etc.
The difference is that 195/65/15s have the factory required load carrying index. 195/60/16s do not.

Also, winter tire selection is much better in size 195/65/15.
 
I had thought about going quite a bit smaller on my Focus, but what I had found with that is the smaller the tire, the weight rating goes down a lot. Our Sentra has 205/55-16 from the factory, I was going to get 195/60-16 for it for snow tires. We were running 205/60 used tires the last few years. Somehow I accidentally bought 205/65. I guess the extra ground clearance will be good?

Narrower helps a bit. And taller.
 
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