need help with tire size/swap, winter's coming and my choices are few :( Options

[xkillerx]

as we all know the european celi st is factory configured for 195/65R14 tires. i wanna get a set of 4 new winter ones. which is why i have BIG problems. practically nobody makes tires in that size in europe, much less imports them to this crap country. i managed to find only THREE winter tires in this size:

- Continental WinterContact TS800 - looking good, looking fresh, buttt... 500 euros for a set!!! ::horror::

- Semperit Wintergrip - have semperit sportgrips now... not bad at all. these are 400 euros for a set.

- Kleber Krisalp - have absolutely no idea about these. looking quite shabby . 400 euros for a set, too.


i'm still waiting for an answer from michelin, bridgestone and goodyear, but i can only imagine how much they would ask for a set of four......

what i CANT get in this factory dimension are: barum, tigar, yokohama, toyo, vredestein, amtel, bfgoodrich, falken, avon, debica, uniroyal, kumho, ..... DO NOT tell me to go get any of them. they are not imported in my size, not my choice, end of discussion.


THE ALTERNATIVE...

...a guy i know told me to drop by his shop one day so he can pop one of my rims off (i'm running factory toyota 14" 6 spoke alloys) and see if he can fit 185/70R14 or 185/65R14 tires on it. the point being, there's a huuuge choice of 185/65R14 winter tires i can choose from, very cheap. i'm worried about this affecting road handling, speedometer issues, ride height, abs faults (?!) and other unexpected unwanted problems. i dont want problems. i want a set of GOOD winter tyres but i'm low on cash. should i experiment with smaller tires or dish out 500 euros to the morons at the continental dealership and get over it.

PS i was hoping of getting 15 or 16 inch rims and summer tires when spring comes back but with these prices i dont know how will i afford that..
and NO, i'm NOT getting 2nd hand tires, dont even tell me about them.

[malpaso]

My advice is:

buy some 185/65R14. I have winter onces that size too for two years... I have no problems with handling, speedo, ABS (or anything). Even conversely, narrow tire is better on snow (with too wide tires is car on snow like sled). That's my opinion and my way...

This post has been edited by malpaso: Sep 26, 2006 - 12:41 AM

[xkillerx]

thank you for the advice malpaso.

i finally purchased a set of tigar wintera 185/65R14's. they are far from best but for the amount i spent (180 euros for the whole shezam) i'm very satisfied... the car feels funny now. much easier to move the steering wheel (must be 'cause the new tyres are smaller and narrower).

come on winter, i'm ready for you now