It's a 3 TS. Just trying to decipher the manual, it has a section for winter tyres, it has 3 columns,
195/65R15 *1 m+s
205/55R16 *1 m+s
205/50R17 *2 m+s
*1 load index and speed symbol 91Q/91T/91H/91V
*2 load index and speed symbol 89q/89T/89H/89V/89W
Does this mean I could actually use any of those sizes with any of their corresponding selection of load index/speed ratings? I'm assuming winter is referring to the same thing as all season as it has the m+s after it but I may be entirely wrong.
The load rating on the reinforced tyre is 95.
Never realised using a reinforced tyre might be an issue with the insurance. Any idea why? More complications! Many thanksl
If your car is a 1st gen like mine or perhaps second gen (still used the TS trim level), then its likely that it should accept (for the 1.6 petrol model and likely the 1.6 diesel too, unlike a TS was using the 2L engines) an H rated 195/65 R15 tyre.
My 1.6 petrol TS2 was originally shod on 205/55R16Vs, but the handlbook says it can take the H rated 15in tyres you spoke of.
As my OEM alloys were getting corroded back in 2018, with one causing the tyre to leak, I changed all four alloys to their 15in equivalents and changed the 16in tyres (which were ok on tread depth but near [then] the max 6 years age limit) to 195/65 R15H.
I actually changed to the CC2's immediate predecessor, the CC+, and have found them to be excellent, so you shouldn't have any worries on that score. A shame you'll have to pay far more than I did (about £55 per tyre plus fitting cost) due to inflation. The H rated tyre is still about £5 cheaper than the V rated one, and as you say, isn't a reinforced tyre, and is fine on comfort.noise.
As they are Michelins, they should now last 10 years all other things being equal (i.e. for low mileage drivers like myself), as in no physical damage from driving or cracking from extremes of weather and UV damage. Mine have done 6 years / 12,000 miles and are still at about 5.5mm - 6mm tread depth all around (I rotate them to keep wear reasonably even) from a 7mm starting point.
As long as your handbook says it can take a size and speed / load rating, then you can use them, but you will need to tell your insurer of the change, including the speed rating. Mine was fine about it, and I actually got a discount, though I don't know if it was specifically because I'd 'downsized' from 205/55 R16V to 195/65 R15H. Nicer ride quality though - more air to cushion (and protect) the suspension.
I could not tell any difference (size or going from summer tyres [which were fine] to A/S) in handling abilities of the car, perhaps because the tyres were 6 years' newer design than the old lot, which were good quality Dunlops. The original-fitted (OEM) Bridgestone ER30s were terrible after about a year or so - poor on noise and in wet weather, though very good on life (I got around 40,000 miles out of them, still with 3-4mm tread left).
Best of luck.
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