This forum has been very helpful in obtaining some clarity on the
issue of tire sizes and types. I am about to purchase from a
supplier in the USA a set of 4 tires that they will then ship over
to me in France at no small cost as you can imagine. The reason why
I will do this is becasue I have failed to locate in France, the UK
or Europe a dealer that can provide me with tires showing a narrow
white line on the wall (vanity I know…). So if anybody has an
11th hour suggestion of a dealer in Europe before I dish my Visa
card details to the other side of the Atlantic and discover the
pleasures of importing goods into the EU (customs duty, VAT etc.).
please speak now or forever remain silent … 
I understand that, originally, my 75 XJ6C wore 205/70R15. At the
moment she wears old (but still very threaded) P400 215/75R15
(whith narrow white line, on adaptable 5’’ wire wheels) that give
her an awesome stance BUT, obviously some time in the past, touched
the wheel arches and were ‘‘worn’’ by around half an inch over time
on the very outer edge that touched the fenders when turning or
over bumps.
Initially I was thinking of replacing the tires with identical
215/75R15 and accepting to live with tires that would foul the
fender. But then I got to understand better about tire sizes and I
now know that a 205/70 has a wall that 205mm x .7 = 143.5 mm high
when a 215/75 has a wall that has 215mm x .75 = 161.25 mm. This
means that I have been driving a car that has 17.15mm x 2 = 35.5 mm
of extra diameter on its wheels than originally intended. This
looks like an enormous lot and your comments would be very much
appreciated (impact on speedometer in particular as this obviously
throws my fuel consumption calculations in disarray).
In order to maintain a total wheel diameter that is consistent with
the original spec but using wider tires, I would have to use:
215/65R15 wall size = -4.5mm from original
Lots of tires at dealers but none with white line
215/70R15 wall size = +7 mm from original
Quite a few tires at dealers inc white lines
215/75R15 wall size = +17.15mm from original (will foul fender)
A few tires mainly 4x4, inc white lines
220/65 and 225/65 are quasi non existant or not with white lines
So it looks like I am headed for the purchase of 4 x 215/70TR15
Bridgestone Turanza LS with UNI-T AQII, T-speed ratings with White
Stripe .6-1.0 (what on earth does that mean? the width of the white
line?) at $79 a pop + $200 of airfreight to France + a yet-unknown
amount in EU tax on arrival.
I am wondering what you experts think of my choice.
Thank you–
1975 XJ6C - LHD
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