Had a puncture on one of my banded steels, they're 8.5j front and 9j rear. Currently running 165/65/14 and the stretch looks dangerous. There's warping on at least one tyre.

I was wondering what size would be best. I was thinking maybe 195/55/14? Has anyone got any pictures of banded steels on 195 tyres? I'm not usually a fan of stretch but they do suit the bandeds, just want to bring them into a safer level with maybe a touch less profile?

Any feedback, or any photos at all of other bandeds with tyre size included would be great.

Cheers guys.

Just as personal feedback from running 185/55/14 on 8j front 9j rear bandies on my old astraVan, I'd never run any considerable stretch again, had a rear blowout at 65 and spun me on a dual carriage into the side of a truck.

However 195s on 9js I don't think are too bad from experience with friends running them :)

The 165's they're on look like too much. In this picture you can actually see the warping between the two R's on the Arrowspeed logo.

I do want a bit of stretch as it suits them, having the lip poking beyond the tyre, but I don't want to run the risk of blowouts etc. Tyres aren't cheap! As it is, if I got 195's right now they'd be part worns temporarily.

Don't suppose you have any pictures of any of your friends on 195's? Can't seem to find any on a google search that are definitely 195. How far do you reckon it would go before there's no stretch at all?

If it were me I'd be putting at least 195 section tyres on them.

Also the bulge in that tyre is a blow out waiting to happen.

Yeah, I must admit I didn't notice the bulge initially.

Weirdly it failed an MOT on a tyre bulge, but nothing was mentioned in the retest, carried out at the same place.

Which does make me further doubt the retest certificate to be honest. Handbrake is very questionable.

I think I'll have to look into getting part worn 195's then before running the steels again. Yet more money outgoing. :/

Really not keen on it on the BBS's.

Annoyingly I can't put my tatty BK Racing alloys on the Polo, because I don't have a spare set of tapered wheel bolts. The only set I have are currently keeping the BBS on the Golf and the bolts from the bandeds don't fit either of the alloys. Otherwise I'd get the bandeds off, remove the tyres and respray them. Although I suppose if all the tyres are coming off it doesn't matter if they get overspray on them.

Edited 5 June, 201511 yr by mbusby993