P38A wheels and tyres

Hi
I'm going out on a limb and assuming my p38 makes it thru next week's mot without much difficulty.
Currently it's on 19" wheels with Scorpion Zero tyres, 2 of which are just about at their limits.
Is like to take the opportunity to put it back on something a bit smaller, the book says either 16" or 18" rims but I've no experience of either, which would you recommend? Our is it horses for courses?
My reason for going smaller is I assume 19" will affect handling and give a harder ride? Tyres also seem to be a bit cheaper and more options available.
Second hand rims might come with tyres so I might not have much choice in what I run for a while, but what's a semi decent all round tyre at the moment? I don't do huge miles nor expect sporty handling so I'll probably go m+s when the time comes
All most opinions welcome!

Never been a fan of big wheels on the P38 those are the L322's domain 19" and above are pushing it for me tbh

Mine drove and rode really well on my 18" comets. with nexan rodians, soon to be BFG AT2's

No idea for 16's I assume the handling would suffer due to taller side wall and deflection..

Cheers, I'm not a big fan of the big rim look either

Should ride better on 18’s. I have 16’ but huge tyres. Normal tyres I’d go 17/18.

I tend to buy the round ones

If you had a choice of 16" or 18" which would you go for? I'm assuming each have the pros and cons, aesthetics aside

BFG all terrains....they'll die of old age before they wear out
If it's for mainly road driving and comfort and looking nice, go for 18" rims.
16" is better for off road and curbing and normally cheaper for the tyres, but if you got BFG's then you'd only be buying one set of tyres...ever....so doesn't really matter about 18's being a bit more expensive.

I am currently on 16s with UniRoyal Rallye 4x4 Street tyres on (they are an all round summer tyre, but I have used them in snow without issue), and they ride nicely, but huge sidewall flex so you can't really chuck it round the bends. I learnt that the hard way by having the bead pop off.

The 18s will have better handling characteristics due to the lack of sidewall flex, but at the cost of a slightly firmer ride. But if you have been cutting around on 19s, they'll feel lush in comparison.

My is fitted with 19" TD6 wheels, fitted with 255/50/19 tyres which retain the gear ratios. Looks more balanced than with 16s. Drives rides and handles superbly.

The P38 can be fussy on 18's if the pressures are not spot on....

Mine also on 19" good ride and looks right in my opinion

Saint.V8 said:

The P38 can be fussy on 18's if the pressures are not spot on....

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Not heard that before, how do you mean fussy?

I have one on 18's and one on 16's, the 16's give a more supple ride than the 18's. Tyre type is more critical on the 18's, with Goodyears, there was always a little shake at around 60 mph, with the Nexen Rodians the shake has gone, they are very quiet too.

They tend to wander and tramline in ruts unless you begin to fart about finding out which pressures work best for your wheel/tyre combination....and it varies from car to car!!

Do some searches on here regarding tyre pressures and you'll read many posts discussing this very subject!!

Bix said:

I am currently on 16s with UniRoyal Rallye 4x4 Street tyres on (they are an all round summer tyre, but I have used them in snow without issue), and they ride nicely, but huge sidewall flex so you can't really chuck it round the bends. I learnt that the hard way by having the bead pop off.

The 18s will have better handling characteristics due to the lack of sidewall flex, but at the cost of a slightly firmer ride. But if you have been cutting around on 19s, they'll feel lush in comparison.

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I've not driven another p38 so no comparison, but mine feels really firm and rattles over potholes etc

Like i said, I've not but it with the expectation to drive it like a sports car, if i want corner action then I'll jump on the motorbike

Ok. It sounds like 16s might be a better choice then, if I'm not concerned about looks or handling. Especially if tyre type is critical in 18s

Datatek said:

I have one on 18's and one on 16's, the 16's give a more supple ride than the 18's. Tyre type is more critical on the 18's, with Goodyears, there was always a little shake at around 60 mph, with the Nexen Rodians the shake has gone, they are very quiet too.

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I have both 16"and 18". If mainly side roads the 16" give a noticeably softer ride although handling isn't quite as positive. Nothing to worry about. If mainly motorway or A roads the car is more planted on 18". I have had various tyres, Scorpion, Nexen, Vredstein and some others but my current ones are my favourites, General Grabber AT2.

Grrrrrr said:

I have both 16"and 18". If mainly side roads the 16" give a noticeably softer ride although handling isn't quite as positive. Nothing to worry about. If mainly motorway or A roads the car is more planted on 18". I have had various tyres, Scorpion, Nexen, Vredstein and some others but my current ones are my favourites, General Grabber AT2.

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On the auto route, the 18's are much more sensitive to the truck tramlines than the 16's.

Datatek said:

On the auto route, the 18's are much more sensitive to the truck tramlines than the 16's.

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Never noticed that but I am rarely in the inside lane and don't tend to go down the M2 to Dover!

Grrrrrr said:

Never noticed that but I am rarely in the inside lane and don't tend to go down the M2 to Dover!

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With all the trucks taking food to the UK, the bitumen on the auto routes here tends to develop quite deep grooves, the heat doesn't help. the stiffer side walls on the 18's makes them twitch more than the 16's

Datatek said:

With all the trucks taking food to the UK, the bitumen on the auto routes here tends to develop quite deep grooves, the heat doesn't help. the stiffer side walls on the 18's makes them twitch more than the 16's

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That could soon be fixed! All our food will be coming from Zimbabwe and Kenya post Brexit!