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I have a 2002 GTX HPi 2.0 16v with 195/65/15 Tyres.

Has anyone had experience with fitting wider tyres on the same rims - i.e. 205/65/15's and could this help handling and ride?

it will help handling a bit yes because your going wider.

Your car probably should have 205/60/15's (like mine).

Have a play with this Jez
http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html

The profile is a percentage of the tread width so if you increase the width and stay with the same profile you'll increase the diameter and therefore the circumference of the tyre too, which affects your gearing and your speedo accuracy. As Doggy says, 205/60/R15 would be a closer match although I'm sure 65s would be OK too as it's within 2.5% of the original size.

I've got 205/55 16" on, I think 'Nimrod' alloys as fitted from new.

I don't know if they help the handling but they do look good!

My old Scimitar used to have straight 185 14"s and handled really well. I sometimes wonder if the old high profile tyres will make a comeback.

They would surely help with comfort & suspesion damage on our third world roads!

On my previous 1.9td Xantia,i had 185/65/15`s on standard xantia alloys.I changed to 205/60/15`s on the same alloys with no problems.The 205`s were fitted to 2.1td models.