tyre sizes - whats best option

Pilkie

Pilkie

Active Member
hi all, I am about to fit my v8 auto with the original 14" rostyles ive recently aquired, and I will need to fit new tyres.the last std 185/14 tyres I bought 3 yrs ago have worn very well, but what road noise!!!!! I think they were meant for a van!! I want to improve the handling a bit, and also slightly lower the way it looks.I have adjustable rear shocks for if I tow anything, so I can stiffen the rear with them a bit, should I go for 185/60x14 or 195/60x14. I did this on a dolomite sprint I had, and it was astounding!!!!! it stuck like sh#t on a shovel in the bends, and looked a bit mean!! but the v8,s wheels are bigger, cars heavier, and not as chuckable, what size do you think give the best results,and what makes do you think are the best value? ta everso for any tips....dave :D
 
Hi Dave.I work for ATS EUROMASTER and i own 3 V8's.If you put any 60 series tyre on a 14" rim it will drag on the ground.ive been using 185/70HR14 tyres on my cars.They are 10mm lower than the original tyres and the handling is far more responsive,not as much wallowing or wandering.The only problem is that it upsets the speedo reading(30mph showing is 25mph actual).Hope this helps
 
hi john, thanks for the info, i had a feeling 60's might be to low, considering the weight of the car! not that i will chuck it about that much anway. what about 195/70's to put more tyre footprint on the road? i know some people use 205x15's so i dont expect they will rub on arches etc!! also as you work for ATS and run v8's whats the best make for, least road noise and a good wear rate?? and what deals are about for a set of 4,valve,balance,etc?? i am in the bristol area!! dave
 
I believe 195/70 will give you very close to a correct speedo reading. May be slightly heavy on the steering.

This size was standard on some rover 820's, although it is not a popular size and can be a few quid more expensive than a 65 profile.

Richard
 
Hi Dave.On two of my cars i used a tyre called euromaster which was made for ATS by AVON.They have now stopped making that brand for some daft reason.It was a very quiet tyre and ive done about 7000 miles on one set with very even wear.If you have an ATS near you we have a 25% discount on Michelin and Kleber tyres which are made by Michelin.It should be the same price country wide so i could let you know how much it will cost for 4.The 195/70x14 size is really only made by far eastern companies or for van sizes.Just remembered Michelin make 195/70tr14 E3A ENERGY tyres.Only problem is the speed rating isn,t the correct one for the V8.I'm sure on this forum there is a thread that says as long your insurance company are happy then they would be adaquate for the job.They use them on a lot of Citroen vans so they can at least carry the weight.And they have a car tread pattern not a commercial tread.Let me know.You can contact me at work on 01772 257688 if you need any help. :;):
 
Hi all

Dunlop do an SP200 195/70 14 HR, good grip both dry and wet and should last. Around £60 each so not cheap but worth it.

After having some cheap and nasty far east tyres on mine ( wouldn't dare drive the car went damp ) swapping the tyres was the best thing I did.
 
Hi Peeps!
My solution to the problem of getting hold of 185 HR 14's for the V8 was to change to 15" chrome Rostyles off a P5, and fit 195/65 VR 15 tyres. This gives very close to the same rolling radius as the 14's. The small issues that I have noticed with this are; The P5 Rostyle is not a particularly wide rim, so the sidewalls of the tyre do bulge slightly. slight fouling of the rear D post when carrying rear passengers and a load in the boot, and road noise through the bulkhead. The tyres I am using are Pirelli P6000's. I have travelled around 7000 miles with these fitted, and tyre wear has been pretty good.
When I first bought my car (a series 2 V8 auto) it was running on van tyres on the front, and the rear tyres must have been at least 15 years old. In wet conditions this combination is lethal. I was travelling back from a show, and the heavens opened. I was on a large round about, taking it steady, and the back end of the car let go. So if you're car is running on old tyres, get them changed. over time the rubber goes hard, and although the car will seem fine on a dry road, and will pass an MOT test, I feel that they are dangerous. I am all for date stamping sidewalls on tyres, so if they are beyond a certain age, they are scrap. A friend of mine has got a really nice Mk1 Escort 1300E. Very low mileage, and was still running on it's original tyres. He had the same experience as myself.

Stay safe Peeps
Erik The Viking
 
Dunlop, Michelin and Nankang do the 185HR14 size for those that want the original spec. V8 tyres.

Not cheap though unfortunately, apart from the Nankang's.
 
I know everybody will flame me for this, but Colway do 195/70/14 remoulds, I put a pair on the front of my 820, and they were actually very good. Far more grip than the previous "Woochung" - "harder than the road" cheapo's.
Although the wear rate on the Colways was much higher, they were about £20 each.(fitting extra)

Richard
 
Just did a quick search on www.mytyres.co.uk and found loads of manufacturers of 195/70/14 H rated, Nankang, Dunlop, Goodyear, Toyo, etc etc.
If you need V rated, then thats a different story, the only list a Fulda and thats it !
Only ever having had a 2.2 I don't know the required speed rating for a V8.

Richard
 
:D Just remembered there is a company called VINTAGE TYRE SUPPLIES that make all popular o.e. fitments and they can supply at extreme cost for all purists out there.I'll post details tomorrow when back at work
 
Colway remoulds are meant to be good , they sponsored a rally series where all the cars ran on remoulds,
Halfords at one time supplied Colways tyres , probably to order
only
 
hi,
they are in bawtry, south yorkshire, a couple of miles away from me. i priced original michelin tyres up last year, £140.00 a corner.
 
Hi Peeps!
What tyre pressures do you run on modern radials? I have found that the tyre pressures stated for my classics are no good for modern tyres, as tyre technology and construction has moved on considerably since our cars were designed and built. I have found that most modern tyres have a far more flexible sidewall, and need a higher tyre pressure to compensate.
On my V8 p6 on Rostyles with 195/65 VR15's I have found that 30PSI all round seems to work best. We also have a Mk2 Ford Escort on standard size tyres, and on the original tyre pressures the steering effort is unbelievable!!!!!
I guess now it's a case of trial and error to find what tyre/ pressure combination works best for you, or spend a lot of money on reproduction period tyres!

Have fun Peeps
Erik The Viking :D
 
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR IDEA'S. IVE NOW BOUGHT A SET OF 4 DUNLOP SP SPORT 200 195/70VR X 14,s. IT KEEPS CLOSE TO STD ROLLING RADIUS, GIVES A BETTER FOOTPRINT, AND IS A BIT LOWER AS WELL, AND, DUNLOPS WERE AN ORIGINAL FITMENT ALSO!! AFTER HAGGLING WITH VARIOUS SUPPLIERS, ATS, KWIKFIT, LOCAL DISCOUNTER,ETC, I WENT WITH A NEWLY STARTED INDEPENDENT CHAP IN MY HOME TOWN, YATE ,NR BRISTOL.HE PRICE MATCHED MY BEST QUOTE, THEN KNOCKED A TENNER OFF!!! A REAL BARGAIN AT ONLY, £150 THE SET, ALL IN WITH FIT/VALVE/BAL. THANKS ALL, DAVE :D
 
Hey, thats an excellent price, proper branded tyres for the price of cheap rubbish. Well done !

How does it handle and how much more grip have you got ?

Richard
 
Why not 195/75 R14 as advertised on the internet by Mytyres
at 62pounds 50 each? they are the same rolling diameter as 185/80 R14 . They have been on my P6 for 10 years. I did an odometer check over 220 kilometres and they were correct to within 1 percent.
 
""How does it handle and how much more grip have you got?""

HI RICHARD, A REAL BARGAIN!! AND I HAGGLED AN EXTRA TENNER OFF!! AS I "TOOK" THE WHEELS IN, OFF THE CAR!! IT FEELS BETTER IN THE CORNERS I,M USED TO FLYING ROUND ON THE WAY TO WORK, BUT I HAVE ALSO ADJUSTED THE TRACKING A BIT, AS THE OTHER TYRES WERE WEARING A BIT ON THE OUTSIDE, DESPITE THE TYRE FITTERS, "COMPUTER ALIGNMENT SYSTEM", SAYING THE TRACKING WAS -/+ 0 !! IVE ADJUSTED IT TO ABOUT 2/3mm OUT FROM THERE TO HOPEFULLY COMPENSATE FOR AGE/WEAR ETC.I MIGHT TURN IT BACK IN A mm OR SO,AS THE STEERING IS NOW QUITE A BIT MORE SENSITIVE, AS BEFORE THERE WAS OVERSTEER! NOW IVE GOT TO GET USED TO IT AGAIN!! IVE GOT POWER STEERING,SO NO HEAVINESS WITH PARKING. I HAVE ALSO STIFFENED UP THE REAR DAMPERS AS WELL, SO THE BODYROLL IS A LOT LESS, THIS MAKES THINGS FEEL SAFER. I AM GOING ON A RUN DOWN TO BEAULIEAU THIS WEEKEND,SO WILL SEE HOW IT HANDLES
 
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