Just focusing on the size - not on Pirelli versus Michelin, or four season versus performance - I think you would be happier with 185/70 or if you believe that "wider is better", 195/65. Larger diameter tires will look funny on a spider and may interfere with the rear wheel arches when carrying a load. Whether you will have interference depends on the width and offset of your wheels, the shape of your particular tire, how well centered your differential is, ....
I tend to agree with Jay on the 195/70 width. You may get some rubbing at the rear if you hit some dips or speed humps. If you're married to the idea of the 195's then go to a 65 series like he suggests.
The real thing you need to look at though, is the overall diameter of the tire you want, compared to the stock size diameter, AND the load capacity. Both numbers need to be close to the stock tires rating for speedometer accuracy (if yours works!) and safety. Speedometer accuracy seldom comes up as a topic though, in this forum. :laugh2:
As far as the brand goes, Pirelli makes a very good tire, IMO, as does Dunlop, Firestone, Yokohama and Bridgestone. You're going to be size limited though, in your choices, with that 14" wheel.
I have been running 175/70 R 14 tires on my '69 for many years, first on the stock wheels then on Cromodora Turbinas, and love them. IMHO they look great, ride and handle well, and do not interfere with front or rear fenders. Given the low-hanging oil pan, I also appreciate the extra protection against driveway, curb stop and other road hazards which the extra ride height provides.
Thanks, what is your thought about a lower priced tire in the $75 range. Sam's club has Goodyear Assurance All-Season - - 185/70R14 88T for $82 with $80 off for a set of 4
Thanks, what is your thought about a lower priced tire in the $75 range. Sam's club has Goodyear Assurance All-Season - - 185/70R14 88T for $82 with $80 off for a set of 4
I know nothing about Sam's club Goodyear Assurance All-Seasons, so really can't advise. At that price, they probably won't last a lot of miles, nor give great handling. But I get the sense that those things aren't important here (which is OK), so sure, go for it. I have to admit that it seems silly to spend $200 a tire for something with a 60,000 mile warranty, and then install them on a car that only travels a few thousand miles a year.
Hey... Goodyear makes a decent product, also. Sounds like you've got your tire needs pretty well targeted! I think that's a good substitute for the original size.
I have 185/70-14 88T Michelin Defenders that I put on last year to replace Goodyear 195/65-14's that aged out. 185/70-14 H is the "original" size. I know some here will say 165s are but my Spider was original with Turbinas and there was a recall by NHTSA to replace the 165 with 185/70. I am quite happy with the Michelins but I use Michelin for all of my everyday cars so I'm not impartial. The only thing I have issue with is these are T-speed rated instead of the spec'd H rating but you usually have to get off-brand Chinese tires to find H's although I believe there may be a new version of the Defenders that will be H-rated. But I have no plans to buy replacement tires just for that.
P195/60R-15 Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus (Qty:4) I've got these on my GTV and from a tire type perspective I can say I'm very happy with them.
DavidB, are you close to Trappe?
Rande, a friend of mine contacted me and said you have an automatic. Send me a note at 65veloce at gmail as I have a couple of questions for you about your automatic.
On our 91 Spider automatic we are running 190/60/15 Bridgestones from Costco and so far they feel good to me. I haven't gotten the car licensed yet on the highway so I can't vouch for how good they feel on the high way for noise/road feedback/steering input.
Most of the info you need is located on the side wall of the tire.
Sidewall plys...Tread plys..type of reinforcement, steel or fabric
Tread wear...the higher the number the longer tread life..harder compound.
Temperature..A is best, traction...A is best
I prefer a softer tire compound. Better adhesion but less mileage. Since I drive fewer miles that's ok. That way the age of the tire and the tread wear expire about the same time. A tire in the 400 range is rock hard. Great mileage, lousy adhesion.
The taller the aspect ratio the softer the ride. So a 70 or 65 will give a soft ride. A 50 or 45 much firmer ride.
On the sidewall is a "wear rating". The higher the number the greater the expected mileage. A tire under 200 will have softer and sticky compound..great adhesion, poor mileage. 300 to 400 probably a good general purpose tire. 400+ harder compound, best mileage. If you do not drive in rain, snow ,etc why use a all season tire. Most driver tires now are unidirectional. Tires now are mostly made in Mexico, S. Korea, Japan. I currently have Goodyear Eagles on my GTV 205/60/15. Some body rub, but very responsive tire.
Cheers, Jon
Since you are driving that automatic just be aware that if you are dropping down to 14 inch rims that if you don't go with a +1 size, you are going to throw the odometer reading off. You can download a speedometer app for your phone to check the calibration if you go that way. Not sure what changing the rim size will do to the performance and shift points.
Stick with the 70-series stock tire diameter & circumference. I went to 60-series and it adds another 400 RPM on the freeway. A little too frantic . . . .
Blimey Dougal, your slipping mate , I expected you to find this thread a lot earlier especially as the title is Tyre Size ... come on, get it together........
Good job, Dougal! Odd though the sometimes may seem, we now have whole generations of people without even basic mechanical skills. Perhaps even worse for us is that we have a significant portion of genuine car enthusiasts who never learned to drive a manual shift transmission. Watching one of these little snowflakes confront starting on a modest hill in something like an MGB old Ford pickup (hopefully never an Alfa) car is a lesson in low comedy . . . so long as there's no traffic around. While he's having a lot of fun, your son's also acquiring some very practical mechanical skills.
That 14 year old one in his Granma's GN is fascinated by engineering, so i have bought him an Austin 7 special that is in my garage that we are working on to get right.
Here he is again presenting our home made vintage version of top gear, where he plays Jeremy Clarkson and i play the producer, while his 2 brothers I guess when that was made Burt in the Saloon would have been 14, Stan in the Chummy 10.
I have brainwashed my children from a young age to a discerning taste in cars and to scoff at front wheel drive cars
I might also point out that i would still fit a 165HR14 CA67 or 165HR14 XAS to a spider.
I haven't changed my stance just because someone now, for the first time in a long time, actually makes, the only appropriate low profile tyre for these cars. I still think a period 165HR14 is best. However if you really want fatter tyres then the 185/70VR14 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 is the only completely suitable road tyre. because it is a period tyre it won't spoil the handling as much as any other wider tyre would.
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