Dunlop D65

[jbrasile]

I am posting this for the second time since no one replied in my first attempt.
I am shopping for tires for my 1980 450SEL.
Standard size 205/70HR14. Would like to go to 215/70-14 as in the 6.9 but there are no H rated tires on that size. Dunlop makes the D65 T rated and I would like to know if anynone has ever had any experience with that tire. I have always used MXV4's but they do not come on 215/70-14 so I thought I'd give the D65's a try.
Any suggestions?
Thank you and regards,
Joe Brasileiro
1980 450SEL

[Luke@tirerack]

Actually you would be better off with an "H" 205 than a "T" rated 215. The handling that you might gain with the 215 would be lost in the excessive sidewall deflection of a "T" rated tire. The wider "T" rated tire would handle worse.

Thanks, Luke

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Luke Pavlick
Performance Specialist (ASE Certified Master Tech)
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[jbrasile]

Luke, thank you for the advice. However I decided to go ahead and give the D65's 215/70-14 a try. Bought them from the rack and they arrived today. Had them mounted and put about 60 miles on the new tires this afternoon. So far very impressed, excellent ride/noise qualities as well as handling. Feel better in fact than the MXV4's I had on the car. The fronts were only 30% worn and the rears about 60% but the D65's though not H rated feel better so far.
Thank you again for the help.
Regards,
Joe Brasileiro
1980 450SEL
1987 Jaguar XJ6