New Shoes For Miss Daisy - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Walter59SL · #31 12-01-2003, 11:32 PM

Sears has a (holiday?) sale on Guardsman tires. 185/80-13 as a set of 4 are $99 with a limit of 5 tires per customer. Coker tires are typically crap bias plys. Look vintage and drive vintage. My 190SL wants 6.40x13 and my 185/80-13 Michelins with 1000 miles on them are like 15 years old. I do not want to drive those. I especially do not want to change wheels. A 190SL just doesn't look right with 14 inch wheels. HATE IT, actually!

So are the Kumhos the tires to get? Most of the rest look pretty cheesy. Tire Rack has some and so does Discount / Americas Tire in 185/80-13. http://www.tirerack.com and http://www.tires.com

TIA,
Walt...

joshhol · #32 12-02-2003, 12:05 AM

Walt,

I think when I looked at tirerack.com, they came back with Goodyear Trailer tires in that size.

Either Kumho's or the Kelly-Springfields for me. I'm not sure which one is better. Firestone might have one in that size, if you want to trust them.

Those Guardsmen's must be lousy tires, no?

Mark DiSilvestro · #33 12-02-2003, 12:07 AM

I haven't made a final decision on tires/rims. Cheapie 13 inch radials would probaby be safer from catastrophic failure than my 11 year old Pirellis but would probaly be mediocre performers. If I had to choose betwen Kumhos or Kelly-Springfields I'd go with the Kellys. I've used them before (in a 14" size on my 250) and they were OK.

If I can find a decent set of 14" rims, I would have a much better choice of tires and probably improve my handling too. !4" rims on my 220S would look less out of place than they would on a 190SL. I would prefer to have my original hubcaps and, if they can be found, a set of 14" trim rings similar to what Mercedes used in the '60s. I've never been really fond of the Bundt style alloys, though I think they would look much better on my 250C than on my Fintail. For now, I'm mostly deferring my rim and tire quest until after New Years.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Walter59SL · #34 12-02-2003, 01:54 PM

14 inch wheels off a 108 car will work with the small hup caps. I wish I knew (picture) what a Bundt type wheel was? I could use 113 or 108 wheels with the 14 inch trim rings. Which is a similiar setup to the 190SL. Another interesting thing to do is the following: http://www.190slgroup.com/tech/images/rob_car2.jpg the cap is held one like this: http://www.190slgroup.com/tech/timeline/pics/tl_60_hubcapclip.jpg which is supposed to be a 300TD aluminum wheel modified with the early clips.

My search is for a reasonably priced decent 13 inch tire in the 185/80-13 size.

Walt...

Walter59SL · #35 12-02-2003, 04:44 PM

Kumho makes a Touring A/S in 185/80-13. Discount Tire is a dealer. http://www.kumhousa.com/Products/PtnDetails.asp?mainCatID=1&PTNID=795&refAction=PtnDetail the cost is $56 each.

-Walt

Walter59SL · #36 01-01-2004, 04:06 PM

Anybody made any 13 inch tire decisions or buys?
My 190SL will be going for final paint in the next weeks.
I wll then powder paint a set of 13 inch wheels
IF
I can make a decision on the tires.

Thanks,
Walt....

dieseldiehard · #37 01-01-2004, 05:08 PM

Bundt wheels look lke Cake Pans (pic attached)
As for tires, I always buy mine from Discounttiresdirect, they are part of America's Tires, will provide a warranty that America's honors too if you specify (and pay a few extra clams for).
They stock Yokohama Avids in the 185-70-13 I've heard good things about this tire, will that size work for you?
see: http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?step=details&source=brand&index=3&productCodeIndex=43697
DDH

Mark DiSilvestro · #38 01-01-2004, 06:08 PM

The 185/70R13s would fit my rims but they're a smaller outside diameter and would add more engine RPMs to what my (already high-revving) engine now turns at highway speeds. If I decide to stay with 185/80R13 tires, I'm going to try Kelly-Springfields. NTB doesn't carry the Kellys but I'm told they're still availible, in my area, from Merchants Tire.

Happy Motoring, Mark

dieseldiehard · #39 01-01-2004, 06:40 PM

I had a chance to buy a new set of Pirelli P6000 in 185-65-14
Although smaller than spec tires (in terms of diameter) my speedometer already read fast, so my reasoning was that these would slightly correct the reading, but I was wrong it didn't seem to make much difference. The tires DO handle very well, which is what I demand from a tire.
For some G%^&D reason Pirelli has stopped making tires in the 14 inch size I used to buy (P400 touring and both P4000 and P6000 Sport Veloce)
It's a loss that I will have to overcome by buying another brand next time

DDH
PS. I think Yokohama will be the tire I eventually migrate to, when the Pirellis wear out (not for a long time though!)

Walter59SL · #40 01-04-2004, 03:04 AM

Too make things right the 190SL really needs those bigger tires. 185/80-13 or 6.40-13 or 7.50-13. The later 2 are ancient sizes and can only be gotten in expensive remake tires that typically are pretty bad for normal driving.

Why the Kellys?

BTW: Sears dropped the price to $94 for 4 tires. They might be Kellys, for all I know. I will be asking about those tires.

My sights at the moment are on the Kumhos A/S, for now.

Walt.....

Mark DiSilvestro · #41 01-04-2004, 09:39 AM

Walter,
I've been satisfied with the Kelly Metric 205/70R14s that I've used on my '72 250 and my '87 Isuzu pickup. I don't know anything about Kumhos.
That $94 set of Sears tires sounds similar to the cheapo NTB brand tires, but the 185/80R13 Kellys might be a cheapo tire too. I need to go look at the Sears and Kelly tires first, then decide wether to stick with 13" rims or upgrade to 14s.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Walter59SL · #42 01-11-2004, 05:07 PM

Turns out Toyo makes a 185/80-13 too. It is in their 800 or 8000 Ultra. I saw it listed on their site. Toyos tend to be good tires too. So got to find out where I can get those and how much theiy cost.

Happy hunting,
Walt...

joshhol · #43 04-05-2004, 05:48 PM

Les Schwab carries those Toyos, $59 a piece locally. Supposedly they are 100,000 mile tires. With that kind of life span, they will expire from age before I put that kind of mileage on them. Maybe I'll get the Kelly's if dollar/tire is less.
Should I allow Les Schwab to attempt to align the fintail, or look for someone else?

Mark DiSilvestro · #44 04-05-2004, 07:33 PM

I got home this evening and found my old thread 'revived' so -
Many thanks to Chuck Taylor for saving me the 14 inch wheels off his W108 parts car.
(Actually, the 68 280S that I found for him when he began his 250C stickshift conversion) Instead of gambling on 13 inch ones from the bottom of the barrel, I'll be able to get some REAL tires. It will so nice to be able to shop for quality tires again. I think I'll get Pirellis. The 14 inch rims also have the little center nubs so I can install my original Fintail hubcaps - the best solution I could have hoped for.

Happy Motoring, Mark

joshhol · #45 04-05-2004, 09:45 PM

Hey Mark,
I just read the Bridgestone Review thread and am glad I did before making an appointment. I'll check the tread width and depth on the Toyo's, which I think I'm going to go ahead and put on my car. I've heard good things about them and the price is pretty good.
What do you think about alignment though? Maybe I'll find someplace a little less generic.