It's getting harder and harder to find the right tires for these cars (load and speed ratings) on a 14 inch rim size. Moving up to 15 inch improves this significantly.

__________________
With best regards

Al

I suspect that in foreign countries this may be less of a problem.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I would agree for performance ratings, but I would not be sure on load ratings. Very few big bodied cars such as our have been sold with anything less then 15 inch wheels over the last 20 years or so.

I believe that Khumo sells a H rated tire in this size and you can get a V rated Michelin's in 215/70/14 from Coker tires for $486.00 each.

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With best regards

Al

Yeah, but just try finding high quality tires in a 185/80R13, to fit 13-inch Fintail rims. The new B F Goodrich tires I put on my '60 220Sb feel like marshmallows compared to the Pirellis that came with the car, but the Pirellis were 13 years old and starting to dry-rot. Many years ago, I had a Pirelli with fewer years on it, come apart on my '67 Sunbeam Alpine, fortunately without causing an accident.
When I decide to switch to my 14-inch rims, hopefuly I'll have a better tire selection availible for my Fintail, than the few offbrand or discontinued tires that were availible in the 13-inch sizes.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Yep, it's not fun, I put continentals on my 6.9 and they are rubbish! I found myself going arse backwards while trying to overtake more times then I care to count.

I have a set of AMG Pentas and some brand new 16 inch tires that I plan to install on my 6.9. This should vastly improve it's road holding abilities.

__________________
With best regards

Al

You'd think that winding up backwards would be more of an issue with an old swing-axle sedan like my Fintail. Actually, my car rode and handled great with the Pirellis. I only replaced them because of their age, my previous experience with an old Pirelli, and an NBC news story about the safety of old tires. That case involved a ten year old, but low mileage and visually perfect tire, on a vintage Sunbeam Tiger. The tire blew out on an interstate trip near Saint Louis, with tragic consequences.
Last time I checked, I could still get a whole SET of Michelins in a 185 or 205/70R14 size, at Sam's Club, for way under $486! I don't think my Fintail really needs V-rated tires. I'm very pleased with the nearly-new 14-inch Michelin X tires that came on my 240D.
Maybe I can still find a set for my Fintail.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Well, I stopped by Sam's Club yesterday and they have plenty of Micheln X tires in 195/70R14 but none in a 185. They have 185s in Goodyear and B F Goodrich, but my recent experience with the Goodriches makes me reluctant to try those. Lately I haven't been driving the Fintail much anyway so I'm not ready to upgrade the wheels/tires yet.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I have 195's on my W108 and it drives great.

__________________
With best regards

Al

185/70 R14 is easy to get. In fact, it was/is almost a reference tire in the tire industry. Having gone through a quest for my MGB's spare tire recently, the smallest size in R14 I found was 175 (MGBs used to come with 155 or 165 R14).

R13s are also still available. Some new small cars (Japanese) use that size.

Bert

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'70 111 280SE/c 3.5 (4 spd manual) - sold
'63 MGB
'73 MGBGT V8