I have got a 1966 230S that I am restoring to a "nice" weekend driver / take to local events, etc. I have finished with the painting and presently re-installing the engine, transmission, chrome trim, bumpers & lights.

I have started a search for 13" tires. It appears that most of the major tire folks have quit making a 185 80 13 whitewall tire (that was what I purchased about 6 years ago). The only two tires I can find (that are not $173 each like Coker Tire offers) are a 185 70 13 and a 175 70 13. Both are blackwalls. One is a Hankook 714 and the other is a Hankook 724 and cost between $53 and $58 each which is more to my "budget" than the $173 each. The 714 was recently discontinued, but my tire guy found 53 in stock at a Hankook warehouse. When they are gone, that's it for the 185 70 13 and will only leave the 175 70 13 option.

Has anyone found a 13" tire (whitewall) that is close in size to the 185 80 13? I have a new set of 13" trim rings and nicely painted hubcaps and really do not want to upsize to 14" wheels and tires.

Tom

Tom - have you seen the tire article on the Ponton Page - http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/technical/tireguide2.htm

Firestone FXR380's were available until a few months ago. You may still be able to find them in the 185 80R13 size. They come with a narrow whitewall.

A 13" tire is available via Canadian tire shops too if you have a connection/source to get them from up there. Can't remember the manufacturer. Maybe it was Hankook?

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Might wanna upgrade to 14" wheels.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I just got finish performing an very exhaustive search for the Firestone FR380s ---- 185/80r13 sized tires.

PM sent.

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Looks like Firestone offers a whitewall tire as daw_two said, and Cooper offers a blackwall (Trendsetter SE).

I found the Firestone FR380s in 185/80r13 but I did a LOT of looking. None of the major warehouses had 5, I did buy two locally here in Memphis, but drove to Starkville, MS for the other 4.

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

The '66 230 I just bought had brand new tires. The PO said that he got them at Sears and the tires were made in Korea and were OEM for Ford.

Anyway, they are Guardsman III P185/80R13 90S M+S.

These, I believe, are the spec tires for the 230.

__________________
1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"

Thanks to everyone. The search continues!!! I will post my results.

Tom

I guess I'm lucky to have 185/80R13s on my fintail. Though, they are from 2003, so they are getting old, but still have lots of tread. My roomate has this same tire on his fintail; they are Metric Radial brand or something. People say to upgrade to 14" wheels but it seems like you can't find 14" tires, either! I had a hard time finding the proper (or as close as I could get) 195/75R14 for my 300SD.

__________________
Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/

DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!


1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles

I'm using 14" on mine and plan to use 15" later. I have a set of wide rims from a C126 and will use 225/50 - 15's. These cars need wider tires. One of my cars has 14" Bunts from a W123 300D.

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

I went through this with my '60 220S Fintail several years ago. My car had some fine performing 13" Pirellis, but they were 13 years old and dry-rotting. At the time, none of the major 'quality' tire brands had 185/80R13 tires availible, but some of the local tire-stores, like NTB, had house-brand tires that size. I wound up buying a set of discontinued BF Goodriches at Sam's Club. Unfortunately, they never handled as well as the old Pirellis.

I've since been told that Coker has reissue "13 Michelins availible - for about $300 each!

If I had to do it today, I would upgrade to 14" rims. The W108 14" steel rims used on the early Pagoda SL and the '65 - '68 250/280S/SE have the three nubs pressed in to their centers to attach your small Fintail hub-caps. But of course they won't accept your 13" trim-rings. You'll need to find some acceptable "14 rings. Perhaps from the Pagoda SL or the early W108 sedans.

There are still some decent choices in 14" radials. Last year, I got a couple sets Of 195/70R14 Michelin-X tires for two of my W123 diesels from Sam's Club. $70 each, with a $70 instant-rebate per-set of four.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

Have you tried whitewall inserts w/ a normal black tire?

Well, if you look long enough, you will find what you are looking for - or at least that's what I've been told. I finally found a source of 185-80-13 white wall tires. They are Maxxis (I have that brand on my 300SEL 4.5) and the cost was not too bad - about $100each including shipping.

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

Tom

Are they the wide white wall tires or small white? If they're real white walls, then that's a heck of a deal compared to the Coker tires.

Regards,

David

__________________
_____________________________________________

2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

_____________________________________________

No, they are not the wide whitewall, but are the 5/8 inch version. They are modern, radial type tires and the 'picture' looks like the tread pattern is very nice. I was just about to use some early 108 wheels with the small hubcap and smooth trim rings. It turns out that 195-70-14 tires are almost exactly the same height and the revs/mile are within about 1%. But, as it turns out, I can replace the tires on the car and keep the original wheels and trim rings.

Tom