A 70 series 13 inch tire would turn our 220s into low-riders, plus increase highway rpms on our (already high revving) engines.

I didn't make it out this weekend to look at those alleged Yokahama 185/80R13 tires.
Today, with 4 inches of snow and salt, it's gong to be at least a week before 'Miss Daisy' leaves my driveway.

If those Yokahamas don't pan out, I'm still leaning towards uprating to 14" rims and tires.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

I have a couple of ads from Sears that I kept since Christmas. They CLEARLY indicate they have 185/80-13. In fact, depending on the ad, they cost between $90 - $100 per set of 4. So there! What does that mean? They do have them or don't? Inquiring minds want to know!

-Walt...

Maybe those ads were a tease and Sears didn't expect anyone to actually WANT that $100 set.
Anyway, that sale is over. According to my survey, my local Sears says they have 4 General 185/80R13 tires, for $276!

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

Sears did have 185/80-13s but they only had them in their who-knows-what-brand, Guardsman.

and
Tire Man quoted me $70 per for Toyo's touring tire.

just for your info 185/80x13 is 195/75x13
205/70x13 is 215/65x13
225/60 x13. all these size tires are the same height,maybe some minor differance between brands.
60 series are too wide for your rims but the 205/70x13 will fit and are the same height as the 185/80x13
if the tire is not marked 80, as in 185x13 it is still an 80 series

the R in the size means radial as in 185/80Rx13
205/70 would be the best footprint, 185 the best milage.
the 60's fit better on a 5.5 inch rim, but do fit on yours.but they would look wrong
hope this helps reading the ads . yokahama makes a great tire. they are owned by B.F.G. , which is a michlen company.( spelling may be wrong on michlen)
if possible get the H rated tires, they handle better. stiffer side wall. hope this is not too much info or confusing.
rich
ps,if your car did not come with radial tires,have the front end alined with more positive caster. a few more degrees or much as they can put in. this really helps with directional stability. rich

__________________
88 300E White, sold 9-04
88 190E Black 2.3 sold
90 300CE White, Grey sold 12-24-04
92 400E White,Grey Sold 5-06
90 300CE 91K Signal Red,Black Sold 2007
1989 300CE Smoke silver,Tan Sold 1-08
1993 300E 3.2 M104 motor
1991 300CE White,Grey
1994 E420 beautiful car,gone to new home
1994 E320 Smoke an Parchment.Beautiful car

Some of those wider tires don't fit an old SL. They'll rub and eat the eyebrows. Also, some of those wider sizes are not rated for the narrow 5 inch wheels most of us have. Many 50s sedans have 4.5 inch rims. You have to read the specs on the tire. Most 185/80x13s are tested on a 5 inch rim. They tend to be rated for 4.5 to 5.5 inch rims. Another weird thing is many 185/80x13 don't fit in the spare tire well. I have an ancient 6.40x13 with a tube for an extreme emergency sparema s it fits the spare tire well.

But, it is good to note these options. Someone may be able to use them on a fin mobile. Never know.

Thanks,
Walt...

Walt,
I was looking through my book 'Mercedes-Benz Production Models' and the original tire size given for the 190SL is '6.40x13 sport' but for my Finnie 220S, it's '7.25x13 sport' (whatever 'sport' means?). Yokahama's website said their 175/80R13 tires were still availible. I wonder if those would fit your spare tire well and be OK to run on your 190SL.
Here now, there's excessive amounts of slush and salt on the roads, so it's going to be awhile before 'Miss Daisy' makes it to 'Mr Tire'!

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

I can certainly vouch that the 185/80R13 radial tubeless tire is a very tough squeeze into the spare tire well on my 1959 ponton 220S. My care came with one when I bought it.

There are a couple of tire replacement articles on the ponton page at www.mbzponton.org.

If one calculates from the rolling diameter information in the tire section of the ponton 190 service manual, the original 6.70-13 ponton tires had an aspect ratio of about 83. The aspect ratio for the original 6.40-13 tires was only slightly less.

Some ponton owners have experienced interference problems when installing modern 185/80R13 radials. Others have not. That suggests the clearance, when turning, is small at the fender lip.

Firestone historical data indicate an aspect ratio of about 95 for its original 6.70-13 bias tires. That means a rather taller tire. I have to doubt that it would have fit pontons, given clearance issues at the fender lip. Period pictures of pontons do not suggest an extremely tall tire originaly. Neither do period pictures of finbacks.

Extremely few pontons in sold in Europe or North America originally came with the optional 15-inch tires. If 15 inch tires were an option for early fintails in lieu of 13-inch tires, I would assume the same thing.

__________________
Douglas
1959 M-B 220S cabriolet

I have a set of those 15 inch Ponton wheels. I'll look and see what tires are mounted. I got them frpm a car we referred to as out "Safari Car," as it was also fitted with undershields, window plastic with expansion joints and so forth. I have to find the calculation for tire diameter, as my feeble mind has forgotten at the moment.

"I understand the first thing to go is your mind and I forget the second,"
Walt...

The following tire comes in a 185/80-13
http://www.sumitomotire.com/theline/product.asp?id=18'
It is their SC 628

Since it is a 40,000 mile tire, it must be softer. I equate that, hopefully, with better grip.

Wadda ya think?

Walt...

Bump. So any one else found out anything? -Walt...

Lower warranty or softer rubber doesn't always mean better traction - if we were comparing slicks it would, but a lot of traction (especially wet!) is heavily dependent upon the tread pattern. 40K might mean that at 40K its wet traction becomes so unacceptable you NEED new tires or you lose control of it! Tread pattern looks very basic on that tire - it may have inferior wet traction brand new!

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

Well,"Miss Daisy' is still trapped in the driveway untill the snow and salt dries up.
(And more snow and ice forcast for Alexandria today!) I'm in Virgina Beach, escaping from the 'ice kingdom' for a week (just rain here) so I might not resume tire shopping 'till the spring thaw. Those 15 inch rims sound interesting. I wonder how well a set of 60 series 15 inch tires would work on that 190SL.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

well, i'm still shopping but i think i've narrowed down to two;
Kelly Springfield (Radial Max - 55,000 mile) which are made by GoodYear and sell for $51.95 per tire
or
Bridgestone Firestone (Insignia, 70,000) which sell for $61.95 per tire.

any thought on either...

I'd personally take the Bridgestone/Firestone over the Goodyears!

Of course, I'd do what I could to get a set of 14" (at least!) rims - 13" tires will only be that much HARDER to find next time you need tires!

What do you have, a Finny? I think they'd look good with the 14" bundt cakes!

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k