What is the advantage / disadvantage of running the optinal 205/70/14 vs. the standard size 195/75/14's?

My little 300D has good tread on the tires, but they are severely dry rotted. Needs new shoes once I get the little diesel motor running good.
I read reviews of tires on tirerack.com, and looks to me like the General Altimax is the way to go. I am not sure WHAT General tire they build here in Tennessee, but there is a General tire factory just a wee bit down the road from me.

I have no concern for winter weather handeling because if it gets bad outside in the winter, we have a 4wd GMC Envoy that is almost unstopable in snow. ( "Unstopable" could also be a BAD thing! lol !!!! )

205/70 would help improve handling characteristics and would also make your speedometer read just a hair off your actual speed.

I have 205/70's on my 1976 300D.

Michelin's would be a lot better than Generals

__________________
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1973 450SEL 119,200 miles

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

I would go with Michelins.

I think the differences would be pretty marginal based on size. I've had good Michelins and Michelins I've hated. No experience with General.

195's would be slightly narrower, less prone to hydroplaning, slightly higher real MPG (regardless of indicated speedo accuracy). 146 mm sidewalls

205's maybe better handling, maybe/maybe not better ride, slightly heavier. A little shorter sidewall, so maybe a bit worse looking in the arches due to increased space/gap (tough to say, since it's a tiny difference) 143 mm sidewalls

Which model would you recommend?

I got a set of Michelin X-radials from Costco about 3 years ago. I love those tires, very smooth on the highway and after 3 years show very little wear.

__________________
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1973 450SEL 119,200 miles

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

The proper size for your car is 195/70 NOT 75,

75-series tires are non-speed rated tires for 'merikun cars only and no European car has ever been fitted with them.

You've obviously chosen General because it's the lowest-price tire in the size you were searching. You'll simply get what you pay for.

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '06 SLK350

I run 205 70 14 fronts and 215 70 14 rear on my SD.Cooper tires.

__________________
1983 300 SD strait exhaust,wrapped also,true cold air,monark injectors,no ALDA .15psi summer winter 18 psi

1999 S320 cold air intake,one muffler,Nitrous kit 125
shot ,ceramic brake pads,removed belly pan,hood slats,and modified grille for cooler air.
no kittens Denso plugs 170f thermostat,best time so far 14.5 in the 1/4. wrapped exhaust, Borla'muff
215 55 16 front tires The Runaway Files by Tennessee Nate

I ran Dunlops of this size for about a year with no obvious changes to handling, speedometer accuracy or fuel effieceny. My MPG has dropped a little, but my '77 non-turbo 300D was due for a fuel system cleansing.
Only problem was a broken-belt-blowout, and it was easier to switch to a good donor set of factory size 195/70 r14

The 205 cleared all fenders just fine and looked pretty good I think. Now the 195s seem so small on the w123 body!

Pics of the 205's attached

ignore the mismatched color of my replacement fender

The remaining 3 tires are listed locally:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/pts/2532500363.html

Attached Thumbnails

   

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1984 300TD Euro 4speed 283k to stay virgin diesel/biodiesel for now
1977 300D "FANTA" 212k Elsbett SVO single tank conversion 50,000 french fry miles For Sale NOW, inquire within

1981 300TD "Silver bullet" 285k ran B100 Sold!
1984/5 300TD running wagon Donor plus tons of parts...

Other toys:
1995 Dodge 2500 Cummins 12V P7100 Bosch mechanical pump with 2 tank veggieconversion kit, only 90k!
2006 Highlander Hybrid
1959 Cadillac Dad's legacy, needs finishing

I have been running 195/75s Michelin X-radials from Costco for some time and love them. The spedos on both my "daily driver" 123s are almost right on, still reading a couple mph slow at upper freeway speeds.

__________________
Steve



1985 Euro 300TD 5 spd 218K
1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 120K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
1964 VW bug

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. P.J. O'Rourke