Help needed - Tyres for 1600M

[Harry1972M]

Can anyone tell me what tyres I should go for, correct size etc for my 1972 1600M, have been refurbing car for 12 months and the tyres which are on have been sitting flat for 10 years, they are also all different. The wheels are the Vixen type.

[bigtone]

Any idea on the current sizes/ratios? Any info on the wheels at all?

I'd guess you wouldn't particularly need a very high performance (V rated or above) tyre, so there should be a fair amount of choice about, as long as the profile isn't very high...

[Harry1972M]

I was rather hoping someone could tell me what size and ratio etc I require as beleive it or not there are different size tyres on the car - i think the majority are 185 R 15. The only thing I can tell you about the wheels are that they are the same as the ones fitted to late Vixen i.e. the black finned type.

[B16 RFF]

Harry1972M said:

I was rather hoping someone could tell me what size and ratio etc I require as beleive it or not there are different size tyres on the car - i think the majority are 185 R 15. The only thing I can tell you about the wheels are that they are the same as the ones fitted to late Vixen i.e. the black finned type.

Just checked 4 contemporary road tests for cars with that type of wheel. All quote 165x15, with the exception of a V8 Tuscan, which had 185x15.
Later t-slot wheels used 185x14 HR rating, 80 profile at first, then 70 series.

HTH

Paul.

>> Edited by B16 RFF on Wednesday 21st April 11:07

>> Edited by B16 RFF on Wednesday 21st April 11:09

>> Edited by B16 RFF on Wednesday 21st April 15:37

[timelord]

I have tried all sorts of tyres over the years on the black pig.I still occasionally put the original finned type wheels on with a 165 80 profile tyre as per standard fit but boy are they scary!Most of the time I use a set of 6"Revolution wheels with a wider and lower tyre.Ideal size is 185/70 but they are like hen's teeth now,I am currently on 195/65HR Yokohamas 60 profiles tend to tramline as do anything wider than 195s.There is a resonable choice of 185+195/65 tyres for many of the current hot hatch types,you need at least an HR rated tyre for the cornering forces as opposed to ultimate straight line speed.

[mawds]

That's just answered all my questions as well (same wheels) - cheers, folks. Incidentally I've currently got 165/80s on the Vixen, Continentals and still available, but as the man says above - scary, especially if the pressures are low....

[harry1972M]

Thanks everyone for the info - Are we saying that if I wanted to keep the original wheels then my only real option is to go for the 165/80 HR tyre or can I keep the wheels and use a different size tyre which is less scary ???????????

[mawds]

Live on the edge.....(or the sidewall)

175s or 185s will fit easily onto the finned wheels, though - just tell Mr Insurance when you've done it.

[harry1972M]

Cheers Mawds,
I have phoned around for a few quotes but everyone is saying why 80s - they all seem to want to sell me 185/65/15 - will these be OK ?

[Coala]

On my 2500 I used to have 195/50/15 but went back to 165/80/15 just to keep to the original look. Both works but I do not need to tell you which ones I prefer on a track day

[mawds]

Try the dunlop website - they certainly make the "classic" SP Sport, and there's a dealer contact as well (something like vintagetyres.com, I think), but the continentals on the vixen were from National, although they had trouble balancing them on the modern equipment (you have to take the plastic discs off the centre to get them on the balancing kit - hence the lack of them on the photo in my profile, it was a couple of days after the new tyres went on)

[harry1972M]

Mawds,
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for the continentals- have just had a couple of quotes for 185/80/15T - Kwik fit want £186 each and charlie browns want £500 for four, have been in touch with blackcircles.com and can get Kumho's for £45 each. What do you think.

[mawds]

I paid (i think) £54 each for the continentals from National. Kwik Fit must have some really special tyres to charge that for them (I remember similar last time I was looking).
Oh - remember to take the centre discs off before you take the car to have the tyres fitted - this limits 16yo with screwdriver damage.
I can go out to the garage and read off the exact model if you're still on...

>> Edited by mawds on Tuesday 4th May 23:12

[harry1972M]

Thanks Mawds, obviously not on line at the time, have arranged for the Kumhos to be fitted tomorrow, have already removed the centres for the same reason you mentioned, Thick fit fitter was at them on sunday with a screwdriver until I dashed out of the waiting area and simply turned his screwdriver round and knocked them out from the inner side, much to his amazement ( scary ) !!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Nice looking Vixen by the way.

[mawds]

cheers

although if we ever meet you'll realise it's a really good photo of a shabby car! (but it's getting there)