Tyres - What Choice for 14" Wheels

[v8s4me]

I'm finding it difficult to source new tyres for the 14" wheels. None of the leading brands seem to offer anything in this size, 205/60 VR14.



The local tyre fitters has come up with Nankang Comfort XR611 at £250 for 4 fitted. I've done a bit of research on Nankangs here on PH and opinion varies from "total crap" to "bloody good tyres". Has anyone here fitted Nankangs to their Wedge and what's the verdict.

[mk1fan]

Morning Joe,

I had the Nankang NS-2R 'hard' compound fitted to the S for the last two S Club Tours and they are a really good tyre. Not yet used them in snow and ice. Trackday tyre but switches 'on' very quickly. Absolutely fine in the rain - as demonstrated on the last two tours!

Camskill have a 185/60 http://www.camskill.co.uk/m115b2512s702p0/Track_Da...

They are a different tyre to the NS-2 which has had universal poor reviews but is available in the 205/60 size.

There is a Hankook Kinergy Eco that I had fitted to the Box before a kindly soul assaulted them.
http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110...
195/60 though. Good tyre alround tyre on the Box - comparable to the Bluerinse.

Originality aside, you may wish to seek out a set of 15's for the car. Then the tyre options expand, slightly.

[mk1fan]

Sorry Joe, omitted to add that the NS-2R that were fitted to the S are now on Wendy and run fine.

[v8s4me]

Thanks for the feedback. I really like the wheels so I'm not planning to change them. So long as I can find tyres for them anyway!

[mk1fan]

Hankook ones then

[v8s4me]

Looking that way. I checked all of the leading 10 "branded" websites and none of them do a 14" tyre in 205 width.

[Tasmin200]

What about dropping to a 195/60 or 65? That gives you a bit more choice for quality tyres.

[v8s4me]

The marking on my wheels is 6.00Jx14 H2. So can I fit a 195/60 or 65 to my wheels?

[Tasmin200]

According to the Bible a 82 to 83 280 should have 195/60 14 H rated tyre.

A 195 is ideal for a 6" rim, in fact I'd say a 205 was slightly over tyred on 6". Fine on a 7" though.

Edited by Tasmin200 on Thursday 3rd November 17:31

[phillpot]

v8s4me said:

The marking on my wheels is 6.00Jx14 H2. So can I fit a 195/60 or 65 to my wheels?

205 is on the fat side for a skinny 6" rim .......... size guide


think about it, 205 is recommended width for your V8s and that's on 7" rims !

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 3rd November 17:59

[mrzigazaga]

I recall buying 195/60/14 for the 280i...There are a fair few to choose from...

I did buy the Zeetex but they were soft tyres which were good in the dry but very scary in the wet...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...

[v8s4me]

Tasmin200 said:

According to the Bible a 82 to 83 280 should have 195/60 14 H rated tyre.

phillpot said:

....205 is on the fat side for a skinny 6" rim ..........

My handbook lists 205/60VR14 for the 280.

Tasmin200 said:

What about dropping to a 195/60 or 65? ...

That's a brilliant suggestion! Thank you. This change opens up options from Continental (ContiPremiumContact 2), Bridgestone (TURANZA ER300) and Pirelli (Cinturato P1). Using Phillpot's size guide
indicates I could drop one more increment to 185 which opens up the Dunlop SPORT BLURESPONSE. This is a very good tyre.

Thanks again

Edited by v8s4me on Thursday 3rd November 20:05

[Tasmin200]

Naa, I've had a few cars in 185 tyres on 6" rims but if you want the original size I'd be buying a set of these:

https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/uniroyal/ra...

Or these:

https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/vredestein/...

I've used Tyreleader a few times, they are based in Germany but always had excellent service.

[Wedg1e]

IMHO even if you can get them, avoid Toyo Proxes like the plague.
I've had more grip on a baby-oiled Rachel Riley and the tread pattern is like reading Braille on the road surface.

[v8s4me]

Wedg1e said:

...... avoid Toyo Proxes like the plague.......

Toyo Proxes.....?



Never again! Mind you, there was a fair dose of stupidity and lack of talent involved as well

[mk1fan]

Cough, cough.

mk1fan said:

There is a Hankook Kinergy Eco that I had fitted to the Box before a kindly soul assaulted them.
http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110...
195/60 though. Good tyre alround tyre on the Box - comparable to the Bluerinse.

[v8s4me]

Thanks for the suggestion

[pasogrande]

Are Federal tyres available on your side of the pond?

Last time I researched 14" performance tires/tyres, the best I could find were Federal SS 595 All-Season Radial Tire 205/60R 14 89H. Reviews were okay.
I haven't bought them yet!

Wilf.

[v8s4me]

Funds permitting I'll probably go for the Bridgestone Turanza or Continental ContiPremiumContact 2. My daily driver has always run on Turanza's from new and I can't fault them. Unfortunately the DD will be needing new tyre in a few months as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the one about dropping a size

[v8s4me]

I now have a set of 15" wheels but before I splash out on a refurb and a new set of tyres I need an old 205/60/15 tyre to try on to see if it rubs the front wheel arch? Anyone got one and going to Duxford on Sunday? Thanks in advance