Tyre size
Author
Discussion

Jim Mackay

Original Poster:

18 posts

246 months

Tuesday 26th July 2011
quotequote all
Hi all.
I need to replace the 175 SR 15 tyres on my 2500M before I get it back on the road. Local tyre shed tells me the modern replacement is 175/80 R15
but they can't supply tyres that size, so I'll need to get new wheels....!!
Surely not!
What rubber do you guys have fitted on your standard 15 inch alloys?

Cheers
Jim

GAjon

3,929 posts

230 months

Tuesday 26th July 2011
quotequote all
If you go on Blackcircles.com they have a tyre finder filter, type in the size you want and it'll return what they have available, to give you an idea.

Start with the actual size you want then if you have no luck start playing about with near alternatives.

My M origonaly had 14" wheels and I'd have to say 185 x 80 x 15 seems a bit tall.

I'd have thought 185 x 70 x 15, 195 x 70 15 or 205 x 60 x 15 range would still be OK.

heightswitch

6,322 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Sounds Like Jim is running an early 70's M on 15" vixen wheels.

If that is the case the original size would have been a 165 x 15

You can come down to a 65 profile and still have enough tyre filling the wheel arch. a 195 / 65 / 15 Yokohama is a good tyre to run on that size rim but be careful about width, some people will tell you you can go up to a 205 / 60 / 15 but the tyre will roll around on the rim and in my opinion switching to a 60 profile reduces the tyre in the arch too much.

I would go for 195 / 65 / 15 which is a good balance..No wider though.

Sorry just edited my post, checked back and my last Yokos were 195 not 185 as first posted.

N.


Edited by heightswitch on Wednesday 27th July 10:18

phillpot

17,392 posts

200 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Jim Mackay said:
so I'll need to get new wheels....!!
Total nonsense ! There are still thousands of old/classic cars running around on comparatively narrow (by modern standards) 15" wheels.


But just out of interest what size wheels did they suggest you buy ???

Try "Blackcircles", as suggested, or "Camskill"

Moto

1,273 posts

270 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Jim, If you're running Vixen 15" wheels on your 'M', then I have run 195/65 Yoko C-drive2's on this wheel for the past 6 months. They look really good and fill the arch nicely. They also drive really well and at 195 don't rub on the body or steering joints of a Vixen. You could look at your existing tyres on full lock and see how much space you have around the tyre to gauge if you could go to 195 on the 'M'.

Moto

moluag

91 posts

179 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Jim, I, like Moto, have run with 195/65/R15 Yokohama C drives on my Tuscan V6 with original alloys for over a year now.

I bought mine from TyreTraders, and have been very pleased with them.

Mike


Jim Mackay

Original Poster:

18 posts

246 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Hi all.
Many thanks for your very helpful advice.
The local tyre shed recommended me to go to a classic tyre specialist.
I then contacted Black Circles who did likewise as well as offering to work out appropriate tyres if I sent them my wheel measurements.
I thought I would go to the practical experts (you guys!) rather than embark down the theoretical route.
Thanks again!
Cheers
Jim

thegamekeeper

2,282 posts

299 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
"Classic" tyres start at expensive and go to very expensive.

Fiscracer

585 posts

227 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
FWIW I run 185/70/15 Avon ZZs on my Grantura. They fit in the wheelarch nicely and gearing is approximately the same. Mind you they are b***** expensive. 195 Yokos also just fit if you have the correct offset for the rear arches

HTH

R

thegamekeeper

2,282 posts

299 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
Fiscracer said:
FWIW I run 185/70/15 Avon ZZs on my Grantura. They fit in the wheelarch nicely and gearing is approximately the same. Mind you they are b***** expensive. 195 Yokos also just fit if you have the correct offset for the rear arches

HTH

R
Avons are a great wet tyres but even in a Scottish summer wont last very long so not really an option

Cerberus90

1,553 posts

230 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
quotequote all
We run the 195 yoko c drives on our 1600M too.

Excellent tyre. Run four trackdays on it, its been driven pretty hard, and the tyres are still fine.

Plenty of grip, fill the arches nicely, although ours did rub a little on on of the arches when at full lock, but we raised the ride height a tad and it sorted it.

thegamekeeper

2,282 posts

299 months

Saturday 30th July 2011
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Just offered Jim a set of 4 185/65/15 Yoko C drives, about 1000 miles old but because he lives nearer to Norway than England the logistics of getting them are difficult. £120 anyone but you will need to collect or arrange carrier. Telephone if interested, numbers in profile.