280i Tyre Question
Discussion
My 1986 280i has just ticked over 30k miles and I'm getting a little vibration at around 65mph. The tyres have plenty of tread but they look fairly old and given the low mileage I'm guessing they might have been on the car for quite a few years. So I decided to change them.
The fronts are 195/65 R14's and the rears 206/60 R14. Does anyone know if that's correct and how the car would have left the factory?
Thanks. Paul
The fronts are 195/65 R14's and the rears 206/60 R14. Does anyone know if that's correct and how the car would have left the factory?
Thanks. Paul
http://m.discounttire.com/dtcs/tires/pirelli/home....
Check out these guys.
didnt have a zip code so couldnt get a price. no idea if they are any good either; they came up on google.
I'm in Scotland and had trouble getting the right size. Although if i was patient and waited a week they would have been delivered.
I think the ones i got are too wee and could do with being bigger, not just from a driving point but they look to skinny.
marcus
Check out these guys.
didnt have a zip code so couldnt get a price. no idea if they are any good either; they came up on google.
I'm in Scotland and had trouble getting the right size. Although if i was patient and waited a week they would have been delivered.
I think the ones i got are too wee and could do with being bigger, not just from a driving point but they look to skinny.
marcus
unrepentant said:
Thanks Marcus. Just my luck as 205/60 R14's seem to be a very rare tyre here in the US!
I thought you were trade?There's the Hoosier R6 at Tire Rack
Or for under 60 bucks a corner put "nankang" and "205 60 14" in advanced search.
Easy tire probably has them if you don't want to plough through E-Bay.
jeff m2 said:
I thought you were trade?
There's the Hoosier R6 at Tire Rack
Or for under 60 bucks a corner put "nankang" and "205 60 14" in advanced search.
Easy tire probably has them if you don't want to plough through E-Bay.
I'm not sure the Hoosier R6 is altogether street legal Jeff. There's the Hoosier R6 at Tire Rack
Or for under 60 bucks a corner put "nankang" and "205 60 14" in advanced search.
Easy tire probably has them if you don't want to plough through E-Bay.

What do you run on yours? I think I'm just going to let my service department tire order me 4 Nankangs, they seem to be preferable to the Falkens or the Generals.
unrepentant said:
jeff m2 said:
I thought you were trade?
There's the Hoosier R6 at Tire Rack
Or for under 60 bucks a corner put "nankang" and "205 60 14" in advanced search.
Easy tire probably has them if you don't want to plough through E-Bay.
I'm not sure the Hoosier R6 is altogether street legal Jeff. There's the Hoosier R6 at Tire Rack
Or for under 60 bucks a corner put "nankang" and "205 60 14" in advanced search.
Easy tire probably has them if you don't want to plough through E-Bay.

What do you run on yours? I think I'm just going to let my service department tire order me 4 Nankangs, they seem to be preferable to the Falkens or the Generals.

I did think to he done it to make the steering lighter (no pas), but the loss in handling doesnt make it worth it in my opinion.
Wish i had put 205s on, at the time i didnt know what the correct size and had just bought the car. only done about 1000 miles and am loathe to bin them after such little mileage and £400!
track day calling perhaps.
marcus
Wish i had put 205s on, at the time i didnt know what the correct size and had just bought the car. only done about 1000 miles and am loathe to bin them after such little mileage and £400!
track day calling perhaps.
marcus
marcus1875 said:
I did think to he done it to make the steering lighter (no pas), but the loss in handling doesnt make it worth it in my opinion.
Wish i had put 205s on, at the time i didnt know what the correct size and had just bought the car. only done about 1000 miles and am loathe to bin them after such little mileage and £400!
track day calling perhaps.
marcus
That was the only reason that I could think of. The steering is monstrously heavy even with 195's on the front! I'm going to put the 205's all round.Wish i had put 205s on, at the time i didnt know what the correct size and had just bought the car. only done about 1000 miles and am loathe to bin them after such little mileage and £400!
track day calling perhaps.
marcus
unrepentant said:
That was the only reason that I could think of. The steering is monstrously heavy even with 195's on the front! I'm going to put the 205's all round.
Before you buy the 205s, I would pull the 205s from the rear and put them on the front.Just to make sure there is no clearance probs (those springs are old!!!)
If you have access to an alignment lift (those ones with all the crap on them with separate hydraulics for the suspension and body) you should be able to diagnose what is making it so heavy.
The mini UJ being a favourite, if not, pop out a tie rod end to check if the hubs have got a bit stiff.
My car is heavy at parking speed, but ok to drive.
If you don't find a problem then maybe a gym membership is on the books

Good advice, thanks Jeff. The previous owner was so pedantic with this car and it's so immaculate that I doubt anything is amiss. I'm going to order some tires and get my guys to fit them and give it an alignment at the same time. (We have a funky new machine just installed). The car is fine at any sort of speed, just hellish heavy at parking speeds.
There are some tyres of the correct size out there, but not from the companies we know.
onlinetires.com lists a few; the Federal SS-595 has the best specs but very varied reviews. About $300 for a set of four shipped to my door
Local to me, dalestires.net lists several and his prices are generally very good. But some are for narrow rims.
My son had to change two of the Federals that came on his M5 to Nankangs; the Nankangs are better.
I am still trying to decide. I have time as mine isn't leaving my driveway for a while.
Wilf.
onlinetires.com lists a few; the Federal SS-595 has the best specs but very varied reviews. About $300 for a set of four shipped to my door
Local to me, dalestires.net lists several and his prices are generally very good. But some are for narrow rims.
My son had to change two of the Federals that came on his M5 to Nankangs; the Nankangs are better.
I am still trying to decide. I have time as mine isn't leaving my driveway for a while.
Wilf.
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