Steering, Suspension, & Brakes

tips, technology, tools and techniques related to non-driveline mechanical components

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tbo
Tim Body
St Thomas Ontario
(221 posts)

Registered:
01/27/2013 06:47PM

Main British Car:
1954 Triumph TR2 stock 2 litre

Tire size comparison
Posted by: tbo
Date: November 23, 2016 08:20PM

Just wondering about Michelin Defender tires. .Some almost new ones for sale 185 65 15 on kijiji .I.'m running 165 r 15's on my TR2 on TR6 rims and the wheel well looks properly filled out. I''ve got a TR3 project and want to know how close the overall height of the two tires would compare since smaller tires would affect the revs at higher speed. As everyone probably knows TR's rev high with stock tires as is let alone smaller tires.Any ideas on relative size .Any opinions on the tire itself . I'm not fussy on the tread design but it's not crucial. Thanks Tim


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: November 23, 2016 08:41PM

The 185/65-15 would be shorter.

[www.tirerack.com]

How much shorter? Use a tire size comparison calculator & use 82 as the aspect ratio for your 165s (165/82-15).


DiDueColpi
Fred Key
West coast - Canada
(1364 posts)

Registered:
05/14/2010 03:06AM

Main British Car:
I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now!

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: DiDueColpi
Date: November 23, 2016 10:33PM

There are lots of tire size calculators out there Tim.
I use the one at 1010tires.com.
Mostly because its a local company, but also because it lets me compare a few sizes at a time.
It also gives %age differences in mph readings which lightens the load on us old slide rule guys.

Cheers
Fred


tbo
Tim Body
St Thomas Ontario
(221 posts)

Registered:
01/27/2013 06:47PM

Main British Car:
1954 Triumph TR2 stock 2 litre

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: tbo
Date: November 24, 2016 10:45PM

Thanks guys .Will let you know


tbo
Tim Body
St Thomas Ontario
(221 posts)

Registered:
01/27/2013 06:47PM

Main British Car:
1954 Triumph TR2 stock 2 litre

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: tbo
Date: December 13, 2016 07:13PM

I've kind of decided to try to find some 165 80 15 radial tires to run on TR6 15 inch rims which is what I have on my old TR2. The only tread design I like is on the Nankang tire of that size and the only reviews I can find are from passenger car drivers of bigger size cars and tires that have bought Nankang tires.Besides that they are not very expensive even in American dollars. So what I'm saying is would anybody out there put them on a sports car for even slightly fast and spirited driving on an occasional basis Thanks Tim


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 14, 2016 12:06PM

I guess that would depend on your definition of spirited driving. You certainly would not be able to keep up on the tail of the Dragon with those tires.

If that is all you can find that works for your application, you should test them out in a vacant parking lot before hitting the back roads.


tbo
Tim Body
St Thomas Ontario
(221 posts)

Registered:
01/27/2013 06:47PM

Main British Car:
1954 Triumph TR2 stock 2 litre

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: tbo
Date: December 14, 2016 08:06PM

Hi Carl . Thanks for the reply. What makes you say that? Are they a poorly constructed tire or are you saying 165 is not wide enough? My TR2 has Kelly Springfield 165 R 15 tires and they have always been fine bit not available anymore.I used to drive around 80 mph when I was younger.Still do but much slower in corners due to my age and reaction time. Also Canadian driving fines have gone way up so it risky business. I want to sell this car when its finished and want to have safe rubber on it . 195 65 15 is available in a better grade of tire but almost too big for the look or a classic TR3 ..I decided 185 70 R 15 would be just right but nobody makes that size anymore.Sorry to go on so long but it seems to be a complicated question. Thanks for listening Tim



mstemp
Mike Stemp
Calgary, Canada
(222 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2009 07:18AM

Main British Car:
1980 MGB Rover 4.6L

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: mstemp
Date: December 15, 2016 07:41AM

Tim,

Tire rack has P6000 in 185-70-15. Not a true performance tire but it's better than lots.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 15, 2016 10:44AM

The tires you picked, Tim, have tall, soft sidewalls & a high treadwear number. Not good for slinging it thru the corners. I'm sure they will give a soft ride & be fine for tooling around. May be perfectly fine for 85-90 % of LBC owners, but performance rubber, it ain't.


danmas
Dan Masters
Alcoa, Tennessee
(578 posts)

Registered:
10/28/2007 12:11AM

Main British Car:
1974 MGBGT Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: danmas
Date: December 15, 2016 12:18PM

Carl,

I'm coming up on nine years on my tires, so I'l need to replace them soon. Any recommendations? I'm running 215-60-15 rear, 195-60-14 front.

Tread wear ain't a factor.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 15, 2016 01:06PM

Time to buy a set of 15" wheels for the front, Dan. There is no more serious 14" rubber.

With your oddball sizes, instead of sticky Summer tires you will likely have to settle for an all season touring tire like these.

[www.tirerack.com]

[www.tirerack.com]

[www.tirerack.com]


danmas
Dan Masters
Alcoa, Tennessee
(578 posts)

Registered:
10/28/2007 12:11AM

Main British Car:
1974 MGBGT Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: danmas
Date: December 15, 2016 01:10PM

Oops! The fronts are 15" as well. Fat finger syndrome.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 15, 2016 03:15PM

Okay. I didn't remember you having 14s on the front. Mikey used to run like that.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 15, 2016 03:28PM

This is one of my favs for extreme summer performance tire. Problem is the best sticky tires usually don't come in a non-performance oriented sidewall like the your 60 series. Usually 55 & down.

[www.tirerack.com]


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 15, 2016 03:48PM

Here's a Tire Rack custom search with your sizes. Nothing sticky, but some good touring choices.

[www.tirerack.com]



Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4575 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: Moderator
Date: December 15, 2016 04:55PM

Quote:
This is one of my favs for extreme summer performance tire. Problem is the best sticky tires usually don't come in a non-performance oriented sidewall like the your 60 series. Usually 55 & down.
[www.tirerack.com]

+1

I've been enjoying them year round in a temperate climate. They're better than expected on wet reads, and certainly much better all around than Falken Azenis tires I ran previously.


tbo
Tim Body
St Thomas Ontario
(221 posts)

Registered:
01/27/2013 06:47PM

Main British Car:
1954 Triumph TR2 stock 2 litre

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: tbo
Date: December 15, 2016 08:38PM

Hi Mike .I checked theP6000 185 70 15 tires at Tire Rack and like the size but not the price. 190 us. isn't where I want to be . I'm more comfortable at 100 cdn. I like Carl's recomendation of 195 60 15 performance tires although they are slightly shorter than 195 65 15.. The car I'm working on will have an overdrive so that will compensate and those tires are a lot cheaper. Hello Carl,,,How is it you know so much about tires .I certainly appreciate the help TimJust as an after thought ,how can I find some good 165 80 15 tires just in case this car gets sold with 4 1/2 48 spoke wheels. That way I can run wires or TR6 rims , That is the perfect solution


Orange Alpine
Bill Blue

(45 posts)

Registered:
12/20/2010 07:36AM

Main British Car:
1967 Sunbeam Alpine 2.5 Ford Duratec

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: Orange Alpine
Date: December 19, 2016 12:19PM

I installed the General RT43 tire in 175-65x15 on my Sunbeam Alpine. They were very squirmy when new but settled down after a few thousand miles. I chose them because they had the narrowest tread width of any 15" tire I could find as I am rapidly loosing upper body strength and need the lighter steering effort. Considering the size of the car, that size is plenty big.

We use the car for touring and they are working out just fine.

Bill


tbo
Tim Body
St Thomas Ontario
(221 posts)

Registered:
01/27/2013 06:47PM

Main British Car:
1954 Triumph TR2 stock 2 litre

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: tbo
Date: December 19, 2016 09:53PM

Hello Bill .Thanks for the info on the General Tire and will check them out.What rim width are we talking about and while I think of it would a 5 1/2 rim like the TR6 has make a taller sidewall like a 75 series more stable? Tim


ghornbostel
Greg Hornbostel
Nebraska
(76 posts)

Registered:
09/02/2013 01:41PM

Main British Car:
1957 TR3 Buick 231 evenfire V6

Re: Tire size comparison
Posted by: ghornbostel
Date: December 27, 2016 04:14PM

This probably should ga along with the Ackerman post.


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