Steering, Suspension, & Brakes

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

Go to Thread: Previous•Next
Go to: Forum List•Message List•New Topic•Log In


Richard/SIA
Richard Brengman
No. Nevada
(399 posts)

Registered:
01/17/2014 07:47PM

Main British Car:
1969 Triumph GT6+ 225" Buick V6

Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Richard/SIA
Date: September 02, 2015 12:29AM

Getting a head-ache trying to search for decent tires in the 185/60 to 205/60-14 range.
Tire-Rack needlessly changed their site so that I can no longer compare by diameter, section and tread width.
Need to decide on tires in order to work suspension calculations.

Some sites are saying that the tire companies have abandoned the street performance market in 14".


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4552 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Moderator
Date: September 02, 2015 01:43AM

hmmmmm... Tire Rack lists Dunlop Direzza Star Spec ZII tires in 185/60R14 for $122 each.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: September 02, 2015 09:44AM

That is a great tire & pretty much is it for 14".
Get Your BritishV8 T-shirt by clicking here


Richard/SIA
Richard Brengman
No. Nevada
(399 posts)

Registered:
01/17/2014 07:47PM

Main British Car:
1969 Triumph GT6+ 225" Buick V6

Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Richard/SIA
Date: September 02, 2015 02:44PM

Found Toyo R888 205/55-14 but not sure I can get away with going that wide.

Picked up my book on suspension from storage so I can begin to set up the calculations.
Would be nice to have the stock GT6 measurements as a starting point.

I have chassis measurements but nothing that gives axle angles, upper and lower arm length, etc.
Should be able to find stock caster, camber, etc. in my manual.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: September 02, 2015 05:32PM

You do know that Toyo R888 a is low mileage competition tire meant for racetracks & autocross?


Richard/SIA
Richard Brengman
No. Nevada
(399 posts)

Registered:
01/17/2014 07:47PM

Main British Car:
1969 Triumph GT6+ 225" Buick V6

Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Richard/SIA
Date: September 02, 2015 10:40PM

I saw that the Toyo is DOT rated so should be street legal.

Probably not going to put a lot of miles on this one as I'm looking to use it as a summer car and in a few local street speed events.
Being a closed car in the Nevada summer without AC, probably not the daily driver.

Will look into the Toyo durability.
Many years ago when much younger would occasionally run my Bug-Eye on cast-off race slicks for a weekend of mountain roads.


Richard/SIA
Richard Brengman
No. Nevada
(399 posts)

Registered:
01/17/2014 07:47PM

Main British Car:
1969 Triumph GT6+ 225" Buick V6

Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Richard/SIA
Date: September 03, 2015 02:33AM

OK spoil-sports, I will play like an adult. (But not happily ;-P )
Looks like 185/60-14 it is.
Good availabilty so should remain viable for a while even if I eventually have to to to Goodrich as they seem to keep making the "old" sizes after others quit.

New things to look up or measure, Merkur XR4Ti hub parts, axle lengths, how to measure a CV axle for modeling.

At least this research cost nothing but time.



MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: September 03, 2015 11:46AM

Don't listen to me. I run on Toyo RA-1 & they are in the same category as the R888. ;)


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: rficalora
Date: September 03, 2015 04:41PM

Do you get any wet weather traction Carl?


DiDueColpi
Fred Key
West coast - Canada
(1359 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: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: DiDueColpi
Date: September 04, 2015 05:26PM

I have the Toyo R888's on one of my Volvo's.
225/50/ZR15
The wear rate is as alarming as you would expect. But not too bad for a part time car.
Wet weather handling is a rather severe compromise. Might as well be on ice.
Dry road grip is amazing. They stick like s.... to a blanket.

Cheers
Fred


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: September 04, 2015 09:32PM

Rob,

They are supposed to be good for wet at full tread. I am on my second set, but have never had full tread. The first set I ordered shaved to 5/32". My current set I bought used at about 4/32". I am okay in a light rain. They hydroplane badly on a very wet road, as in slow down to 40 or so. Dry road? Like Fred said, they stick like nobody's business. :)
Get Your BritishV8 T-shirt by clicking here


Richard/SIA
Richard Brengman
No. Nevada
(399 posts)

Registered:
01/17/2014 07:47PM

Main British Car:
1969 Triumph GT6+ 225" Buick V6

Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Richard/SIA
Date: September 05, 2015 04:12AM

So then the question become how valuable is ultimate stickiness on a TR GT-6?
Rear suspension will be custom and optimized for handling.
Front may get changed out too, have not decided yet.

Ultimate stick, or powerslide, that is the question!


KadettB
David Stephens
SLC, UT
(10 posts)

Registered:
07/14/2017 03:41PM

Main British Car:
Absolutely original custom freak TBD, probably '98 Vortec 7400

Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: KadettB
Date: July 14, 2017 04:17PM

Corvette guys run the Toyo R888 on the street all the time. It makes a good 3-season tire as long as you always respect what you're driving on. It can't do any snow whatsoever, rain only when new and warm weather. No weather below 50*F. It's nearly as good as drag radials, but can corner way better.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: rficalora
Date: July 20, 2017 04:07PM

I have g-Force Rivals which are the same category. Damp roads are OK, but in pouring rain with a bit of standing water on the roads they hydroplane like crazy. For around town its not been a problem because slower speeds. But on a long drive (like the TX to WV trek for BV8) going 40 will put you way behind.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2017 07:38PM by rficalora.


Mickey Richaud
Mickey Richaud
Townsend TN
(198 posts)

Registered:
08/25/2015 06:36AM

Main British Car:
'03 Jaguar XK8 Jaguar 4.2

Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Mickey Richaud
Date: July 20, 2017 05:00PM

Do you absolutely need the 60 profile? If not, Vredestein tires are quite good and there are several options offered in 14":
[www.tirerack.com]



MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: July 21, 2017 07:59PM

Well, since I still haven't decided on 15"wheels, I guess I will go with a real street tire in a 200 TW.

Since I can't really wait for Dunlop's new Direzza ZIII Star Spec that is only available in the Japanese market currently, probably going to go with Falken's new Azenis RT-615K+ in a 195/60-14.

[www.falkentire.com]


Scott68B
Scott Costanzo
Columbus, Ohio
(560 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 11:30AM

Main British Car:
1968 MGB GM 5.3 LS4 V8

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: Scott68B
Date: July 21, 2017 10:39PM

Quote:
Since I can't really wait for Dunlop's new Direzza ZIII Star Spec that is only available in the Japanese market currently, probably going to go with Falken's new Azenis RT-615K+ in a 195/60-14.

I've been seriously looking at those too Carl.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: July 22, 2017 06:33PM

We run the Falken RT615K 205/50-15 on our TR6 ChumpCar race car.

http://www.britcars.net/TR6/Carl%20at%20VIR%203-4-2017.jpg


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Where to get decent 14" tires?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: October 10, 2017 12:08PM

For the MGB in a 14", looks like we are down to 185/60 or 195/60. Time to go 15" or 16"

[www.tirerack.com]
Get Your BritishV8 T-shirt by clicking here


Go to: Forum List•Message List•New User Registration•Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.