John & the List-
The question is a perennial one, but it doesn't seem to get
answered very well on the list. I have the same need for new tires,
and hope that something definitive may come out of this thread.
The original tires were 5.60x14. (I've got that size on my spare,
marked "Le Havre - Made in Israel". Perhaps it came with the car.)
When questions on replacement tires for a stock rim were posted to
this list in Jan, Feb, and April of 2002, the following were some
of the size suggestions:
165/80-14
175/65-14
175/70-14
175/75-14
185/60-14
185/65-14
195/60-14
Gordon Glasgow suggested that 5.60-14 was pretty close to
6.00-14, for which an equivalency chart showed 175/70-14 in
current sizes. However, Thomas from Sweden said that this
size requires a 5-inch rim. I think the stock rim is
less than 5 inches.
In a thread in April 2002, size 195/65-14 was said to have the
diameter of the original tires.
The tires now on my car are Kleber V12, size 175R14. I think
they have a manufacture date of 1988, which sort of explains
the age cracks in the sidewalls. They don't make that size
anymore.
Maybe the web can help clarify things? There are some tire
conversion charts posted on the web.
Here is a web page that has two charts posted. You have to
scroll down the page to find the second one.
<http://www.turbinecar.com/tires.htm>
It suggests that 175/60-14, 155/70-14, and 145/80-14 are all
equivalent to the 5.60-14 size that came on the cars.
You have to scroll down the page to find the chart here too:
<http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevylist/tech/tire_size_conversion.htm>
Here's another chart:
<http://www.planethoustonamx.com/parts%20&%20Literature/tire_conversion_chart.htm>
I am overloaded with information from the list and these charts. I
recognize that there is no exact equivalent for the original tires,
and that it probably isn't possible to get an exact replacement for
the 17-year-old tires now on my car. So, WHAT TIRE SIZE should I
request for my 1600 with stock rims, and with no planned high
performance demands except keeping it greasy side down and
between the lines as a daily driver?
I'm looking for something from the more knowledgeable list persons
like this: "Buy XXX/XX-14s, and you will be very happy! I know this
to be true! Trust me!"
Or, do I just trust the man at the local tire emporium to put on
some tires without any prompting from me?
Many thanks to the list for your help and patience with this and
with several problems in the past.
--Bob Keen
68 1600
Chassell, Upper Peninsula, Michigan
===========================
On Tue, 24 May 2005, John Kelly wrote:
> I think it's finally time for new tires on my roadster, a '68 2000 with
> stock rims. Any suggestions on brands and sizes? Does anyone still make
> something similar to the thinline whitewalls the cars originally came with?
> Thanks.
>
> John Kelly
> Washington, D.C.
|