I think that 185/70R14 tires are usually a good size and aspect ratio for
non-spirited driving. Cheap and easily available.
When I bought my roadster it had three different models of Yokohama
185/70R14 tires installed on the stock wheels. I replaced those tires an
axle set at a time with 185/60R14's. I can't recall exactly what
manufacturers' name is on the tire they were cheap at Les Schwab, ~$50
each, and the tires are rated A for traction and temperature. I think they
have a treadwear rating of 120, but I'm not exactly sure. First I replaced
the two odd tires, having the new tires installed on the front axle, and
the matching pair of Yokohama's installed on the rear axle. I soon replaced
the Yokohama's on the rear soon after realizing that even though the old
tires had a good amount of tread left the tires were too old and the
rubber compound had become hard and slippery. After replacing the rears
with the smaller diameter tires I noticed that my engine RPM's at 50mph in
fourth gear changed from ~3000 to ~3300. I would have preferred to go with
a 195-60R14 to get a tire that was the same diameter as the tires I was
replacing but the stock wheel rims are not wide enough to safely use a tire
that wide. I considered going with a 175/50R14, but those tires would have
been too short for driving at highway speeds. Also the 175/50's are a
difficult to find tire size and I probably would have had to special order
tires of that size from Europe. Although I have been considering them again
now that I have a housemate who auto-x's his RX-7 and would enjoy the
company at the track.
There are so many variables in fitting tires and wheels to cars that it can
be difficult to predict what will fit a particular setup. If a person was
careful about selecting the right model of wheel, with an appropriate
offset, and backspacing could fit a tire that would be normally considered
too large to fit the car. Sometimes it is even a matter of particular model
of tire offered by a manufacturer that will mean the difference of wether
the tire can be fitted to the car.
-Dave Dearinger
-1966 1600
At 12:07 PM 10/27/2005 -0700, Pete Peters wrote:
>I believe I have no-name 185x65-14 retreads on my stock rims (not home right
>now). IIRC, Discount Tire told me 185x60 would be the largest tire I could
>fit on those rims.
>
>Pete
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