badshead Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Has anybody fitted 185/65 tyres to wires on a 4 or 4A? If so, do they look ok or are they too small to fill the arch properly? The better fitting 185/70 or 165/80 are proving very expensive to source - typically £150+ extra for a set of 4 tyres. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graeme Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 My 4A has 185/65 Goodyear Excellence tyres in the picture below. Speedo is a tad low according to the satnav, but the tyres perform well and look fine(I think) Cheers Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
badshead Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 (edited) My 4A has 185/65 Goodyear Excellence tyres in the picture below. Speedo is a tad low according to the satnav, but the tyres perform well and look fine(I think) Cheers Graeme Thanks Graeme - they look fine to me also. I think the diameter is about -3% so shouldn't cause a massive difference on the speedo. Loads of options at that size and much better value for money. Edited June 25, 2010 by badshead Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian-Northampton Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Mine are 195/65 and I think they look great too. They're also almost exactly right on the speedo compared to the SatNav Quote Link to post Share on other sites
badshead Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Mine are 195/65 and I think they look great too. They're also almost exactly right on the speedo compared to the SatNav Brian They're an ever closer match to the original size, less than -1% difference on the diameter, but I was a bit concerned about how well they'd fit on the rims and whether they'd feel a bit 'heavy'. That said, that's exactly the size I've got on my TR6 albeit on steel wheels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Take Care about rim width, 4.5J is O.k. with 185's 195's really need a wider rim. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
randall977 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 I fitted 4 x Continental Contact CT22 tyres (165 80 15) for £250. They look great (not too modern) and fit perfectly. I have used them on original painted wires with inner tubes... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR4Geoff Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 Hi Brian, Would be interested to know what you've done about the spare. I've got 185 65 Yokos on 5.5 wires which certainly look and feel okay (and they throw out water in the wet like there is no tomorrow!). But, there is no way the spare fits under the tank, let alone a 195!! Geoff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian-Northampton Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 The spare is still sitting on a 165 tyre, I got it out of the boot just last week and I think it's now getting a bit old so need to replace it if only for the age of the rubber. Looks like a case of carrying a "skinny" spare and keeping the speed down like you have to in modern cars. Bri. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 For 185s, I would advise 5.5J rim width. And for 195s, this is a MUST! Spare: carry a 165 tyre on 4.5 or 5.5 rim. If you have to change the wheel, the one you have taken off will have to go behind the seats or onto the passenger seat (passenger then goes in the boot!). Clearly, with a smaller tyre, the car will be unbalanced thus (and, if it's the rear axle, the differential will be working hard), so keep the speed down and don't drive very far. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian-Northampton Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 I've just checked mine (as best I can) and I believe that I'm running all 5 wheels on 5.5" rims. The spare is a 165/80R15 and will only just fit under the fuel tank. However the wire wheel centre does protrude a bit and requires the boot floor to be bent just a bit to fit onto the press studs. the 165/80 and the 195/65 are virtually the same diameter, so hopefully that will mean the the car would not be working too hard on different tyres in the case of needing the spare. However, I agree, just like the skinny wheel on a modern car, speed should be restricted as there will be plenty of factors influencing the cars handling, cornering, braking etc. I think this is probably the best compromise. BTW I get all my tyre/wheel info from car bibles Bri. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 (edited) The maximum tyre section (width) appropriate to a 4.5" rim is 165, for a 5" rim 185, for a 5.5" rim 205, and for a 6" rim 225. Aspect ratio does not come into the equation. Needless to say, a tyre of maximum width for the rim won't work at it's optimum, or anything like it . . . . add another inch of rim width if you want the tyre to perform properly. Any tyre fitment wider than the above maxima puts the user outside of the tyre manufacturers recommendations, which therefore contravenes the provisions of Construction and Use Regulations, and therefore is likely to invalidate insurance cover in the event of a claim . . . . not to mention the real possibility of prosecution. Caveat emptor ! Cheers, Alec Edited June 26, 2010 by Alec Pringle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 So what do you reckon I will need on these then Alec? Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 A lot more rubber than your TR2 currently sports, Stuart ! Take that monstrosity round a bend at anything approaching doorhandling speed and the tyre beads would be off the seatings before you'd rounded the apex . . . . Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted June 27, 2010 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 Aye that will probably explain why there is all the tread left on them. I think they have only been used to keep it off the ground I was thinking more on the lines of 245 rears and 225 fronts Might be fun on a steering box though Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 27, 2010 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 Keep eating the three Shredded Wheat for breakfast then, Stuart . . . . and another bowlful for supper !! Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard V Posted July 1, 2010 Report Share Posted July 1, 2010 (edited) Hi All, Yet another question on tyres. Is the rim width measured at the ourside of the bead retaining rim, or at the inside of the flange which the tyre sits against? I have K&N minilites on my TR4 which have 15J marked on them. A rough measurement gives me about 6" and concidering that I need 2 spacers (tot-9mm) to keep the rims off the upper wish bones then this seems about right. It is the 15J that is confusing. The current tyres are Bridgestone SF-228 165/65R15, which have seen better days, and since I replaced my sagging springs the wheel arches look a bit empty. I intend to go to 185/70R15 hoping that the steering will not be too heavy with my motolita wheel. The tyre of choice on the forum seems to be the Vredestein sport classic, but I realy dont like the tread patern on the side wall (each to his own) Obviously road holding and performance comes first, but does anyone have a good alternate to the well known Vredestein. TR Tony gave two specs on another thread, which must be a referance in itself, however a quick search for the Avon and Dunlop tyres he mentioned show them as being quite specialist material and certainly little chance of having them ordered here in rural France. New rubber needed for the anual pilgrimage to Malvern, all advice greatly apreciated as always. Cheers, Richard. Edited July 2, 2010 by Richard V Quote Link to post Share on other sites
badshead Posted July 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Just to conclude this one.... I decided that the reduced radius on the 185/65 was not for me (looked a bit lost in the wheel arch) so decided to go back to the original 165/80 to achieve the same rolling radius as my elderly 185/70s - a size I was unable to source for sensible money. I've ended up with a set of Vredestein T-TRAC 165/80 R15, 4 new tyres & tubes fitted/balanced to wires for £250. First impressions are good, they look right, the steering is much lighter(much nicer to drive on 165s)and ride quality is improved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian-Northampton Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Hi Bill, What speed rating did you go for in those tyres?? Ta, Bri. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
badshead Posted July 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 (edited) Hi Bill, What speed rating did you go for in those tyres?? Ta, Bri. Hi Brian T rating (118mph)- unlikely that the 4A will be exceeded that! The guy who fitted the tyres (independent local garage) was very knowlegeable about tyres and showed me a couple of failed caravan tyres to illustrate what happens to old rubber. Caravan tyres share a similar life to classics cars e.g. sit around for years with the occasional outing in warm weather. One tyre had completely split around the rim causing a sudden blow-out, while on the other the tread had delaminated from the rest of the tyre. He also compared my old tyres with the new ones using the 'finger nail test' - poke your finger nail hard into the rubber. The old tyres (10+ years old) were rock hard and didn't yeald at all, while it was possible to leave an indent on the new rubber. Rock hard old rubber just bumps around on the road surface while the new, pliant rubber is much more sticky and provides adhesion to the road surface. I uhmed and aarged about the cost of changing my tyres ahead of some fast, fully laden continental motoring, and remembered the old motorcycle maxim "if you've got a £10 head, buy a £10 helmet"... for me it's the same with car tyres. Edited July 2, 2010 by badshead Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian-Northampton Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Thanks Bill, T is the only 165/80's that I've seen and I'll probably take her back to those. I've had my wires off to give them a damn good scrub and found the measurement imprint - they're actually 4½" rims. So as soon as I find a place local to me that will balance my wires, I'm changing those big boots that are on there now! Cheers, Bri. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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