185 80 14 tyre availability

[dasadrew]

Falken tyres are Japanese. They are VERY well rated especially in Asia where they are basically THE number one and are of a level llike Pirelli / GoodYear etc. when it comes to racing tyres. I have Falken ZR tyres on my Ferrari and they are excellent, and very good value for money too.

Drew

[sunnystag]

Picking up from earlier in this thread about original tyre sizes from new.
Looking at the 1973 bL workshop manual linked to the grampianstag website (really good website i picked up from another thread). the tryre sizes were 185/80 (then listed as just "185" and "80" was the default profile) and 185/70, appreciate that cost cotting led to 175s in later years. So even in 1973 the 70 profile was clearly planned, even the gearing and road speed for both sizes is listed in the 1973 workshop maunal. Now i never knew that.

[dasadrew]

...Looking at the 1973 bL workshop manual ... the tryre sizes were 185/80 .....and 185/70... So even in 1973 the 70 profile was clearly planned..... Now i never knew that.

......

1970 - German handbook 545108: 185 R 14 & 185/70 R14
1970 - German Repair Operations Manual 545164 Issue 2: 185 R 14 & 185/70 R14
1973 - UK Repair Operations Manual 545162 Issue 2: 185 R 14 & 185/70 R14
1976 - Reprint UK handbook 545105 Edition 9: only 175 R 14

.........Drew

Yep!

[stag_232]

Hi all. Finally had new tyres fitted to my Stag today. Went for Mowhawk M716's, 195 70 R14's in the end. Found a tyre specilist local to me for £50 a tyre fitted. Really please dwith the tyres and the fitter. Mowhawks are made by Hankook and the fitter has had really good feedback about them so recommended them highly.
Incredible thing was that the Michelin XZX's that came off the rear turned out to have been manufactured in 1980 - 30+ years old. The Hankooks on the front weren't dated but I don't think they were much younger.
I'll upload a photo of the Mohawk's tomorrow.
Ian

[dasadrew]

..... Mowhawks are made by Hankook....Ian

Mohawks are American tyres. Mohawk Rubber is owned by Yokohama (Japanese). Hankook is South Korean. Being American, they should be good for 55mph and plenty of potholes!

Drew

[dougal]

Stag Tyres

Picking up from earlier in this thread about original tyre sizes from new.
Looking at the 1973 bL workshop manual linked to the grampianstag website (really good website i picked up from another thread). the tryre sizes were 185/80 (then listed as just "185" and "80" was the default profile) and 185/70, appreciate that cost cotting led to 175s in later years. So even in 1973 the 70 profile was clearly planned, even the gearing and road speed for both sizes is listed in the 1973 workshop maunal. Now i never knew that.

Hi

I don't believe that Triumph changed down in tyre size because of cost cutting reasons. They dropped to the 175R14 to improve the handling of the car. the cost to triumph for these tyres would be minimal. I also think that the earlier cars fitted 185R14 Avon but i also believe that the later cars fitted 175HR14 Michelin XAS http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...helin-xas.html

I am trying to write a definative page about tyre fitment for these cars http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/triumph-stag so if anyone can tell me exactly what they fitted that would be great.

I have quite a few period fitment guides from tyre manufacturers such as Dunlop, Michelin and Pirelli and one by an independent organisation. not one of them has 185/70R14 down as correct fitment. which is not suprising because that would make the tyre 18mm (about 3/4") smaller in radius which is far too small. My 70's Dunlop book does sugest that for the earlier cars you can fit a 205/70R14 instead of the 185R14. this would make sense because a 205/70 is a low profile equivalen to a 185. similarly Dunlop also suggest that if you want you can fit a 195/70R14 instead of a 175R14. However it is worth remembering that puuting the wider tyres on the car will spoil the handling.

[v8ken]

Evening chaps ,following this with interest as my '90' profile tyres,which are very comfy and have plenty of tread,are crazing and coming apart between the treads.They also under read a lot,,need my sat nav to keep my licence.
I've come across http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyre_search on the interweb and they have a large selection at very good ''fitted ''prices.
Ken.

[Bob Heritage]

The truth is probably because it was coming to the end of the production of the Stag, they used up what was left in the rack. Nothing to do with improved handling.

[DJT]

Hi dougal.

I understand what you are saying about 185/70R14 tyres being rather small, but the Stag Repair Operations Manual and the Owners Handbook list the following as OE tyre options:

Goodyear G800 185/70HR-14
Michelin XAS 185HR-14

In his book, The Original Triumph Stag - The Restorer's Guide, James Taylor states:

"The original tyres for all market except the USA up to January 1973 were 185HR14 Michelin XAS tubeless radials; thereafter, Avon tubeless radials of the same size were also fitted. In March 1973 approximately, a batch of 30 UK-market cars was fitted with the Goodyear G800 Grand Prix 185/70HR14 tyres normally supplied only on Federal Stags. This appears to have been an emergency measure to overcome a shortfall in supplies."

During the last year or so of production 175HR14 tyres were fitted.

Hope this is of help.

[DJT]

Evening chaps ,following this with interest as my '90' profile tyres,which are very comfy and have plenty of tread,are crazing and coming apart between the treads.They also under read a lot,,need my sat nav to keep my licence.
I've come across http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/tyre_search on the interweb and they have a large selection at very good ''fitted ''prices.
Ken.

Ken,

Be very wary about 185/80-14 tyres from online outlets. Most, not all, have reinforced sidewalls for Van use. Not suitable for cars. Load indexes around 100/102 gives the game away.

Michelin, Vredestein and Camac make suitable tyres in our size. There maybe a few more, but not many sadly.

http://www.mytyres.co.uk list several T-rated 185/80 14 tyres, which would fit the bill, but you should clear this with your insurance company first as they have a lower speed rating.

[v8ken]

Ken,

Be very wary about 185/80-14 tyres from online outlets. Most, not all, have reinforced sidewalls for Van use. Not suitable for cars. Load indexes around 100/102 gives the game away.

Michelin, Vredestein and Camac make suitable tyres in our size. There maybe a few more, but not many sadly.

http://www.mytyres.co.uk list several T-rated 185/80 14 tyres, which would fit the bill, but you should clear this with your insurance company first as they have a lower speed rating.

Duly noted,,
I have asked my insurance company(RH)and they were ok with 't' rated tyres
Ken.

[mike@thenook]

Duly noted,,
I have asked my insurance company(RH)and they were ok with 't' rated tyres
Ken.

Also - have a look at etyres.co.uk;

They have a number on here 185/70 profile that are H rated rather than T.
Kumho, Toyo and GT are all perfectly acceptable for the Stag indeed Toyo are extremely good tyres.

Cheers

[DJT]

Also - have a look at etyres.co.uk;

They have a number on here 185/70 profile that are H rated rather than T.
Kumho, Toyo and GT are all perfectly acceptable for the Stag indeed Toyo are extremely good tyres.

Cheers

Mike,

185/70 14" tyres are too small - see above -especially if you have an auto. If you want lower profile tyres you need wider tyres. 205/70 14 tyres are closest to 185/80 14.

[mike@thenook]

Mike,

185/70 14" tyres are too small - see above -especially if you have an auto. If you want lower profile tyres you need wider tyres. 205/70 14 tyres are closest to 185/80 14.

I totally agree with you, I have 195/70's on 6" wide rims which are a pretty perfect match. The 205's I know from experience (and even though I know Tony H has them on his day Stag years ago) are a little too balloony on normal Stag rims - if on 6" wide rims they are better but they won't work well if you have the car lowered (as I also know from experience) they rub on full lock.
I only mentioned the 185/70's as i've seen a lot of people use them, wrongly yes imho but then 175's have also been used on the Stag which are way too small in every way.

Not wishing to misslead any one.....

Cheers

[Ian Durrant]

205 70s are above the recommended max width for the 5.5J stag alloy wheel. I think that makes them a really bad idea for those with Mk1 steel wheels as they are 5J. Just a point worth considering.