Replacement tyres

[Markvh]

Advice wanted on tyres (make and size) to replace my old cracking 175HR14 tyres on a 1977 Stag. Rims are standard Mark 2 alloys. Don't really want to pay more than about £80 per tyre.
Need to buy and get fitted very soon. I've had a look around the forum site and found a few pointers, but I can't make my mind up.
Thanks in advance.
Mark.

[len]

hi Mark
Veredstein tyres are quite reasonable in price and are a great tyre ,they look period correct, a lot of the tr boys use them.Try Camskill for a price
Len

[mole42]

That's just the size I'm trying out, these are my choices:

Uniroyal RainExpert - H £50.39
Firestone Multihawk 2 - H £42.70
Continental EcoContact 3 - H £57.30

I favour the Uniroyal, mostly because I used to rally on them in the '70s, but my Mercedes had Continentals which were pretty good.

Hope this helps, Richard

[Markvh]

Thanks, just looked at my existing tyres again and maybe the cracking isn't too bad. No cracking on the sidewalls but cracks evident between the treads which are still deep.
I'm trying to put a manufacture date on them but struggling. Perhaps someone can help.
There is a DOT number but this reads DOT U8J3, another number in a pressed ballon(?) which reads 209522 and another which reads 2912 also in a pressed ballon (?).
The tyres are rated at a maximum load of 1230 lbs, and have 2 polyester plies in sidewalls and 2 poly + 2 steel plies in the treads.
The tyres are Nankang Pro-Star steel radials.

[DJT]

Thanks, just looked at my existing tyres again and maybe the cracking isn't too bad. No cracking on the sidewalls but cracks evident between the treads which are still deep.
I'm trying to put a manufacture date on them but struggling. Perhaps someone can help.
There is a DOT number but this reads DOT U8J3, another number in a pressed ballon(?) which reads 209522 and another which reads 2912 also in a pressed ballon (?).
The tyres are rated at a maximum load of 1230 lbs, and have 2 polyester plies in sidewalls and 2 poly + 2 steel plies in the treads.
The tyres are Nankang Pro-Star steel radials.

2912 is the likely date indicator: week 29 of 2012.

My A3 went in for its first MOT at the beginning of Feb this year. 3 years old and 22,000 miles. The rear tyres (Dunlop SportMaxx AO 225/45 17) had cracking between the treads and this was picked up as an 'advisory'. They were duly replaced and sent back to Dunlop for examination. I have now received an apology from Dunlop and a refund of 50% on one tyre and 40% on the other.

As for the Stag, this week I have replaced my 3-year-old (12,000 mile) Nankang 185/80 14T CX668 tyres with Vredestein Sport Classic 185HR14 tyres. So far (250 miles most of it at 70+ mph) I am very pleased with them. They have a very quiet ride and inspire confidence. Not tried them in the wet yet........

[davidf]

+1 for the Vredestein - so few makes available in the correct size and speed rating

[mole42]

Mark did mention he's after 175x14 tyres. There's a much wider selection of makes in that size at the correct H speed rating.

I'm not saying Vredestein are not good, but it's only if using 185x14 does the selection become limited.

Also, in 185x14 size you have to make sure they aren't van tyres!

[Markvh]

Hi, Sorry, I've confused things in my rush. I meant to say the car currently has the correct 175HR14 tyres for it's model year. I also want to consider 195x70x14, 175x80x14 and 185x75x14.
Thanks for your help, keep it coming.
Mark

[jbuckl]

AFAIAA, It is generally thought that 175 tyres were only fitted to stags when there were no 185 tyres available in the factory.
Records do exist that suggest this.

currently running 195 70 14 firestones

But wish that Michelin were available.
AFAIAA They have not been molded now / available new for quite some years.
There were some MXV / MXV-P tyres available, but they were way out of date / made decades ago.
Pained me to have to pay to dispose of very good tread depth original XVS tyres that were too old / cracked.

[Paul Kelley]

+ 1 for Vredesteins in 185 size. Had them for 18 months/6,000 miles and no complaints. Had Nankang van tyres on when I bought it - horrible! One thing to consider, though, is that lower profiles are arguably easier to balance and to 'keep' their shape on the rim better. I have seen a few comments on here before to that effect, others may want to add their experiences.
PK

[DJT]

AFAIAA, It is generally thought that 175 tyres were only fitted to stags when there were no 185 tyres available in the factory.
Records do exist that suggest this.

currently running 195 70 14 firestones

But wish that Michelin were available.
AFAIAA They have not been molded now / available new for quite some years.
There were some MXV / MXV-P tyres available, but they were way out of date / made decades ago.
Pained me to have to pay to dispose of very good tread depth original XVS tyres that were too old / cracked.

Michelin are available, Julian, but you need deep pockets: http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...lin-mxv-p.html

[bonnietiler750]

I went with 185/70/14 Continental EcoContact5 Got them delivered and fitted via the AA I sat and drank Coffee whilst watching The Walking Dead brilliant service
They look the part and are very highly rated being quiet and good in the wet I got them in the middle of January and have covered nearly 2000 miles since Highly recommended
My Dad always said never skimp on Tyres or Brakes and he was right
I have a set of Genuine Lockheed (beware these contain Asbestos) pads for the next job

[Markvh]

I might be getting the hang of this tyre researching, it's a bit of a minefield. I thought all the Vredestein Sprint Classics were about £170 a piece. But I see the :-
175HR14 88H are £80
185HR14 90H are £70
195/70VR14 91V are £122 (too expensive for me)
Are the 175HR and the 185HR diameters the same or very similar?
So now I'm looking at 175HR14 88H or 185HR14 90H Vredesteins or 195/70/14 in another make. Also want what look nicest on the car but gives a close to correct speedo reading.
Talk about dithering.

[marshman]

I might be getting the hang of this tyre researching, it's a bit of a minefield. I thought all the Vredestein Sprint Classics were about £170 a piece. But I see the :-
175HR14 88H are £80
185HR14 90H are £70
195/70VR14 91V are £122 (too expensive for me)
Are the 175HR and the 185HR diameters the same or very similar?
So now I'm looking at 175HR14 88H or 185HR14 90H Vredesteins or 195/70/14 in another make. Also want what look nicest on the car but gives a close to correct speedo reading.
Talk about dithering.

Use this tyre size calculator.

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator/

You need to find the profile height of the 175's and 185's, I think it is 80 but it might be 85. Whichever it is, a tyre with the same profile, e.g. 80, will will have a smaller diameter if the width is smaller - so the 175 will be a smaller diameter than the 185 if the profile is the same.

Have fun

Roger

[davidf]

Slightly trivial point, but all the original tyres had a kerbing bead about half way up the side-wall, and I think tyres without that look a bit odd - makes the side-wall appear very deep without that visual break.

I know the Vredestein do have this, I know some of the lower rated alternatives don't.

Just throwing another spanner into the decision process