Ken B

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

These have become pretty sparse for some time. Have you checked other sites?

Ken B

FYI found a set on EBAY - they are dwindling fast - I guess everyone is going to larger rims?

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

I checked Walmart's website and there are a couple options available, though nothing name brand.

Ken B

so what are all you GSL-SE guys doing regarding wheel/tires ????

I just spent $600 having my rims restored so Im sticking with them for a while but I guess we will be forced to upsize our rims?

What are you 13" guys doing?

Pete_89T2

iTrader: (4)

^Before buying a set of tires on Ebay, I'd recommend verifying the date codes on them. Ebay vendors may be trying to sell off their "new old stock" tires, especially if the size in question is hard to find these days.

Tires do have a shelf life, as the rubber will just degrade over time from exposure to sunlight/ozone. Don't know if there's a hard "don't buy if older than X years" number, but if they are more than a year or two old I'd probably pass.

Ken B

not a lot of choices Pete!

Pete_89T2

iTrader: (4)

Oh I know! It's even getting tough to find max performance/summer tires in the stock FC T2 size - 205/55R16's. Used to have lots of choices, now that's dwindled to just a few tire makers that sell that size. I'm dead set on keeping my '89T2 resto-mod looking completely stock on its 16" OEM wheels, but might have to move to 17" wheels sooner or later.

Ken B

I wonder what the hell MG/Triumph guys do there days :-)

derSchwamm

iTrader: (1)

I use 195s and they are fine. I bought a set of Kumho 195/60/14s a while back

j_tso

iTrader: (2)

Yep, step down to 195 width and there are some options. Even Falken makes the RT615K extreme summer tire in 195/60/14.

chuyler1

iTrader: (1)

Keep in mind that 205 is the section width (sidewall to sidewall measured at the widest point), not the tread width. Older tires would have had more "bulge" to them so it's likely a modern 195 has the same tread width as a 30 yr old 205. The only concern is outside diameter, if you care about your speedometer being accurate.

JOE68

i want some 215 50 13 ..searched but discontinued no more sumitomo..... found these tho vitour formula in that size

spedy7

You could go wider at 225/55R14, gives you some inexpensive daily driver options, speedo won't be too far off either (according to Discount Tire's tool).

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-size-calculator

GSLSEforme

This size tire is not going to fit.Contact on spring/strut housing and fender lip is guaranteed. Tire is way too wide for an SE wheel. 225/55/14 tire will need @8" wide wheel to fit comfortably. Even original size 205/60/R14 tire is a bit too wide for 14" x 5.5" SE wheel.

chuyler1

iTrader: (1)

Personally, I think wide tires on the SE rims looks too marshmellowy.

GSLSEforme

^^^^ this. The factory 205 size tire shows this.Wheel is only 5.5".

Ken B

yes i saw that but couldn't find the tire available anywhere

Ken B

yes i saw that but couldn't find the tire available anywhere...........

ebodyboy

I was asking about same topic year or so ago. My '84 has second set of 205's - as purchased In Sept. 2001. Decent tread but lots of 'cracking' on surfaces - primarily between ribs of tread surface. First (OEM) set was the P6's then went with Dunlop SP - sport A2? Each set good for 17 years. The Dunlops still surprisingly 'sticky' when cornering hard. Should point out that my car is 'one-owner', has 53k. orig. miles and not driven from November thru March.
Back in the day, I checked around and found very few cars actually came, as new, with the 205's. Just no market I suppose. But, there seems to be no shortage of 'off-shore' brands - one I see listed a lot is by Nankang and plenty available online. ALSO, as I just edit - - other brand I see a lot of is the Antares INGENS. I just see so many mixed reviews (good to bad) and was kind of wondering if any of you (SE owners) have gone this route. To me, at least, changing to larger wheels is absolutely not an option. Downsizing to 195's a 'no-no' either. I may well have to go with the fine products from China. It would just be nice to have someone offer reassurances - based on present ownership. If these tires were not really good they would not be offered for sale in Canada or USA. Who looks for names on (black) sidewalls anyway?
Yes, still some (205's) available on ebay but I see mostly one or two at a time and shipping usually almost as much as price of single tire. Ideas? thanks

chuyler1

iTrader: (1)

The Chinese tires offer no grip. Sure, they'll last a while, might even be quiet on the road, but the compound is so hard you'll spin the tires pulling away from a stop light in the rain....without trying. That's what my GSL came with, I used them for storing the car so I didn't Flat spot my nicer 15"s. The few times I tried to drive on them I did not feel safe.

Richard Miller

here you go, if you have the capital for this kind of investment.

185/70R13
https://www.lucasclassictires.com/18...857013CN36.htm

205/70R14
https://www.lucasclassictires.com/18...qE6ZVFe0TrF31w

ebodyboy

Thanks for input. My OEM Pirellis were quite hard and rather 'slippery' when I replaced them. The Dunlops (with a 620) rating, supposedly for 'longevity', are still very grippy when cranking into a 90 degree turn - even after 17-1/2 years. When I see tires listed with a 440 rating, most reviewers claim excellent 'stickiness' but rather poor longevity (ie: half worn after perhaps 20K.miles). To me this is not an issue as I put on less than 4000 kms. in a year.
I will have to search the 'specs' on the Chinese tires as they should not be hard and slippery when new.

ricanBoy

Try Amazon for GSLSE tires! Accelera PHI R, they are great super sticky summer tires!

ebodyboy

Well I went ahead and ordered the Antares. Source is <tires-easy.ca>. I used them for my Valiant's Toyos a year ago. I placed the order Sunday nite. On Tuesday early afternoon they arrived by Fed-Ex. It will be a while yet until I mount them.
These are very mean-looking tires - identical in size to my present Dunlops. Similar tread, too, except two more wide circumference grooves. Tread width the same - estimate just short of 7 inches. The sidewall specs are 360 - B-A. My Dunlops were 560-A-B.
Total cost - with shipping, environ fee, and two taxes came to $409. CDN. That works out to a net of $73. per tire.
Country of origin means nothing to me. People seem to forget that all of our computers, tablets, monitors and smartphones etc. are also primarily 'off-shore'.
I rebuilt the engine in my Valiant one year ago. Ordered 'name-brand' parts, (mainly from R.A.) and the pistons were made in India, the rings in Mexico and the bearings in Israel. (sigh). Bottom-line is that the 225 is running better than anytime since I got the car 15 years ago.

oh, and 'p.s.' - - I will likely order Cooper Cobra radial GT (215-70-14") also from tires-easy (for my Challenger) soon. They are just not listed or otherwise available thru my local tire shops. One place said all their suppliers came up empty. This is a 'white-lettered' tire and I choose not to use T/A's.