Markjg

Looking for advice on replacement tires for my 1985 GSL-SE. I prefer to keep my stock wheels. What tire sizes can be used on the stock wheels?

ThirdPedalNirvana

Stock tires for the GSL-SE are 205/60 R14

Here's a nice resource for tire sizing, the TIRE SIZE CALCULATOR
All you have to do is enter the stock tire size in the "Size 1" line, and play around with different sizes in the other line. You can see how it changes the dimensions of your tire. If I'm not mistaken GSL-SE rims are 5.5" wide. If that is true, you don't want to go any wider in section than 205. 195 and 185 sections should be fine.

Just play around on tirerack or your preferred tire website with different tire sizes and see what looks good. The problematic thing about tires less than 15" is usually they are mostly extreme performance summer or track only tires which will wear out real quick on the street, or non-performance touring all seasons. I love the GSL-SE wheels too, but if you want a good selection of tires, your car has the easier bolt pattern to swap wheels with.

I don't know what kind of performance you are looking for, but in the size 195/60 R14, tire rack has Falken Azenis RT615K+, which are 200 treadwear; seriously sticky but they won't last long at all, so be ready for frequent replacements. If high/competitive levels of grip aren't what you're looking for, tire rack also has (in 195/60 R14) The General AltiMax RT43. We've run these tire on my wife's fiesta, and while they aren't quite high-performance all seasons, they are as close to it as you can get with a standard all season. We've found them to be very good (much better than OEM) and they are a steal from money standpoint. I believe they are LRR (low rolling resistance), and if so they are the most grippy LRR tires I've ever used. I would consider them on my FB if my 15" Wheels didn't give me more options.

Frankly, I think a high performance summer or track tire on a stock power FB is overkill on the street. I run high performance Hankook All Seasons on my GSL, and they do the trick, though wet lateral grip leaves something to be desired so I'll probably try kumho's next. Disclaimer, I consider a tire too sticky if I feel I want to ease up before I hear tire squeal.

Markjg

Thanks for the information. The Generals appear to be just what I was looking for, especially now that General is offering a $50 rebate on a set of four.