I purchased a 1984 GS on May 7, 1984. (Happy belated birthday to my car!) I am having trouble finding decent tires for the original rims. I need 185/70 13. Recommendations from any of you?

 

Kumhos are good:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...!&gclsrc=aw.ds

Westlakes if you want to save some bucks:


Also Hankooks are good:

 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

Pretty much the best you can get, if you have the coin. 70 series profile, VR rated. Have on my SA. Fab.
I went with the 205/13s on stock waffles-

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

Looks like a 60's vintage tire tread design, but Treadwear Rating of 160? I had some Yoko A008s back in the early 90's which had a treadwear rating of 100 and they were bald inside of a year...

https://www.tirerack.com/images/tire...bw_pdpcrop.jpg

 

a

 

Yep, understand this tire was produced for 'vintage' applications. A category I think 1st Gen 7s fall into. I cannot speak to tread wear personally, since my 7 is not a DD, so mileage-per-year is modest for me (under 3K). They are expensive, look great and handle nicely. As perhaps would an off-brand chinese tire (Federals in my case) that I have also used in the past. If these sorts are even available at the moment (bought on ebay). The good news is at least we have some choices in 13's now, which we did not for a long time...

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

I would consider these but am concerned about the description on the Tire Rack site about exposing these to cold temperatures. I live in northern Indiana and store the car in the winter in an unheated building. I will frequently be exposed to temps below 20 degrees. Should I be concerned about the temp issue? Or am I ok if I don't move the car until the temps warm up. I don't want to spend that much money on tires and have cold temps ruin them and/or make them unsafe to drive. I went to the Federal website. I could not find 185/70 13 tires but did find 175/70 13 tires. Would these work?

 

Thank you for your reply. I put Kumho Solus on last Fall and they do not track straight. I find myself counter-steering a bit. They also feel unstable on sharp corners. Hankooks look interesting. Have you tried them? Thanks again.

 

You don't want 175/70 13 tires.

Also, I don't think new tires are so different to account for not tracking straight and counter steering.

Are you sure you don't have something else going on, alignment, tire pressure something like that?

I've use Kumhos and Hankooks pretty much interchangeably on my Mazda Protege5, both are fine tires on a performance car.

Kumhos or Hankooks for the win:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...!&gclsrc=aw.ds






Go with the Hankooks, I have them on my Mazda Protege5, very nice ride.

 

Vredesteins were my go to tire for autox back in the early eighties. Great tires back then, used to buy them from a place in NJ that imported them. 205 give the car a nice look I think.

 

Started using mine in Alaska - ! - if that helps
No probs

175s will work fine. Just slightly diff profile (narrower?). Odd the 185s are not avai. I went for the 205s in both my Vredsteins and the Federals.
Fit stock rims and clears fenders, no issues...

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

If I go 205 is the aspect ratio 60 or 65? 205/65 13 or 205/60 13?

 

Could be something else but I noticed it immediately after they were installed. Didn't notice it before. I'll have my mechanic check everything the next time I get an oil change.

 

Most go with 205/60. Unless it's really lowered, they should not rub.

 

I had the Kuhmo's on my car for a season, no issues with them. They probably aren't the best tire for serious performance usage, but for daily driving and the occasional spirited drive they did they job just fine. I'm just wrapping up the SE suspension and axle swap and am moving up to 14's. I took a quick lap around the block with the 205/60 Federal SS-595's on the stock SE rims with a 2 inch drop and had no rubbing issues.

 

205/60-13s
aspect is off slightly, but not an issue. The 50-aspect would look a bit odd IMHO.

Stu A
80SG (on 205s)
AZ

 

There are a few other decent speed-rated 13 inch tires in 185/70 and 205/60 but they might require some creativity to get hold of.
Pirelli Cinturato CN36 185/70 R13 86V
Dunlop Sport Classic 185/70 R13 86V
Vredestein Sprint Classic 185/70 R13 86V
Yokohama Advan HF type-D A008 185/70 R13 86H
Avon CR6-ZZ Road-Race 185/70 R13 H (86)

In 205/60 R13:
Toyo Proxes R888R 205/60 R13 86V 2G
Vredestein Sprint Classic 205/60 R13 86V

 

Thanks!