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New tires for my '85 GSL-SE

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Old Jun 26, 2024 | 12:19 PM
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AB New tires for my '85 GSL-SE

Of course I can't find any 205/60 14" tires, but I can find some BFG Radial TAs 215/60 14" - would they be okay on my car? If not, what other sizes could I consider?
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Old Jun 26, 2024 | 07:53 PM
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The front will rub lock-to-lock. 205 is about the limit.
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Old Jun 26, 2024 | 08:02 PM
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Thanks buddy. I can get some BFG Advantage Control 185/65 for the front or would I be better off with four of those?

Last edited by Mekhlis; Jun 26, 2024 at 08:08 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old Jun 27, 2024 | 06:59 AM
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Have you tried Amazon? They're showing 5 different tires in 205 60 14. They're all off brand economy tires of course.
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Old Jun 27, 2024 | 09:09 AM
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
195-60-14?
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Old Jun 27, 2024 | 09:58 AM
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Thanks for the tip, but I'm not seeing any 205/60 14" in Amazon Canada, USA or UK; I'm in Canada, so that might affect my results. I'd really like to know what acceptable solutions other owners have come up with for this problem.
If I widen my search to include 185/70, which came on the S, GS and GSL, I get a few more results, mostly off-brand, which I'd like to avoid. My wife's in Korea right now, I wonder how she'd feel about bringing me back a set of Kumhos or Hankooks...
I have 205/60 BFG Touring TAs on it right now, with a receipt from the previous owner showing a purchase date in 2003. They look real good and feel really good to the touch, and they've held their air since I bought the car in 2009, but I think they feel a little slippy, not grippy, when driving fast. They have 20,000 klicks on them since new - 11,000 under my ownership. Yesterday, I started the car for the first time this year and my neighbour took me a few blocks over to meet our neighbourhood car guy - judging from the number of derelicts packed into his front and back yards, this guy must be an expert. There were a few other guys there and they all admired my car, and said the tires look fine. The expert offered to buy my old tires right away for his Celica.
Coker Tires lists some good-looking 185/70 BFG Silvertown Redlines for $367 USD, which would look funky on my Royal Maroon car, but they say they're currently unavailable.
There's a thread on this forum from Crackerjack in Toronto with the same problem, another Canadian on the east coast recommends a website in New Delhi, another Canadian recommends 195/65s, then it ends with another Canadian on the west coast finding Federal 205/60s three years ago at 1010Tires. There's a 1010Tires here in Calgary - I've never tried them and they open in three minutes...
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Old Jun 27, 2024 | 11:34 AM
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If you are looking for sticky tires on your stock wheels the only possible option I see is the Falken Azenis in 195 60 14. Tire rack shows you all the specs for comparing a lot of different tires. They are .5" less in diameter (23.2" vs. 23.7") and .2" narrower than the stock 205 60 14 size (at 7.9" vs. 8.1"). The only other possibility would be plus sizing to 15" or 16" wheels. I am assuming you are wanting to stay with the stock wheels though. I recently had to buy a set of tires for my stock 88 SE. The selection for 14s on those is abysmal as well. At least they still exist, for now.
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Old Jun 27, 2024 | 07:09 PM
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You're right, I'm not going to replace the wheels that came with my SE. I looked for the Falken Azenis, but the shops in town here could only find one. After a lot of phone calls, I think I'm going to go with the Kumho Solus 185/70, because the guy who sold them to me is knowledgeable and spent a lot of time with me, and my wife might like the fact that I'm buying Korean tires. Thanks for your help, fellas. I'll try and remember to post a picture after all's said and done.

Last edited by Mekhlis; Jun 27, 2024 at 07:16 PM. Reason: Additions
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Old Nov 8, 2024 | 10:07 PM
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I went with the Kumho Solus 185/70s and they seem alright


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