Wheels & tyres

[Jake]

Hi all, I've got a 1970 2.5Pi I'm returning to the road after at least 20 years rest. It's fitted with 2500S alloys.

What I'm wondering is what size tyres to fit. At the moment it's got 175/80/14's a mix of Goodyears and Michelins. All very old now so not useable.

Should I stick with those sizes or go to 185/70's

Also what about using "van" tyres. It's been suggested to me by a mechanic that the 6 or 8 ply tyres give a stiffer sidewall that will improve the handling.

Anyway the benefit of the experience of others on these matters gratefully received.

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Jake,

I've used 185/80 x 14 on both my PI and Stag. 175 and 185 were both used on the Stag (and in some lists in the 2000 range too!) with no change in gearing.

This is very close to the original tyre rolling radius.

Cheers,
Mike.

[johnnydog]

Do you want to keep the Stag alloys (or 2500S alloys as I would prefer to refer to them as!)?
Being a stickler for originality, I would ditch the alloys and return it to 13" steels. Then I would fit the original size 185 80 R13 tyres. These are being made by Maxxis and according to reviews are decent tyres for the money. I have a set for my PI, and I have seen them on Ford Consul and Capris (the 1960's models) and they 'look' good! Tyres have to look good as well as perform well in my book! The downside is that they do have a thin whitewall, but as the tyre is not directional, the whitewall can be fitted to the inside.
I definitely wouldn't fit van tyres with a 6 or 8 ply rating. I think the thought that the stiffer sidewall giving a firmer ride is not really a necessity with the PI.
My other view is that S alloys on a PI do not look right at all as they were only associated with S models from 1974 (and of course the later Stags) and the original PI wheel trim is the correct fitment, but this is only my personal opinion of course!
185/70 13 or 195/70 13 tyres look too small on a PI as do 185/70 14's on an S, as they look undersized from original.
There are calculations on the internet regarding the different options for tyre sizes relative to the original tyre size so that the original rolling circumference can be retained to keep the speedo as near accurate as possible.

[Higgies2K]

Has anybody tried the uniroyal? appear to be the original(ish) Mk1 specification at 175/R80 - 13 ... Uniroyal RALLYE 380 avilable at https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/s= ... =1/175-80- 13

found these on https://www.oponeo.co.uk/ Not ready myself as cars still in kit form

It appears that the original option tyres of Dunlop SP 175 - 13 are only now available as 70 not 80 rated

Be good to know if the Uniroyals are ok as I will need 5 when the time comes.

Paul

[johnnydog]

The first link doesn't open!
However the second link does and the of listed tyres for 175 80 R13, I personally would only consider the Hankook, Maxxis or possibly the Falken.
I have Uniroyal Rallye 380 's fitted to my S, and I think they are an excellent tyre both in their performance and appearance, with a good sidewall profile (if that makes sense?). Known as 'The Rain Tyre', I have no complaints about them at all.
I have used Dunlops on a modern car and I am not particularly impressed with them, as they developed cracks around the circumference in the grooves of the tread within a couple of years use.

[tony]

You're comparatively lucky with the tyre choices that you have available.
When I rebuilt the S a few years ago I fitted 195x 70x14's. Can't remember the brand but ran well.
We're now stuck with obscure Chinese brands. Just put 2 on the BMW. Triangle Brand. They seem ok but yet to do any distance on them. Time will tell. I'll probably go for Michelins on my 2500 when I have to replace them soon as time expired.
Tony.

[Higgies2K]

Try posting new link

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre/uniroyal-rallye-380

[Charles H]

Uniroyal 380 tyres are great. I use them on the rally car!

[Mike Stevens]

The 185/80 x 14 I have on both the PI and Stag are Hankook. I don't have any complaints, they look OK and are quiet. Road life is probably not relevant as they will time-expire rather than miles-expire!

I have to admit to having the alloys (Stag/'S') on the PI and as johnndog says, they don't look right. I can't say why as the 'S' uses the same body shell but there is something. I want to keep to 14" rims as I think there is a better tyre choice in that size, so the solution may well be a set of 14" steels from the Stag. As it happens I have a set which I was thinking of getting winter tyres fitted. Of course the PI wheel trims will still fit (I think), but if not the Stag ones will which could be painted black like the PI!

I believe that original tyres (when the profile wasn't specified) were actually 82%, so 80% isn't far away! There are plenty of rolling radius calculators on the internet but it's not exactly rocket science to calculate it from scratch.

Cheers,
Mike.

[valencia]

I recently fitted a set of Uniroyal rallye 380 to my 2000, no complaints about them, they are the proper load index for our cars unlike the van tyres, I have not tried them in snow as yet so cannot comment on that but good in other conditions- and they came from oponeo, took about ten days to arrive as they came from France.
Mike.