Tyres

[beamand]

Suggestions for what tyres to buy for recommissioning my traveller now I have nearly finished getting it roadworthy after 26 years in the back of the garage preferably not top of the range after having spent a grand putting tyres on one of my other cars. Or has any one got 5 good tyres surp;us to requirements in M25 area

[bmcecosse]

Whatever make you fancy - but if using standard wheels - keep to the 145 X 14 tyres.

[lambrettalad]

radials ,crossply is like having ruts in the road

[JPX877J]

We use 155 Toyos on our Minor....rather great

[jagnut66]

We use 155 Toyos on our Minor....rather great

Seconded, I've always used Toyo's too, they're reasonably priced and good value for money.
A set is just £150 plus VAT from Bull Motif or you can buy them singly depending on your needs, see links below.
Also I've always run mine tubeless on standard wheels.
Best wishes,
Mike.

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=3668

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=4966

[dalebrignall]

i would say get the best you can afford as its the tyre that keeps you on the road

[bmcecosse]

155 are too wide for standard wheels - but excellent on the 4.5" wide wheels. Keep to 145 tyres on standard wheels.

[aupickup]

i have 155 on standard rims and they are fine for me

[IaininTenbury]

Technically BMC is right, that 145s are the correct replacement for a 5.20/14 crossply, and that with the wider 155 yuo loose some of the feel in the steering and handling as the wheel squirms about in the sidewall of the tyre. However the difference is so small that the vast majority of drivers won't notice, even driving two cars on a back to back test. 155s are a little cheaper than 145s probably due to numbers made, in that 155s are used elsewhere.
Also from a visual point of view the 80% profile of a standard radial means a 145 looks small from the side, doesn't fill the wheelarch visually as well as a 155 does and lowers the overall gearing from standard. Probably helps sell a few high ratio 3.9 diffs or five speed boxes!
At least one well known Minor specialist fits 165/70/14s on standard rims on its fully restored cars. The tyres are much cheaper and the lower profile presumably reduces the mushy wobble but its not really the right size...

I've just changed from 145s to 155s (Old stock Firestones) on my Series 2 convertible as it helps fill the high cut rear arches and looks better proprtioned. Can't say I've noticed any difference in the handling though - the Firestones grip well and handle nicely and the rest of the suspension could do with new bushes etc to tighten things up a bit. (They're also quite a good blocky tread for getting about in rural areas with plenty of mud and snow).

I did drive a customers pickup on a long journey a few years back and that was on standard 80 profile 165s on standard rims and that did feel a bit odd. Looked it too with the large balloon effect sidewalls...

Essentially its up to you, how much you want to spend and how you use your car. The Minor parts suppliers sell both 145 and 155 and there's been plenty of discussions on here about sizes and makes in the past.

[Rasputin]

I too find the 155 Toyos are excellent on the ESM wider wheels.

[Gareth]

Last weekend, I had a set of Toyo 155s fitted to Phyllis as the old Firestones were past their prime.

Without the safety bead on the sidewall, the Toyos look better and seem to have a more authentic style to them that befits the car.

I've always run 155s and have never (touch wood) had any trouble with them and I run them without tubes on standard rims. They don't squirm or shimmy but to heonest I'm sure that you'd have to really throw a Minor around to get them to that stage.

A full set, including VAT worked out at £168 including MMOC discount which I didn't think was too bad.£40 for fitting at my local spannerman while he was doing the MoT (and I was adjusting the brakes so she'd pass...) and we were well away.

Quite pleased. Will have to see what the roadholding is like but for now, they get the thumbs up.

[bmcecosse]

165 tyres on standard rims is just ridiculous.......and frankly irresponsible..... In fact the 'correct' replacement for the 5.20 X 14 tyre would be 135 X 8o X 14 radials, but they only seem to be available for trailers on so on.

[IaininTenbury]

The one I drove on 165s certainly felt odd.... Not reccomended at all. You could feel the wobble going in a straight line on the motorway. The low profile 165s that the 'well known Minor specialist fits' felt more normal as there was less sidewall to flex but its still the wrong size really.