Tyres

[tom1985]

Hi everyone,

I've just bought my first classic car... a 1965 Traveller. Its in great condition, long mot, I'm really pleased with it. I've always wanted one, and my friends think its a bit wierd...

Anyway, the only problem is the tyres are nearly bald and have cracks in the sidewalls so i will replace them. Could anyone please tell me what size and type of tyres i need to get to fit on the standard wheels? I'd check myself, but my car is currently at my parents house in the Midlands, and i'm up in Lancaster! I need to call the garage to order them in, ive no idea how long that will take so i should probably do it before i go back to my home town. I think the current tyres are radials, but even if they are still crossplys i think i'll change.

Thanks for your help! By the way, i'm a 3rd year student at lancaster university. Any other student Minor fans around here?

[ColinP]

Hi Tom (?),

There are a number of links to suppliers on the website - that will give you the price/size range.
Generally you would want to fit radials (not crossply unless you're rich and want to enter the concours rally competitions).

The sizes that fit are 145 x 14 and 155 x 14 - both are "80" (i.e. 80% height/width).
Different makes are available - depending on your local supplier. Firestone/Bridgeston, Nanking (I've a pair of these - seem ok!), etc.
You will find that your local tyre shop will probably want to fit tubes as well, and you'll need them balanced.

Do check the current tyres' dimensions - it's always possible that the wheels have been changed from standard over the years!

Colin -no longer a student.....

[bmcecosse]

Bull Motif do a fair deal on tyres.

[alex_holden]

I also need to buy a new set of tyres for my Traveller, and I've been wondering what the pros and cons of 145 vs 155 are? Should I go for inner tubes or not? Would I be better off buying them mail order from a specialist Morris Minor supplier or from a local Kwik-fit type place?

[Kevin]

Hi Tom (?)
As Mentioned Bull Motif are probably the cheapest compared with local suppliers.
http://www.morrisminorspares.net/
Where exactly in the Midlands are they as I am in Watford and have a set of 4 radials still on rims in good condition that you can have for £30, but it may be to far from them.

I've been wondering what the pros and cons of 145 vs 155 are? Should I go for inner tubes or not

Well the ideal size is 145 but there are plenty of 155`s fitted but they can look a bit fat on the rims its down to personal choice, as for inner tubes most people dont bother any longer, I know the rims are designed for inner tubes and dont have the little lip of later rims but the inside of modern radials are quite rough and not designed for use with inner tubes and I havent heard of problems going tubeless.

[rayofleamington]

Well the ideal size is 145 but there are plenty of 155`s fitted but they can look a bit fat on the rims its down to personal choice

155's are NOT recommended for the Minor saloon rim size (3.5" wide) - Feel free to check with the tyre specialists if you want to know more. I'm also not sure if this could technically invalidate your insurance, but that is fairly unlikely to get checked in the event of an accident.

155's are a fairly good fit on Minor 8CWT van wheels (4.5" LP917) hence they are sold by the suppliers.

In reality only a good driver would be able to tell the difference. Correct tyre pressures will make more of a difference, but if it was me, I'd go for the correct size.

[alex_holden]

155's are NOT recommended

Ah, OK. Next question: Bull Motif sell Camac (who?) 145x14 tyres for £22.75+VAT and Bridgestones for £33.95+VAT. Are the Bridgestones worth the extra money (will they grip better, last longer, etc.) or is it just a case of paying for the brand name?

There is the old adage about never skimping on things that separate you from the ground: tyres, shoes, beds, chairs, climbing gear, parachutes...

[bmcecosse]

I find my 155 tyres excellent - but I agree they would be better on wider rims. So far I only have one !! No problems running tubeless - and since the standard tyre that came with Minor was 5.20 x 14 - I don't see that anyone is now using the 'correct' tyre! Even in the old days - i used 5.90 tyres and they were much better even on standard rims. The 14" tyres are also dead easy to fit yourself - if you have a couple of tyre levers and some Swarfega handy. The hardest part is getting the old tyres away from the beads - that can be troublesome if they have been on there for many years. Oh - and always use new tubless valves - but don't buy them at Kwak-Fut (£5 each!!) - get them at autojumbles for ~ 50p each.
I have a 10" Camac on my Mini - it's no better or worse than any of the other tyres - I would go for them.

[chrisd87]

Yes, avoid Kwik-Fit like the plague. They charged me nearly £25 to fit and balance 2 tyres when I had the rears replaced . Didn't repeat that mistake! I went to my local garage who charged me a fiver when I had the front ones done.

My fronts are the Bridgestone 145s from BM - they seem good. You used to be able to get Firestone 145s but not any more.

[d_harris]

kumho tyres seem reasonable too, nothing special, but nothing to complain about

[Welung666]

Phoebe's on Kumho's and she handles the same as she did on her old boots that were a mix'n'match set.

[rayofleamington]

For choice of tyres, it depends on how much you want to spend and how bothered you are.

I've never had Camac or Bridgestone so I can't comment directly however it is often easy to tell the difference between budget tyres and good tyres.
I usually run Minors on mix and match (because I can be very tight ), but my everyday car gets a matching set of brand name tyres and performs much better (safer) than when it was on budget tyres.

bmcecosse,
cheers mate - still making me laugh as ever

[Welung666]

(because I can be very tight )

I don't believe that for a second!

[Kevin]

I don't believe that for a second!

Quite right too, can be is often substituted for am

[paulk]

I buy Bridgestones from a mob called mytyres.co.uk that Ray got me onto.

£33.30 each Delivered and inc VAT. And usually fast service (only make sure someone is at home cos otherwise the carrier gets grumpy)

I tried to get other makes but apart from the aforementioned Camac no one else seems to do 145's anymore. Even Kumho have stopped making them apparently.

The bridgestones seem very good and as long as you can get them fitted for less than an arm and a leg your onto a winner.

To be fair compared with what I pay for tyres on my Eurobox I could put a complete set of Bridge's on the minor evry year and still have change for a pair of new heritage front wings.

[chickenjohn]

Its a shame you can't get 135x14 tyres, as my Traveller steers and feels much better with those on the front (Michelin) than the cheapo 145 tyres (Camac, I think). But best of all was when I first got the Traveller and it was still on crossplys, lots of fun in the wet

[alex_holden]

I buy Bridgestones from a mob called mytyres.co.uk that Ray got me onto. £33.30 each Delivered and inc VAT.

That sounds great. Is "B 381 Ecopia 145/80 R14 76T" the right one? They've gone down by a quid each since you bought them...

[paulk]

Hang on I'll go and look.....

Yep thats what YellowMaude is running. I only got the last two in july and they took nearly a week to arrive but they are a good tyre.

They've gone down by a quid each since you bought them...

I just looked at the invoice and I paid £33.10 each for a pair in July?

[alex_holden]

Yep thats what YellowMaude is running. I only got the last two in july and they took nearly a week to arrive but they are a good tyre.

Right, I've just ordered a set.

It says here these tyres will let me drive at up to 118MPH!

[Welung666]

It says here these tyres will let me drive at up to 118MPH!

But does you car go that fast?