UK tyre problem

[Les &/or Claire]

Hello!
I'm having a terrible time trying to find tyres for my 240
estate. 185/80 R14 seems to be a very obscure size. Has anyone fitted a
lower profile tyre ( perhaps one that is more commonly stocked by tyre
dealers ) or has solved the same problem here in the UK. I'm in S.Kent
btw.........

Les
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[John Robertson]

Use the tyre calculator to get the same rolling diameter .Maybe a 215 x 70x
14 would help its point five of a mile out in radius.Or a 195x 75x 14 will
work ok its ever so slightly smaller in radius point 3 of a mile per hour .
any way check out Miata its very handy .Down to about 60 percent you will
improve grip handling and such after that its expensive

 

[Les &/or Claire]

Use the tyre calculator to get the same rolling diameter .Maybe a
215 x 70x 14 would help its point five of a mile out in radius.Or a
195x 75x 14 will work ok its ever so slightly smaller in radius point
3 of a mile per hour . any way check out Miata its very handy .Down
to about 60 percent you will improve grip handling and such after

Thanks for the pointer John. One thing, i'm confused about the tyres I can
actaully fit on my rims. What defines the actual wheel size and what do the
measurements actually mean? If i'm going to leap in and change something, I
want to be sure i'm up to speed on the consequences.

les

that its expensive "Les &/or Claire"

--
http://www.stuffmongers.com

"Homo sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission
natural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deep
within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Edward O. Wilson
Consilience, The Unity of Knowledge

Remove frontal lobes to reply from a NG

 

[A. Moore]

Why not fit round tyres like folk do up North? Our 440 Volvo rides better on
them than the square ones you folks use to ride round the M25 or up to
Sheffield.

Cheers

 

[Bonnet Lock]

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

Thanks for the pointer John. One thing, i'm confused about the tyres
I can actaully fit on my rims. What defines the actual wheel size and
what do the measurements actually mean? If i'm going to leap in and
change something, I want to be sure i'm up to speed on the
consequences.

Taking 215/70 x14 as an example, 14 is the rim diameter in inches so you
*must* fit 14" tyres.

215 is the tyre width in millimetres (perversely!) and 70 is the profile
(height/width) as a percentage. This means that the height of the tyre is
70% of the width - in other words 150.5mm or 5.925". Thus the overall
diameter of the wheel plus tyre (which needs to be close to the original) is
14 + 5.925 + 5.925 inches = 25.85"

See
http://www.trailerpartswarehouse.co.uk/data_sheets/tyres/trailer_caravan_tyres.htm
for more details of tyre markings.

To a certain extent, you can fit wider tyres with a lower profile and still
have the correct overall diameter. However, there are two constraints on
this - wider tyres may foul the wheel arches on full lock, and your rims may
only be suitable for tyres up to a certain width. Plus, of course, the spare
will take up more room. Whatever you fit must, of course, have suitable
speed and load ratings for your car.

HTH.

 

[Les &/or Claire]

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,


Taking 215/70 x14 as an example, 14 is the rim diameter in inches so
you *must* fit 14" tyres.

215 is the tyre width in millimetres (perversely!) and 70 is the
profile (height/width) as a percentage. This means that the height of
the tyre is 70% of the width - in other words 150.5mm or 5.925". Thus
the overall diameter of the wheel plus tyre (which needs to be close
to the original) is 14 + 5.925 + 5.925 inches = 25.85"

See
http://www.trailerpartswarehouse.co.uk/data_sheets/tyres/trailer_caravan_tyres.htm
for more details of tyre markings.

To a certain extent, you can fit wider tyres with a lower profile and
still have the correct overall diameter. However, there are two
constraints on this - wider tyres may foul the wheel arches on full
lock, and your rims may only be suitable for tyres up to a certain
width. Plus, of course, the spare will take up more room. Whatever
you fit must, of course, have suitable speed and load ratings for
your car.

HTH.

Just what I needed... thanks for a great answer.... )



--
http://www.stuffmongers.com

"Homo sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission
natural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deep
within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Edward O. Wilson
Consilience, The Unity of Knowledge

Remove frontal lobes to reply from a NG

 

[AJAY]

Hi -

I have no problems getting replacement tyres for my '92 240SE Estate
from my local garage who can actually offer me a choice of at least
three brands. Whilst not the cheapest Fulda ( Dutch manufacturer) offers
the best in terms of value v. performance.

Andy (in West Yorks)

 

[Les &/or Claire]

Hi -

I have no problems getting replacement tyres for my '92 240SE Estate
from my local garage who can actually offer me a choice of at least
three brands. Whilst not the cheapest Fulda ( Dutch manufacturer)
offers the best in terms of value v. performance.

Andy (in West Yorks)

I found some last night in Canterbury, 2 Firestones at £45 each..... not
sure if it's a good price, i'm just releived to find some before I do
another motorway run to work in torrential rain........

Les



--
http://www.stuffmongers.com

"Homo sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission
natural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deep
within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Edward O. Wilson
Consilience, The Unity of Knowledge

Remove frontal lobes to reply from a NG

 

[AJAY]

That's only slightly more than I pay for my Fuldas (£85 a pair fitted)
They will have longer life than the Fuldas but possibly not as much wet-grip

Andy