Tyre choice for TR4A

[Tim Hunt]

I still have to 3 or 4mm tread on my Goodyear GT80s but they are over 10 years old and I don't want to push my luck. Ideally I would like new tyres before the RBRR. I was happy with the Goodyears but they are n.l.a. I want to stay with the original size (165R15) and the choice of tyre in this size is now very limited. The Firestone F560 looks attractive price wise. I would be intertested in anyone's experience of the F560 or any other currently available tyre in the same size on a TR.

Tim Hunt

[mikeyb]

Sorry Tim, no experience.  I've been going through the same dilemma sourcing new rubber for the Sprint, got some good replies via here.  I also extensively googles "tyre reviews" and the names of tyres i was considering.  Look for the independant tyres tests if possible, but some of the most frank results that came up turned out to be on other car make forums!

[James]

Tim,

Autoexpress have a huge tyre review.

How wide are your rims? If you can push to a 175 or 185 you may have more choice.

I'm really happy with my Continental PremiumContacts - dealt with last years massive downpour in Wales on the RBRR last year amazingly - though they were fresh on the Friday morning of the start.


James

[dazzer]

Hi Guys

I've just purchased some odd ball 155 x 15 Snow + tyres for our DKW. My local tyre supplier and Vredestien themselves had non available from their classic tyre range in the UK. I tried everyone. The classic tyre specialists had some £95.00 each + VAT !

Anyway to cut a long story short I went on the Net and found mytyres.co.uk they had everything so I placed an order on line and within the week 4 tyres arrived from Germany! by courier at £44.00 each all inclusive! Took them to my local tyre guy and he fitted and blanced them for £12.00 each. So having gained confidence I placed an order for a pair of the latest Vredestein Snowtrack 3s for the 2000 rally car, arrived again no hassle from Germany and they were £25 cheaper each than any local tyre fitters could quote.

I started using Vredestein on all the classics after fitting a set of Sportrack 195/65 15s on out TR4 three years ago, grip like nothing else wet or dry and if you read the reviews it seems to back this up.

They do a range of 165 x 15s in the classic tyres... which are not classic in performance by any means.

Cheers

Darren

[Keith]

Tim,
I've got Goodyear NCT5s in 195/65R15 on my TR, but they are on 5.5" 72 spoke rims.
I've also had a good experience of using mytyres, I ordered some snow tyres for the Herald last year from them, they had the widest range and best prices despite shipping all the way from Germany.

Keith

[thescrapman]

It doesn't look like bridgestone have not made teh F560 for a while now, so any showing may be quite old stock.

I have had them on my Spitfire for about 15 years now, just reached the end of their life. Have been very good tyres.

There is a Toyo that come up from some of the on-line retailers. Toyo 330. And it is a car tyre as well.

Might be best to look at a slightly different size. What width rims do you have??

Cheers

Colin

[patbarber]

Tim,

A very interesting quandry.  I have found it very difficult to get clear, independent reviews of tires (sorry - tyres).  It is made even more difficult by the fact that the tyre sizes needed are in limited production from what I consider secondary manufacturers.  My first though was that if you were to change the size to 205/65R15 you would open your choice of manufacturer and vendor but given the narrow (4.5"?) wheel, a 205 will not fit. A 205 also looks funny on a TR4 (see photos on http://home.mchsi.com/~token/TR4Page5.htm)

Since there little data and the tires brands I use (Sumitomo /Goodyear/Hoosier/Michelin/Bridgestone) don't carry this size, I am left to offer only my opinion, for whatever it is worth;

• Stay away from Chinese Brands ( Nankang, Maxxis, etc) due to dubious (or pehaps better stated "unknown") quality.  Hankook tires are still on my watch-out list.  I am finding them on more and more OEM products including the US Ford F150 pickup. Given the sensitivity to tire quality at Ford, Hankook must of done their homework.  
• Stay away from Vintage Designs (Vredestein Sprint &Sprint Classic) due to dated tread designs
• Stay away from M&S (Mud & Snow) designs (popular here in the US).
• The remaining list is very short and include the Vredestein T-track and the Kuhmo PowerStar 758.  

Best of luck in your search.  I look forward to seeing you in October for RBRR.

[stagnant]

Recently fitted a set of 165x80 15 Vredestien T-Trac - good price (much cheaper than their classic sprint range) and very pleased with them. 4 tyres + tubes, fitted and balanced on wires for £260. Originally had 175 profile tyres, but it is much nicer to drive with the correct size tyres. 'Mytyres' are currently selling them for £45 each http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=16108872.110.20163&Cookie=froogle&typ=R-180947&ranzahl=4&Breite=165&Quer=80&Felge=15&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=15&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=So

[Hogie]

Hi Tim,
             I've used Firestone F560 for about 10 years now with Armstrong/Revinington damper -in-coil/and Koni  and they work well.
I have 165/15/80T they are apprx £45 each.
They are made in batches every 2 years or so. If your timing is iffy then they may take some hunt(ing).

Roger