Tyres?

[silver surfer]

Hi all
My car still has the original black wall  tyres from 1969 so want to replace them for safety reasons whilst the car is being restored.

What are people fitting these days as original  black wall replacements?

Also may consider whitewalls?

Many thanks

[Jkalplus1]

Vredestein Sprints for blackwall, Coker Phoenix for whitewall. These two have the right thread look and curb lip in the original tire profile.  Other brands can accomodate cheaper replacement in workable sizes.  The Technical manual has a good section on tires that will tell you what works on our cars.
J

[mbzse]

../...What are people fitting these days as original  black wall replacements? Also may consider whitewalls

You can find some hopefully useful info in this posting:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=16028.msg121517#msg121517
/Hans in Sweden
.

[Dave H]

I went for the Vredestein 185 HR 14 90 H Sprint classic with ridge. Beautifull looking tyre.
"My tyres" are doing a good deal at the moment, i paid a lot more.

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?s_p=Vredestein-SPRINT-CLASSIC-185-R14-90H-with-ridge-&details=Ordern&typ=R-119176&cart_id=30225179.110.9908&ranzahl=4&Breite=185&Quer=80&Felge=14&Speed=H&weiter=0&Ang_pro_Seite=10&Transport=P&dsco=110&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW

[silver surfer]

Dave
These look very reasonable and with the ridge pretty close aesthetically to the originals.
I need 5 so thanks for the tip!
Is H speed rating acceptable for Insurance?
 
Regards

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

You might like to have a read here too.

Check it out ----> http://www.mbca.org/forum/tires-69-280-sl

[Paul99]

I bought four Falken 185/80R14 which seems to be right rotation as the speedo is spot on.   £300 for 4 fitted. 

Not the original look and not white walls but seem ok. 

[dowsup]

Silver Surfer,
Check out Wikipedia for the history of the W113, and "The Original Mercedes SL-Restorer's Guide to the SL's" by Lawrence Meredith covers this very well.  Initially, the 230 was fitted with Michelin X radial tyres, however due to less than acceptable performance, Firestone-Phoenix and Continental radials were the most common OEM replacements.  Also, according to the Guide, Dunlop's were used for cars going to England.  So, in short, all are correct.  There is also some wonderful information and pictures in "Factory Original Mercedes SL" by James Taylor.

[66andBlue]

Neither Wikipedia nor the Meredith book are a good source for "originality". As was discussed here many times the Meredith book has more errors  than a Swiss cheese has holes and Taylor copied much information from Meredith without checking further. For example, the first Pagoda to arrive in the USA (VIN # 00003) had Continental white wall tires.
If you want to find out what was "original" just use the search function here and you will find the answers.

[stickandrudderman]

I will post my tyres comment in the commercial section..............